JPH0654696B2 - Electric cable assembly - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a connecting device for connecting a fixed current connection to a rotating current connection. The device has a housing bottom, a housing cover that rotates around it, and a housing that includes a flat conductor cable that is spirally wound and extends at 90 degrees at both ends. The helix is placed in the housing and the 90 degree bend is out of the housing. The conductor cable is provided with an opening.

[0002]

2. Description of the Prior Art A connecting device of this kind is known (US Pat. No. 4,824,396). This type of connecting device is used, for example, in a hub of a steering wheel of a vehicle.
A buffer gas bag is often installed in the steering wheel hub, and when the vehicle is decelerated significantly, it expands in a fraction of a second. This is done with the combustion capsule acting as a gas generator. The buffer gas bag and the combustion capsule rotate with the steering wheel. The steering column through which the current for the combustion chamber passes does not move. Now, the above-mentioned known device connects the rotating current connector of the combustion capsule to the fixed current connector in the steering column. The spiral part obtained by winding the flat conductor cable is loosely wound with a large space for each turn. When the steering wheel rotates in one direction, the spiral is further wound up,
Tied tightly to each other. When the steering wheels rotate in opposite directions, the helixes unwind and, to some extent, move away from each other. In this way, the two current connections are always connected in the same way via the cable conductor. The same applies when the steering wheel rotates. In addition to the combustion capsule, it is also conceivable to connect a current consumer or switch arranged in the steering wheel to the fixed current connection.

[0003]

In order to increase elasticity, reduce weight, and reduce cost, the connecting device uses a flat conductor cable having a small conductor cross-sectional area. Therefore, the mechanical strength of the cable is reduced. During vehicle maintenance operations, the steering wheel may be rotated back and forth many times. This means that the mechanical load is increased at the flat conductor cable, especially at its two ends which emerge from the housing.

[0004]

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to design the above-mentioned connecting device so as to mechanically protect the flat conductor cable, in particular its ends which emerge from the housing.
Another object of the present invention is that the flat conductor cable has its spiral,
An object of the present invention is to provide a connecting device structure that can be easily, quickly, and inexpensively connected to a housing together with both ends that are bent at 90 degrees. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a connecting device capable of maintaining a desired mechanical strength while being increased.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, the flat conductor cable is covered with a covering in each of the transition regions between the spiral and both ends extending at 90 degrees. It The coating has a portion surrounding the helix and its ends. This part is located on the housing bottom and the housing cover. The helix arranged in the housing is rarely subjected to mechanical loads.
It will only be tighter or looser. Due to its elasticity, flat conductor cables can easily bear loads. The flat conductor cable is subjected to severe mechanical loads at its ends, especially at the ends arranged in the rotating housing cover. The flat conductor cable is further connected to the housing bottom and the housing cover in these ends, or in the transition region between the ends and the helix. According to the invention, in such hazardous areas the flat conductor cable is mechanically stabilized and protected by the jacket. The coating also serves to connect the ends of the helix to the housing bottom and housing cover. This is achieved by the positioning structure according to the invention. This positioning is done in a very simple way. In other words, the flat conductor cable or the spiral wound from it, with its two ends that fold at 90 degrees, is very quickly and easily fixed in the housing.

In the preferred embodiment, the coating is injected onto the flat conductor cable and the plastic material forming it flows into the openings provided in the cable coating. Thus, a means for releasing the pulling force applied to the cable is formed. The openings provided in the flat conductor cable increase the elasticity of the cable. According to the invention, the coating can be fixed in the opening of the flat conductor cable. In this way, the jacket can be firmly connected to the flat conductor cable. The cable is mechanically stabilized and the tensile load on it is released.

[0007] In another embodiment of the invention, in the part forming the coating, an annular part separated by an opening and a branch connecting the annular parts are provided so that the covering does not adversely affect the flexibility of the flat conductor cable. Have. The annular portion separated by the opening and connected by the branch portion has flexibility equivalent to that of the flat conductor cable itself. These parts surround the ends of the helix and the ends that fold at 90 degrees. Therefore, the part forming the coating also defines an angle of 90 degrees.

The flexibility of the coating does not have to be increased everywhere. It is sufficient if both ends of the flat conductor cable, that is, the part coming out of the spiral, are particularly flexible. For this reason, in the present invention, the portion forming the coating has an annular portion separated by an opening and connected by a branch portion only in a region which starts from the spiral and extends to both ends of the flat conductor cable extending from the spiral. Furthermore, it is sufficient for these flexible parts to start a distance from the helix.

The housing includes a bottom and a cover. The structure of the housing cover and the position of one cover with respect to the cover are as follows in the present invention. That is, the housing cover includes a cover plate, a cylindrical hub, and an outer housing, and the hub has an opening restricted from two side surfaces, and one of the coatings is arranged in this opening. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the manner in which one coating is placed within the opening is not important. It would be very convenient if one of the coatings had a thickened portion and this portion was located between the two sides. The thick part is easily sandwiched and arranged there. To provide additional mechanical stability and protection to the spiral end, the portion adjacent the thickened portion may be provided with a portion that abuts the outer surface of the hub. This means that the coating surrounds the beginning of the helix and stabilizes it mechanically. Similarly, the thickened portion is better fixed by the opening between the two sides. Since the thick portion receives the resistance of the portion contacting the outer surface of the hub, it cannot slide inward in the radial direction. The structure of the bottom of the housing and the position of the coating arranged on the other end of the helix are as follows in the present invention. That is, the housing bottom has a bottom plate and an inner housing, the inner housing has an opening, and a portion of one coating is located within the opening. According to the principles of the present invention, this positioning method is also not important. It has been found to be particularly advantageous if this part is thickened and placed in this opening. A particularly good positioning effect is obtained if both sides defining the opening have tongues and grooves and the thickened portions have grooves and tongues for engaging them. In a particularly advantageous configuration, the covering part arranged at the spiral end and adjoining the thickened part has a part which abuts the inner surface of the inner housing. This can provide mechanical stability at the spiral ends.

The combustion capsule forming the gas generator for the buffer gas bag is connected by a connecting device to a voltage source or a combustion device. Similarly, switches, contacts, etc. for activating alarms, headlights, measuring instruments, etc. are also connected in this way. Flat conductor cables with two or more conductors are used for this purpose. In order to connect a plurality of current-consuming devices or switches, in another embodiment of the invention, the end of the flat conductor cable leaving the housing is longitudinally slit to form at least two conductor parts. In this way, two or more conductor parts can be treated separately in different directions and connected to a current consuming device or a switch. The same object can be achieved by another feature according to the invention, namely bending the covering part emerging from the housing about the centerline of the housing. Generally, the portion surrounding the conductor portion is bent outward. The reason is that there is space for the conductor part. In other words, the conductor portion of the flat conductor cable is guided a short distance outside the housing, thus providing mechanical stability. This will extend the life of the entire connecting device.

It has been described above that the housing cover rotates and the housing bottom does not rotate. The same applies to the expressions at the beginning and the end of the spiral. These terms are relative. It can also be said that the housing cover does not rotate and the housing bottom rotates around the cover. The expressions start and end of the spiral can also be exchanged.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a four-core flat conductor cable 22 whose both ends are divided into two conductor portions 24. Cable 22
Is wound to form a helix 26 in its central region. The conductor portion 24 extends in a plane forming an angle of 90 degrees with the spiral 26. As shown in FIG.
90 along the fold line 28 for both ends of the spiral 26
Because it is bent. The opening 30 of the cable is provided over the entire width thereof, and is also provided at the insulating end of the cable 22.

Shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are coatings 32 formed by injection of a plastic material and surrounding both ends of the helix 26 and a portion of the conductor portion 24 extending therefrom.
The coating 32 is a two-part construction and includes two coatings 34, 36. These form 90 degrees with each other. In particular, as shown in FIG. 6, the coating 32 has an annular portion 38, a coating opening 40 separating the annular portions, and a branch portion 42 connecting the annular portions at the upper right end of FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, in the cover 36 of the cover 32, only the end (upper right) has such a structure. Coating 3
6 surrounds the conductor portion 24 extending from the helix 26. At a distance from the helix 26 (not shown in FIG. 4), i.e. at a distance from the portion of the sheath 34 leading to the helix 26, the sheath 32 has an annulus 38, a sheath opening 40 and a branch 42. This enhances flexibility. It is only in this part that the conductor part needs to maintain high flexibility for the purpose of connecting to the fixed current connection. Such high flexibility is not required in the portion of the cover 34 leading to the helix 26. The covering structure having the annular portion 38, the covering opening 40 and the branch portion 42 is shown in FIGS.
Not shown in.

As shown in FIG. 7, the coating has its coating 3
There is a thickened portion 44 between 4 and 36. FIG. 7 further shows the housing cover 46. The housing cover 46 is provided with a cover plate 48, an outer housing 50 and a hub 52, and the hub 52 is provided with a hub opening 54 and side surfaces 56 and 58 defining the hub opening 54. Housing cover 4
6 is a known self-contained component. The two conductor portions 24 together with the spiral 26 are arranged in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG.
Is pushed into the central opening of the. In this way, the structure of FIG. 8 is obtained. The thickened portion 44 has side surfaces 56, 58 within the hub opening 54.
Fits in between. In this case, the side surface 58 forms the groove and the thick portion 44
May have a protrusion. Such a configuration is shown in FIG.
And shown in FIG. However, regardless of the specific configuration, the thick portion 44 is arranged so as to be sandwiched within the hub opening 54. In this case, the cover 34 is arranged so as to contact the outer surface of the hub 52.

As shown in FIG. 9, the housing bottom 60 has a bottom plate 62 and an inner housing 64. A plate opening 66 is provided in the inner housing 64. A tongue portion 68 and a groove 70 are provided on a side surface of the inner housing 64, and these define a plate opening 66. The cover 34 surrounding the end of the helix 26 has a thickened portion 72. A groove 74 and a tongue portion 76 are provided on both side surfaces of the thick portion. During assembly, the thickened portion 72 is moved along with the helix 26 toward the housing bottom 60 in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. At that time, the tongue portion 68 is pushed into the groove 74 and the tongue portion 76 is pushed into the groove 70, respectively.
A configuration of 0 is obtained. The cover 34 abuts the inner surface of the inner casing 64 at a portion adjacent to the thick portion 72. In this way, the helix 26 is firmly positioned and connected within the housing bottom 60.

9 and 10 clearly show how the covering 36 is bent outwards relative to the covering 34. Similarly, the conductor portion 24 is also bent outward. Generally, there is a larger space in the direction in which the conductor portion 24 extends than in the immediate vicinity of the housing bottom 60. The effects obtained in this way have been described above. When assembled as in FIGS. 7 and 9, the configuration of FIG. 11 is obtained. FIG. 11 shows that the housing 78 of the fully assembled connecting device consists of the housing bottom 60 and the housing cover 46.

[0017]

The connecting device of the present invention has the effect that the flat conductor cable together with its spiral can be easily, quickly and inexpensively connected to the housing. Further, there is an effect that the mechanical strength of both ends of the flat conductor cable, especially the spiral can be increased.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a helix and both ends extending 90 degrees from it.

Figure 2: The beginning and end of the helix, and 9 from these
It is a top view of two conductor portions which extend at 0 degrees.

3 is a cross-sectional view of the flat conductor cable taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a plan view similar to FIG. 2, but with a coating formed on the conductor portion of the flat conductor cable.

5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the coating.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the housing cover, the beginning of the helix with a coating surrounding it.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a housing cover and a cover arranged on the housing cover.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the bottom of the housing, the end of the helix with the coating surrounding it.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a housing bottom and a coating arranged on the housing bottom.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a housing including a housing bottom and a housing cover.

[Explanation of symbols]

 22 cable 24 conductor portion 26 helix 32 coating 38 annular portion 40 coating opening 42 branch portion

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (72) Inventor Hans-Dieter Pfeiffer Federal Republic of Germany. D-6147 Reuter Rutal 1, Knodener Koffstraße 36 (72) Inventor Brigitte Neumann Germany. Day-6070 Langen, Karl-Nargang-Strasse 10

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An electrical cable assembly for use in a connector for electrically connecting a fixed connection to a movable connection that rotates relative thereto, comprising a plurality of laterally spaced elongated strips surrounded by an insulating material. An elongated flat cable (22) having a conductor (24), the cable having two ends respectively coupled to the fixed connection and the movable connection, and a central region (26) movable relative to the both ends. The insulating material has a plurality of openings (30) extending therethrough between the conductors, and the electrical cable assembly is on a portion of both ends of the cable and adjacent the central region. A protective coating (32) formed, said coating having openings (3) in the cable insulation.
An electrical cable assembly which provides strain relief to the cable by extending into 0). 2. The electric cable assembly according to claim 1, wherein the central region of the cable is spirally wound, and both ends of the cable extend from the spiral at right angles in opposite directions to each other. An electrical cable assembly, characterized in that the bent portions form this right angle. 3. The electric cable assembly according to claim 2, wherein the coating is formed on the bent portion. 4. The electrical cable assembly of claim 2 wherein the cable insulation is longitudinally slit adjacent one of the conductors at one of the cable ends. Assembly. 5. The electric cable assembly according to claim 1, wherein the coating is formed by injection molding plastic. 6. An electrical cable assembly for use in a connector for electrically connecting a fixed connection to a movable connection rotating with respect to the fixed connection, comprising a plurality of laterally spaced supports supported by an insulating material. An elongated flat cable (22) having an elongated conductor (24), the cable electrically connected to the fixed connection and the movable connection, respectively, and a central region moving relative to the ends. (26) and the electrical cable assembly further comprises a protective coating (32) formed on a portion of both ends of the cable adjacent the central region. Characterized in that it comprises a series of longitudinally spaced annuli (38) with adjacent annuli separated by openings (40) which provide longitudinal flexibility to the cable at its ends. Electrical cable assembly. 7. The electric cable assembly according to claim 6, wherein the adjacent annular portions are connected by a branch portion (42) extending in the longitudinal direction of the covering opening. 8. The electrical cable assembly of claim 7, wherein the cable has opposed flat surfaces and opposed end surfaces, and the branch connecting at least two adjacent annuluses to the end surface. An electrical cable assembly, characterized in that it is provided along. 9. The electrical cable assembly of claim 6, wherein the central region of the cable is spirally wound and the ends extend from the helix in opposite directions at right angles. The bent part forms this right angle,
An electrical cable assembly, wherein the coating is formed over a region of the helix and the bend. 10. The electric cable assembly according to claim 9, wherein the covering opening is not provided in the bent portion.