JPH09115631A - Relaying device between relatively rotating members - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the buckling of a cable in sudden relative rotation between inside and outside cylinders by arranging in C shape plural guide members along a base member extending in the circumferential direction. SOLUTION: When an inside cylinder 11a is suddenly rotated clockwise, a cable 13 is rewound from the cylinder 11a, comes in contact with the inner circumference of a moving body 21, turns reversely at the other opening end 21b, and moves to the outside of the moving body 21. Time is needed until the moving body 21 reaches the specified rotating speed by the force of the cable 13 reversely turning at the opening end 21b. At the moment of start of rotation, the moving body 21 becomes stop state. The excess cable 13 pushed out by the rotation of the cylinder 11a pushes outward the inner circumference 21d of the moving body 21, each guide member 212 swings to outer circumference by using a connecting hole 212a as a fulcrum, and the excess cable 13 is absorbed. Even when the cylinder 11a is suddenly rotated, the buckling of the cable 13 caused by protruding from the opening part 21c of the moving body 21 can be prevented.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a relay device for relatively rotating members, which performs electrical connection between relatively rotating members via a cable.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a relay device between relative rotating members of this type, for example, ones shown in FIGS. 4 to 5 are known. That is, the relay device 10 between the relative rotating members includes the inner cylindrical portion 11
a rotating body (first rotating body) 11 having a, a fixed body (second rotating body) 12 having an outer cylindrical portion 12a surrounding the inner cylindrical portion 11a at a predetermined interval, and an inner cylindrical portion 11a.
It is housed in an annular space K between the outer cylindrical portion 12a and the outer cylindrical portion 12a in a spirally wound state along the same space K, and an inner peripheral end portion 13a is held by the inner cylindrical portion 11a and an outer peripheral end portion. Thirteen
b includes a cable (flexible flat cable) 13 held by the outer cylindrical portion 12a, and a C-shaped moving body 21 that is movably provided along the space K and that reverses the cable 13 at the opening 21c. ing.

An upper cover 14 for covering the upper opening of the space K is fixed to the inner cylindrical portion 11a, and the lower opening of the space K is fixed to the outer cylindrical portion 12a. A lower cover 12b for covering is formed integrally with the outer cylindrical portion 12a. The rotating body 11 is connected to, for example, the steering wheel side of the steering wheel of the automobile, and the fixed body 12 is fixed to the steering column side.

In the relative rotary member relay device 10 configured as described above, when the inner cylindrical portion 11a rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 5 by rotating the handle to the left, for example, the cable 13 moves to the inner side. Cylindrical part 11a
Move to wrap around. Therefore, the cable 13 on the outer side of the moving body 21 contacts the outer peripheral surface 21e of the moving body 21 and is reversed while contacting the one open end 21a, and enters the inside of the moving body 21 to form the inner cylinder. It comes to wind around the part 11a. At this time, the movable body 21 rotates counterclockwise because one open end 21a thereof is pushed by the cable 13.

Further, the inner cylindrical portion 11a is replaced by the outer cylindrical portion 12
When it is rotated clockwise with respect to a, the cable 13 wound around the inner cylindrical portion 11a is unwound and moves around. For this reason, the cable 13 wound around the inner cylindrical portion 11 a has the inner peripheral surface 21 d of the moving body 21.
U while contacting the other open end 21b.
It reverses in a letter shape, moves to the outside of the moving body 21, and comes into contact with the inner surface of the outer cylindrical portion 12a. On this occasion,
In the moving body 21, the other open end 21b has the cable 13
Press to rotate clockwise.

[0006]

By the way, in the relative rotary member relay device 10, it is assumed that the inner cylindrical portion 11a is rapidly rotated clockwise by, for example, rapidly rotating the handle. Then, cable 1
3 is rapidly rewound and contacts the inner peripheral surface 21d of the moving body 21, and the U-shaped inverted portion presses the other open end 21b of the moving body 21. However, the moving body 21, which has been stopped until now, does not reach a state of instantaneously rotating at a predetermined rotation speed, so that the moving body 21 is stopped immediately after the handle is rapidly rotated. For this reason, the cable 13 that has been pushed out by the inner cylindrical portion 11a and is left over may protrude from the opening 21c to the outside of the moving body 21. That is, the cable 13 may buckle. Such buckling is
It must be prevented because it will shorten the life of the cable 13.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object thereof is to prevent buckling of a flexible flat cable even when relative rotation between an inner cylindrical portion and an outer cylindrical portion occurs rapidly. An object is to provide a relay device between relative rotating members that can be prevented.

[0008]

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a first rotating body having an inner cylindrical portion,
A second rotating body that surrounds the inner cylindrical portion at a predetermined interval and has an outer cylindrical portion that rotates relative to the inner cylindrical portion; and an annular shape between the inner cylindrical portion and the outer cylindrical portion. A flexible flat cable that is housed so as to be wound in a spiral shape along the space of, the inner peripheral end portion is held by the inner cylindrical portion, and the outer peripheral end portion is held by the outer cylindrical portion, and the space. And a C-shaped moving body that is movably provided along with the C-shaped moving body to invert the flexible flat cable at the opening, and the moving body has a base member extending in the circumferential direction and one end of the moving body. It is characterized in that it is swingably connected to the base member and has a plurality of guide members arranged in a C shape along the base member.

In the invention configured as described above, it is assumed that, for example, the inner cylindrical portion and the outer cylindrical portion start rotating relatively rapidly in the direction in which the flexible flat cable is rewound from the inner cylindrical portion. Then, the flexible flat cable is suddenly unwound from the inner cylindrical portion and comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the moving body, and also hits, for example, the other opening end of the opening portion and is inverted in a U-shape to be outside the moving body. Try to move. Then, when the flexible flat cable hits the other opening end of the opening, the moving body tries to start rotation, but the moving body that has been stopped until now does not become a state in which it instantaneously rotates at a predetermined rotation speed. Immediately after the relative rotation between the inner cylindrical portion and the outer cylindrical portion, the moving body is in a stopped state.

Therefore, the flexible flat cable that is pushed out by the inner cylindrical portion and is left over presses the inner peripheral surface of the moving body outward. Then, each guide member constituting the moving body swings outward with one end as a fulcrum, and absorbs the remaining flexible flat cable. Therefore, even when the inner cylindrical portion and the outer cylindrical portion rotate relatively rapidly, it is possible to prevent the flexible flat cable from buckling so as to protrude from the opening.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. However, elements common to the constituent elements of the conventional example shown in FIGS. 4 to 5 are designated by the same reference numerals to simplify the description. This embodiment differs from the conventional example in that the moving body 21 has a base member 211 and a guide member 212.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the moving body 21 has a base member 211 extending in the circumferential direction, one end of which is swingably connected to the base member 211. A plurality of (four in this embodiment) guide members 2 arranged in a C shape along the base member 211.
12 are provided.

The base member 211 is formed of a circular strip-shaped plate, and is provided with pins 211a which connect the guide member 212 so as to be swingable at predetermined intervals. The pin 211a has a locking portion (claw) for preventing the pin from coming off, and has a connecting hole 2 of a guide member 212 described later.
After passing through 12a, it does not come out of this connecting hole 212a. The base member 211 is placed on the lower cover 12b and is configured to slide smoothly on the lower cover 12b.

Each guide member 212 is formed in an arc shape so as to extend along the base member 211, and has a connecting hole 212a formed at one end for fitting with the pin 211a.
Further, the portion on the other end side of the connecting hole 212a is the lightening portion 2
The weight is reduced by 12b.

The movable body 21 has a pair of adjacent guide members 212, 212 spaced apart by a predetermined distance, and this portion is an opening 21c through which the cable 13 passes. Then, one opening end 21a of this opening 21c
Is formed by the other end of the guide member 212, and the other open end 21b is formed by one end of the guide member 212. In addition, the base member 211 and the guide member 2
Each of 12 is integrally formed of a slipping material such as nylon, polyacetal, Teflon, or fluoropolymer.

In the inter-relative-rotation-member relay device 10 configured as described above, the inner cylindrical portion 11a is rotated counterclockwise with respect to the outer cylindrical portion 12a by rotating the handle to the left in FIG. 1, for example. When rotated in the direction, the cable 13 moves so as to wind around the inner cylindrical portion 11a. Therefore, for example, the cable 13 on the outer side of the moving body 21 is inverted in a U shape along one opening end 21a while being in contact with the outer peripheral surface 21e of the moving body 21.
1 enters the inside of 1 and winds around the inner cylindrical portion 11a. At this time, the moving body 21 has one opening 21a.
Is pushed by the cable 13 and rotates counterclockwise.

When the inner cylindrical portion 11a is rotated clockwise, the cable 13 is unwound from the inner cylindrical portion 11a and moves so as to spread around. Then, the cable 13 comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface 21d of the moving body 21 and further inverts into a U shape while contacting the other open end 21b,
It moves to the outside of the moving body 21 and comes into contact with the inner surface of the outer cylindrical portion 12a. At this time, the movable body 21 rotates clockwise because the other open end 21b is pushed by the cable 13.

Then, for example, by rapidly rotating the handle to the right, the inner cylindrical portion 11a in FIG.
Suppose that suddenly rotates clockwise. Then, the cable 13 is suddenly unwound from the inner cylindrical portion 11a, contacts the inner peripheral surface of the moving body 21, and is inverted at the other opening end 21b to try to move to the outside of the moving body 21. . Then, the cable 1 that is inverted at the other open end 21b
The moving body 21 tries to start rotation by the force of 3, but it takes some time for the moving body 21 that has been stopped until now to reach a predetermined rotation speed. Therefore, the moving body 21 is still stopped at the moment when the handle is suddenly turned.

For this reason, the cable 13 pushed out by the rotation of the inner cylindrical portion 11a and surplus presses the inner peripheral surface 21d of the moving body 21 outward. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, each guide member 21 that constitutes the moving body 21.
2 swings outward with the connection hole 212a at one end as a fulcrum, and absorbs the excess cable 13. Therefore, even when the inner cylindrical portion 11a suddenly starts to rotate, it is possible to prevent the cable 13 from buckling so as to protrude from the opening 21c of the moving body 21.

Although the base member 211 is formed in a ring shape in the above embodiment, it may be formed in a C shape. In addition, each guide member 212
May be made lighter by constructing the frame structure.

[0021]

According to the present invention, for example, it is assumed that the inner cylindrical portion and the outer cylindrical portion start rotating relatively rapidly.
Then, the flexible flat cable is suddenly unwound from the inner cylindrical portion and comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the moving body, and also hits, for example, the other opening end of the opening portion and is inverted in a U-shape to be outside the moving body. Try to move. Then, when the flexible flat cable hits the other opening end of the opening, the moving body tries to start rotation, but the moving body that has been stopped until now does not become a state in which it instantaneously rotates at a predetermined rotation speed. Immediately after the relative rotation between the inner cylindrical portion and the outer cylindrical portion, the moving body is in a stopped state.

Therefore, the flexible flat cable that is pushed out by the inner cylindrical portion and is left over presses the inner peripheral surface of the moving body outward. Then, each guide member constituting the moving body swings outward with one end as a fulcrum, and absorbs the remaining flexible flat cable. Therefore, even when the inner cylindrical portion and the outer cylindrical portion rotate relatively rapidly, it is possible to prevent the flexible flat cable from buckling so as to protrude from the opening.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a relay device between relative rotating members shown as an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts showing a moving body of the relay device between relative rotation members.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an essential part for explaining the operation of the relay device between relative rotating members.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a relay device between relative rotating members shown as a conventional example.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts showing the relay device between relative rotation members.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Relay Device Between Relative Rotating Members 11 First Rotating Body (Rotating Body) 11a Inner Cylindrical Section 12 Second Rotating Body (Fixed Body) 12a Outer Cylindrical Section 13 Flexible Flat Cable (Cable) 13a Inner Circumferential End 13b Outer Perimeter End 21 Moving body 21a One opening end 21b Other opening end 21c Opening 21d Inner peripheral surface 211 Base member 212 Guide member K Space

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A first rotating body having an inner cylindrical portion, and a second rotating body surrounding the inner cylindrical portion at a predetermined interval and having an outer cylindrical portion rotating relative to the inner cylindrical portion. The rotating body is housed so as to be spirally wound along the annular space between the inner cylindrical portion and the outer cylindrical portion, and the inner peripheral end portion is held by the inner cylindrical portion and the outer peripheral end portion. A flexible flat cable having a portion held by the outer cylindrical portion, and a C-shaped moving body that is provided movably along the space and reverses the flexible flat cable at an opening. The body has a base member extending in the circumferential direction and a plurality of guide members whose one end is swingably connected to the base member and which is arranged in a C shape along the base member. Relative characterized by Rolling members between relay device.