JPH09148021A - Locking mechanism of steering roll connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a component for locking such as a engaging lever from interfering with other component belonging to a steering device, in a steering roll connector whose rotator becomes rotatable when a connector of external wiring is connected. SOLUTION: Two parallel slits are formed at the outer surface 5a of a rotator 5, and a flexible engaging lever 5d is provided between them, and a engaging projection 5e is formed at the foremost of the outer surface of this lever 5d. In the middle part, a projection 5f is formed which is depressed by the foremost surface 8a when a connector 8 is mounted on a connector connection part 7 for external wiring. In the condition that the connector 8 is not yet mounted on the connection part 7, the engaging projection 5e is engaged with a stator 4, and a engaging piece 3c is provided with which the engaging projection 5e is disengaged in the condition that the connector 8 is mounted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a locking mechanism for restricting relative rotation of a rotator and a stator in a steering roll connector having a casing composed of a rotator and a stator that rotate relative to each other.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a steering roll connector has
As shown in FIG. 4, which is a perspective view, a spirally wound flat cable is housed in a donut-shaped casing composed of a stator 11 and a rotator 12, and one end of the flat cable is on the stator 11 side and the other end is It is fixed to the rotator 12 side. Then, by fixing the stator 11 to a steering column (not shown) and further assembling a steering wheel (not shown),
The rotator 12 is connected to the steering wheel, and when the steering wheel is turned, the rotator 12 rotates while the winding state of the flat cable changes.

As described above, since the winding state of the flat cable changes with the rotation of the steering wheel,
If the neutral position of the wound state does not match the neutral position of the steering wheel, the flat cable may be stretched on the tightening side or the loosening side while the steering wheel is fully rotated. Therefore, conventionally, the rotation of the rotator 12 with respect to the stator 11 is restricted by the neutral fixing pin 13 to hold the neutral position, and the pin 13 is pulled out after the steering roll connector and the steering wheel are attached to the steering device. ing.

However, this type of steering roll connector has a problem that the step of removing the neutral fixing pin from the steering roll connector is required when the steering roll connector is mounted on an actual vehicle, and the work is complicated. Therefore, in order to solve such a problem, the applicant of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5 which is a cross-sectional view of a main part, changes the position of the external wiring connector connection portion 14 of the rotator 12 before and after the connection of the connector 15. The engagement lever 16 is provided, and the stator 1
1, there is proposed a roll connector provided with an engagement piece 17 which is engaged with the engagement lever 16 before the connection of the connector 15 and which is disengaged from the engagement lever 16 after the connection (actual opening 7-3459).
No. 2). In this configuration, the engagement lever 16 is curved when the connector 15 is connected, and the tip end portion thereof protrudes out of the surface of the roll connector and is disengaged from the engagement piece 17.

[0005]

However, when the tip of the engaging lever 16 is projected outward from the surface of the roll connector as described above, the engaging lever 16 is steered when the roll connector is incorporated into the steering device. There was a risk of interference with other parts of the device. Therefore,
A technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a steering roll connector in which an engaging lever is disengaged by connecting a connector of an external wiring so that a rotator can be rotated. Eliminating the risk of interference with parts.

[0006]

In order to solve the above technical problems, the locking mechanism for a steering roll connector according to the present invention is constructed as follows. That is, one of the rotator and the stator is a flexible engagement lever formed between two substantially parallel slits cut into the outer surface of the rotator and a stator, and an engagement portion formed at the tip of the outer surface of the engagement lever. Depressing means for pushing the engaging lever inward of the casing with the connector mounted on the external wiring connector connecting portion of one of the rotator and the stator is provided between the connector and the engaging lever. ing. Further, the other of the rotator and the stator is provided with an engaging piece that engages with the engaging protrusion of the engaging lever when the connector is not attached to the connector connecting portion, and disengages the engaging protrusion when the connector is attached. ing.

[0007]

In the above structure, when the external wiring connector is not attached to the connector connecting portion, the engaging protrusion of the engaging lever engages with the engaging piece, so that the rotation of the rotator is restricted. Therefore, the rotator can be held at the neutral position. On the other hand, when the connector of the external wiring is attached to the connector connecting portion, the engaging lever is pushed inward of the casing by the pushing-down means formed between the connector and the engaging lever, and the engaging projection is disengaged from the engaging piece. . Therefore, the rotator can be rotated.

As described above, according to the above structure, the relative rotation of the rotator and the stator can be regulated and released without using a separate member such as a pin, and the connector for external wiring can be attached to the connector connecting portion. Since the engaging lever is pushed down inward of the casing when doing so, the tip of the engaging lever does not project outside the casing even if the rotation restriction of the rotator is released, so there is no interference with other parts. It does not happen.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.
This will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part showing a lock mechanism of the steering roll connector, FIG. 2 is a central sectional view of the roll connector in a state where the external wiring connector is not attached, and FIG. 3 is a state in which the external wiring connector is attached. 2 is a central sectional view of the roll connector in FIG.

The casing 1 is made of plastic and has a substrate 2
The rotator 5 is combined with the stator 4 including the sub-stator 3. The substrate 2 has a substantially annular plate shape, and the sub-stator 3 has an outer peripheral wall 3 a fixed to the substrate 2.
And a flange 3b extending radially inward from its tip. The rotator 5 is a generally ring-shaped upper wall 5
a and an inner peripheral wall 5b formed on the inner peripheral edge thereof,
The inner peripheral wall 5b is inserted into the inner hole 2a of the substrate 2 and is located concentrically with the outer peripheral wall 3a of the sub-stator 3. Although not shown, the rotator 5 is rotatably held by the stator 4 at a position where the upper wall 5a is flush with the flange 3b.

The flat cable 6 wound in a spiral shape is housed in the casing 1 thus constructed. Although not shown in detail, one end of the flat cable 6 is fixed to a terminal (not shown) in the connector connecting portion 7 for external wiring provided on the rotator 5, and the other end is provided on the stator 4. It is fixed to a terminal in a connector connecting portion (not shown) for external wiring. Then, as the rotator 5 rotates with respect to the stator 4, the spirally wound flat cable 6 is tightened or loosened.

Two parallel slits 5c are formed in the upper wall 5a of the rotator 5, and a flexible engagement lever 5d is formed between them. Further, an engaging projection 5e protruding upward is formed at the tip of the upper surface of the engaging lever 5d, and a projection 5f is also formed at the intermediate portion. This projection 5
f is pushed down by the tip surface 8a of the connector 8 with the connector 8 attached to the external wiring connector connecting portion 7, and the upper end is lower than the upper surface of the upper wall 5a. In this way, the protrusion 5f of the engaging lever 5d and the tip surface 8a of the connector 8 are configured as a pushing-down unit that pushes down the engaging lever 5d.

On the other hand, on the flange 3b of the sub-stator 3, the connector 8 is not attached to the connector connecting portion 7 of the rotator 5, that is, the engaging projection 5e projects upward from the upper wall 5a and the flange 3b. With engagement lever 5d
An engaging piece 3c is formed so that the engaging projection 5e is sandwiched from both sides and the connector 8 is attached to the engaging projection 5e to lower the engaging projection 5e. The engaging piece 3c has an engaging protrusion 5e.
It is formed in two places with a slightly wider width.

If the steering roll connector is constructed as described above, the engaging projection 5e of the engaging lever 5d has two engaging pieces 3c when the external wiring connector 8 is not mounted.
Since the rotation of the rotator 5 is restricted, the rotator 5 can be held at the neutral position. On the other hand, when the connector 8 of the external wiring is attached to the connector connecting portion 7, the projection 5f is pushed by the tip surface 8a of the connector 8 and the engaging lever 5d is pushed inward of the casing 1, whereby the engaging projection 5e is formed. Since it disengages from the engagement piece 3c, the rotator can be rotated.

As described above, according to the above construction, the rotator 5 and the stator 4 are connected by the connector 8 without using separate members such as pins.
It is possible to regulate and cancel the relative rotation of. Further, when the connector 8 of the external wiring is attached to the connector connecting portion 7, the engagement lever 5d is pushed inward of the casing 1, and even if the rotation restriction of the rotator 5 is released, Since the tip does not protrude to the outside of the casing 1, it is possible to prevent the possibility of interference with other parts.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned structure, and can be implemented in various other modes. For example, contrary to the above example, the pushing-down means may form a protrusion on the tip surface of the connector, and the protrusion may push down the engaging lever. Alternatively, the engaging protrusion may be formed in a bifurcated shape, and the engaging piece may be inserted between them.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of essential parts showing an embodiment of a lock mechanism for a steering roll connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a central cross-sectional view of a roll connector in a state where a connector for external wiring is not attached.

FIG. 3 is a central cross-sectional view of the roll connector with external wiring connectors attached.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a steering roll connector including a lock mechanism according to a conventional example.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a main portion of a steering roll connector including a lock mechanism according to another conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 casing 2 substrate 2a inner hole 3 sub-stator 3a outer peripheral wall 3b flange 3c engaging piece 4 stator 5 rotator 5a upper wall 5b inner peripheral wall 5c slit 5d engaging lever 5e engaging protrusion 5f protrusion (pushing means) 6 flat cable 7 connector connection Part 8 Connector 8a Tip surface (pushing down means)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A rotator (5) and a stator (4) which rotate relative to each other.
The casing (1) is composed of and and the rotator (5)
A lock for restricting relative rotation between the rotator (5) and the stator (4) in a steering roll connector having an external wiring connector connecting portion (7) electrically connected to each other on the stator and the stator (4). In the mechanism, one (5) of the rotator (5) and the stator (4) has a flexible engagement lever (formed between two substantially parallel slits (5c) cut in the outer surface thereof. 5d) and an engagement protrusion (5e) formed at the tip of the outer surface of the engagement lever (5d), and the external wiring of one (5) of the rotator (5) and the stator (4). Depressing means (5f, 8a) for pushing down the engaging lever (5d) inward of the casing (1) with the connector (8) attached to the connector connecting portion (7) engages with the connector (8) Lever (5d)
The other side (4) of the rotator (5) and the stator (4) is provided between the engaging lever (5d) with the connector (8) not attached to the connector connecting portion (7). The mating protrusion (5e) is engaged, and the connector (8)
A locking mechanism for a steering roll connector, comprising: an engagement piece (3c) that allows the engagement protrusion (5e) to be disengaged when the steering roll connector is mounted.