JPH09232059A - Relatively rotating member connection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a relatively rotating member connection device to prevent buckling in an inner peripheral end part of a flexible flat cable. SOLUTION: This relay 10 is provided with a second rotary body (a fixed body) which surrounds an inside cylinder part 11a of a first rotary body (a rotary body) 11 at a prescribed interval and has an outside cylinder part 12a to relatively rotate to this and a flexible flat cable (a cable) 13 which is housed so as to run along an annular space between the inside cylinder part 11a and the outside cylinder part 12a and whose inner peripheral end part 13a is held by the inside cylinder part 11a and outer peripheral end part is held by the outer peripheral cylinder part. A ring-shaped member 21 which surrounds its outer peripheral surface and holds the inner peripheral end part 13a of the flexible flat cable (a cable) 13 is arranged in the inside cylinder part 11a. This is held so that the inner peripheral end part 13a turns in the nearly tangent direction of an outer peripheral surface of the inside cylinder part 11a.

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, a relay device 10 between relative rotating members shown in FIGS. 10 to 11, for example, is known. This relative rotating member relay device 1
Reference numeral 0 denotes a rotating body (first rotating body) 11 having an inner cylindrical portion 11a and a fixed body (second rotating body) 1 having an outer cylindrical portion 12a surrounding the inner cylindrical portion 11a with a predetermined interval.
2, and is housed in an annular space K between the inner cylindrical portion 11a and the outer cylindrical portion 12a in a spirally wound state along the same space K, and the inner peripheral end portion 13a has the inner cylindrical portion 11a. And a cable (flexible flat cable) 13 whose outer peripheral end 13b is held by the outer cylindrical portion 12a.

A cover member 14 is provided on the fixed body 12 so as to cover the upper side of the space K and the periphery of the outer cylindrical portion 12a. The cover member 14 is composed of an upper cover 14a that covers the upper side of the space K and a cylindrical portion 14b that surrounds the outer cylindrical portion 12a, and does not rotate relative to the fixed body 12. There is. An opening 14c is formed in the center of the upper cover 14a.
Further, the fixed body 12 includes a lower cover 1 that covers the lower side of the space K.
2b is formed integrally with the outer cylindrical portion 12a.

Further, an external lead-out cover 110 is rotatably provided on the upper side of the cover member 14. The external lead-out cover 110 is provided with the opening 1 of the cover member 14.
It is connected to the inner cylindrical portion 11a via 4c. Then, in the external lead-out cover 110, a through hole 110a formed coaxially with the inner cylindrical portion 11a, and the through hole 11a.
A box portion 1 for holding a concave portion 110b provided in a part of the cable 0a for leading out the cable 13 and a connecting portion 16 between an inner peripheral end portion 13a of the cable 13 and an external cable 15.
10c are provided.

Further, the outer cylindrical portion 12a is provided with a box portion 12c for holding a connecting portion 16 between the outer peripheral end portion 13b of the cable 13 and the external cable 15.

The cable 13 has an inner peripheral end portion 13
a is bent at a right angle, and the bent portion is held by the holding portion 11b of the inner cylindrical portion 11a. As shown in FIG. 11, the inner cylindrical portion 11a is provided with a guide groove 11c for guiding the cable 13 so as to reach the outer peripheral surface from the holding portion 11b.

The rotating body 11 is connected to, for example, the steering wheel side of a steering wheel of an automobile, and the fixed body 12 is fixed to the steering column side.

In the inter-relative-rotating-member relay device 10 configured as described above, for example, the inner cylindrical portion 11a is moved to the left by rotating the steering wheel to the left.
At 0, it is assumed that it has rotated counterclockwise CC. In this case, the cable 13 moves so as to wind around the inner cylindrical portion 11a from the outer cylindrical portion 12a side. When the inner cylindrical portion 11a rotates in the clockwise direction C, the cable 13 wound around the inner cylindrical portion 11a is rewound and moves to the outer cylindrical portion 12a side.

[0009]

By the way, in the relay device 10 between relative rotation members, for example, the inner cylindrical portion 1 is used.
When 1a rotates counterclockwise CC, cable 13
Since it moves like being pulled and winds around the inner cylindrical portion 11a, buckling does not occur in the cable 13. However, when the inner cylindrical portion 11a rotates in the clockwise direction C, the cable 13 moves so as to be pushed out from the inner cylindrical portion 11a to the outer cylindrical portion 12a as shown in FIG. The force of will act. Therefore, when the inner cylindrical portion 11a is rotated in the clockwise direction C, the cable 13 may be buckled.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 11, the guide groove 11
Guide direction L1 of the cable 13, which is the direction in which c extends
And the tangential direction L2 of the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion 11a at the position of the guide groove 11c intersect at a predetermined angle A1. Therefore, the compressive force F1 acting on the cable 13 from the inner cylindrical portion 11a acts in the guide direction L1, and the compressive force F1 is divided into a tangential component force F2 along the tangential direction L2 and this tangential component force F2. It will be decomposed into orthogonal normal component F3. Since the normal direction component force F3 acts so as to bend the cable 13, there is a drawback that the cable 13 easily buckles at the inner peripheral end 13a.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object thereof is to provide a relay device between relative rotating members capable of preventing buckling at the inner peripheral end of a flexible flat cable. Especially.

[0012]

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. Relay device having a flexible flat cable that is housed along the space of the inner peripheral end of the flexible flat cable, the inner peripheral end of which is held by the inner cylindrical part, and the outer peripheral end of which is held by the outer cylindrical part. The inner cylindrical portion is provided with a ring-shaped member that surrounds an outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion and holds an inner peripheral end portion of the flexible flat cable. It is characterized in that the inner peripheral end portion of the flat cable is held so as to be oriented substantially tangentially to the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion.

At the axial end of the inner cylindrical portion,
It is configured to connect an outer lead-out cover for leading the inner peripheral end of the flexible flat cable to the outside, and the ring-shaped member is preferably formed integrally with the outer lead-out cover.

In the invention configured as described above, the flexible flat cable is pushed out so as to be rewound from the inner cylindrical portion to the outer cylindrical portion by the relative rotation between the inner cylindrical portion and the outer cylindrical portion. To do.
In this case, a force in the compression direction, that is, a compression force is applied to the flexible flat cable, but the inner peripheral end portion of the flexible flat cable is oriented substantially tangentially to the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion by the ring-shaped member. Thus, most of the compressive force is a tangential component force that points in the tangential direction. That is, most of the compressive force acts in the extending direction of the flexible flat cable. In other words, since the normal-direction component force generated in the direction orthogonal to the tangential direction hardly acts on the flexible flat cable, the normal-direction component force may bend the flexible flat cable. Disappear.

Therefore, it is possible to prevent the flexible flat cable from buckling at the inner peripheral end.

Further, in the case where the ring-shaped member is integrally formed with the external lead-out cover, the number of parts is reduced as compared with the case where the ring-shaped member and the external lead-out cover are formed separately. Can be achieved.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. However, FIGS. 1 to 4 are the first embodiment, FIG. 5 is another example of the rotating body and the ring-shaped member in the first embodiment, FIGS. 6 to 7 are the second embodiment, and FIGS. FIG. 9 shows a third embodiment.

First, a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. However, elements common to the constituent elements of the conventional example shown in FIGS. 10 to 11 are designated by the same reference numerals to simplify the description. The difference between the first embodiment and the conventional example is that the cable 13 is attached to the rotating body (first rotating body) 11.
The point is that a ring-shaped member 21 for holding the inner peripheral end portion 13a is provided.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the rotating body 11 has a flange portion 11d at the lower end portion of the inner cylindrical portion 11a. The collar portion 11d is configured to fit into the step portion 12d provided on the lower cover 12b. The inside of the stepped portion 12d is a through hole 12e. Also,
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, three fitting grooves 11e are axially formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion 11a. Further, on the upper end surface of the inner cylindrical portion 11a, a screw hole (not shown) is provided to form a screw hole 11f for connection with the external lead-out cover 110. The rotating body 11 is integrally formed of resin.

The ring-shaped member 21 is made of a metal such as aluminum or steel and is formed into a thin cylindrical shape.
The inner peripheral surface is formed so as to be in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion 11a. Further, on the inner surface of the ring-shaped member 21, there are formed fitting ridges 21a that fit into the fitting grooves 11e of the inner cylindrical portion 11a. Further, the ring-shaped member 2
1, an opening 211 extending in the axial direction is formed in a part of the circumferential direction.

The opening 211 is formed near the obliquely extending guide groove 11c, and the cable 13 extending from the guide groove 11c to the outside exits from one opening end 211a.
It is formed so as to face the other open end 211b. Then, one opening end 211a is rounded into an arc shape, and the other opening end 211b is formed so that the outer peripheral surface thereof gradually becomes thinner toward the inner peripheral surface. That is, the ring-shaped member 21 is configured to hold the inner peripheral end portion 13a of the cable 13 so as to face substantially the tangential direction L2 (see FIG. 2) of the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion 11a.

Further, each fitting ridge 21 of the ring-shaped member 21
As shown in FIG. 3, a locking recess 21b is formed in a, and a locking projection 11g that fits in the locking recess 21b is formed in each fitting groove 11e of the inner cylindrical portion 11a. ing. That is, the locking concave portion 21b and the locking convex portion 11
By fitting with g, the ring-shaped member 21 is fixed to the inner cylindrical portion 11a.

In the inter-relative rotating member relay device 10 constructed as described above, the rotating body 11 rotates relative to the fixed body 12 due to the rotation of the steering wheel, and the cable 13 moves toward the inner cylindrical portion 11a. From the outer cylindrical part 1
It is assumed that it is pushed out so as to be rewound to the 2a side. That is, in FIG. 1, it is assumed that the rotating body 11 rotates in the clockwise direction C. In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, the compression force F1 acts on the cable 13. This compressive force F
1 is a direction in which the cable 13 is guided by the other open end 211b of the ring-shaped member 21, that is, a guiding direction L1.
Will work.

However, since the ring-shaped member 21 is formed thin and the other opening end 211b is formed so as to be gradually thinned, the guide direction L1 and the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion 11a are The angle A2 at which the tangential direction L2 intersects is extremely small. That is, the cable 13
Will be wound continuously from the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion 11a along the outer peripheral surface of the ring-shaped member 21 so as to face the tangential direction L2 of the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion 11a.

Therefore, most of the compressive force F1 becomes a tangential component force F2 that faces the tangential direction L2. That is, the normal direction component force F3 generated in the direction orthogonal to the tangential direction L2 hardly occurs, and this normal direction component force F
3 prevents the cable 13 from being bent. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the cable 13 from buckling at the inner peripheral end 13a thereof.

Further, since the ring-shaped member 21 is made of metal, the cable 13 can be held with sufficient strength even if it is formed thin.

The ring-shaped member 21 has a guide groove 11c.
It is preferable that the inner surface from the one end 211a to the one end is separated from the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion 11a by the thickness of the cable 13.

The rotating body 11 and the ring-shaped member 2 are also provided.
1 may be configured as shown in FIG.
That is, in FIG. 5, the rotating body 11 is configured by forming the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion 11a into a cylindrical surface shape. Further, the ring-shaped member 21 is configured by providing a flange portion 21d on the upper end portion of the cylindrical portion 21c.
Is fixed to the upper end of the inner cylindrical portion 11a with a screw (not shown). Then, the inner cylindrical portion 11
The ring-shaped member 21 and the inner cylindrical portion 11a are held coaxially by fitting the flange portion 21d into the annular convex portion 11h provided at the upper end of a.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. However, elements common to those of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are designated by the same reference numerals to simplify the description. The main difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that the ring-shaped member 21 is provided on the external lead-out cover 110.

That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the ring-shaped member 21 is integrally formed on the lower surface of the external lead-out cover 110 with the same resin as that of the external lead-out cover 110. An annular recess 110d is provided on the lower surface of the outer lead-out cover 110, and the inner cylindrical portion 11a is provided.
An annular convex portion 11i that fits into the annular concave portion 110d is formed at the upper end of the. Then, these recesses 11
By fitting 0d and the convex portion 11i, the external lead-out cover 110 and the inner cylindrical portion 11a are coaxially connected.

Further, as in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the ring-shaped member 21 has an opening (not shown) at a position separated from the guide groove 11c (see FIG. 7) by a predetermined amount. It is provided. One opening end and the other opening end of this opening are the one opening end 2 shown in the first embodiment.
11a and the other opening end 211b are formed in the same shape.

Further, the ring-shaped member 21 is simply formed in a cylindrical shape and is not provided with the fitting projection 21a (see FIG. 1) as shown in the first embodiment. Similarly, the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion 11a is also formed into a cylindrical surface shape, and the fitting groove 11 as shown in the first embodiment.
e (see FIG. 1) is not provided.

In the relay device between relative rotating members configured as described above, since the ring-shaped member 21 is formed integrally with the external lead-out cover 110, the ring-shaped member 21 is formed.
The number of components can be reduced as compared with the case where the external lead-out cover 110 and the external lead-out cover 110 are separately configured. In addition, the same operational effects as those of the first embodiment are obtained.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. However, elements common to those of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are designated by the same reference numerals to simplify the description. The main difference of the third embodiment from the first embodiment is that a movable body 31 for inverting the cable 13 is provided.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 8 to 9, the movable body 31 is provided so as to be movable along the annular space K, and the cable C is reversed at the opening 31a so that the cable 13 is reversed. It is formed in a letter shape. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, when the rotating body 11 rotates in the counterclockwise direction CC, the moving body 31 rotates in the counterclockwise direction CC with one open end 31b being pushed by the cable 13, and the inner cylindrical portion 11a. When is rotated in the clockwise direction C, the other opening end 31c is pushed by the cable 13 and rotated in the clockwise direction.

In the inter-relative rotating member relay device 10 configured as described above, the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body 11 and the moving body 3 are arranged.
It is desirable that the space K1 between the inner peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of No. 1 has a uniform circular shape. That is, if the space K1 is not circularly uniform, the bending durability of the cable 13 is reduced. Further, when the space K1 is not circularly uniform, the space K1 is widened to prevent the bending durability of the cable 13 from being lowered. However, if the space K1 is wide, there is a drawback that the entire apparatus becomes large.

However, in the case of the present embodiment, since the ring-shaped member 21 is wound around the outer periphery of the rotating body 11 to have a uniform thickness, the outer peripheral surface of the ring-shaped member 21 and the inner periphery of the moving body 31. The space K1 between the surfaces becomes uniform in a circular shape. Therefore, the bending durability of the cable 13 does not decrease,
Further, there is an effect that the entire device does not become large.

Although the first embodiment and the example shown in FIG. 5 do not show the structure for coaxially connecting the outer lead-out cover 110 and the inner cylindrical portion 11a, FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, it is preferable that the outer lead-out cover 110 and the inner cylindrical portion 11a are coaxially connected to each other by using the annular recess 110d and the annular protrusion 11i.

Further, in the example of FIG. 5 and the second embodiment, the gap is provided between the ring-shaped member 21 and the inner cylindrical portion 11a, but the ring-shaped member 21 and the inner cylindrical portion 11a are formed. May be in close contact with each other. However, even in that case, it is preferable that the inner surface of the ring-shaped member 21 is separated from the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion 11a by the thickness of the cable 13 in the portion where the cable 13 is interposed.

Further, in the second embodiment, the external lead-out cover 110 and the ring-shaped member 21 are integrally formed of the same resin, but a metal ring is formed by insert molding. External lead-out cover 1
You may comprise so that it may be provided in 10 integrally.

Furthermore, in the third embodiment, the movable body 31 is arranged to be movable in the space K, but the movable body 31 is regulated coaxially with the rotating body 11. Then, it may be configured to rotate coaxially with the rotating body 11.

[0042]

According to the present invention, it is assumed that the flexible flat cable is pushed out so as to be rewound from the inner cylindrical portion to the outer cylindrical portion by the relative rotation of the inner cylindrical portion and the outer cylindrical portion. In this case, a force in the compression direction, that is, a compression force is applied to the flexible flat cable, but the inner peripheral end portion of the flexible flat cable is oriented substantially tangentially to the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion by the ring-shaped member. Thus, most of the compressive force is a tangential component force that points in the tangential direction. That is, most of the compressive force acts in the extending direction of the flexible flat cable. In other words, since the normal-direction component force generated in the direction orthogonal to the tangential direction hardly acts on the flexible flat cable, the normal-direction component force may bend the flexible flat cable. Disappear.

Therefore, it is possible to prevent the flexible flat cable from buckling at the inner peripheral end.

Further, in the case where the ring-shaped member is formed integrally with the external lead-out cover, the number of parts is reduced as compared with the case where the ring-shaped member and the external lead-out cover are formed separately. Can be achieved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a rotary body and a ring-shaped member of a relative rotary member relay device shown as a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining the operation of the relay device between relative rotation members.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a rotating body and a ring-shaped member of the relay device between relative rotating members.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the relay device between relative rotating members.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view showing another example of a rotating body and a ring-shaped member of the relay device between relative rotating members.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of a main part of a relay device between relative rotating members, which is shown as a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing the relay device between relative rotation members.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a rotating body, a ring-shaped member, a fixed body, and a moving body of the relative rotary member relay device shown as the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing the relay device between relative rotating members.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a relay device between relative rotation members shown as a conventional example.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a problem of the conventional example.

[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 Ring-shaped member 110 Outer lead cover K space

Claims (2)

[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 along the annular space between the inner cylindrical portion and the outer cylindrical portion, the inner peripheral end portion is held by the inner cylindrical portion, the outer peripheral end portion on the outer cylindrical portion. A relative rotating member relay device including a held flexible flat cable, wherein the inner cylindrical portion surrounds an outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion and holds an inner peripheral end portion of the flexible flat cable. And a ring-shaped member for holding the inner peripheral end portion of the flexible flat cable so as to be oriented substantially tangentially to the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion. Relative rotation member Relay device. 2. An outer lead-out cover for leading out an inner peripheral end of a flexible flat cable to an outer end of the inner cylindrical portion in the axial direction, the ring-shaped member comprising: The relay device between relative rotating members according to claim 1, wherein the relay device is formed integrally with the external lead-out cover.