JPH09251884A - Rotational connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce noisy collision sound generated when a flexible cable in the vicinity of a reverse part collides with an outer cylinder part or an inner cylinder part at the rotation end position of a handle. SOLUTION: A first elastic Rim 4 is provided over the almost full circumference of the inner circumference face of an outer cylinder part 2a provided in a fixing side housing 1, a second elastic film 8 is provided over the almost full circumference of the outer circumference face of an inner cylinder part 6a provided in a movable side housing 5, a flexible cable 10 is stored in an annular storage part 9 partitioned between these fixing side housing 1 and movable side housing 5, and the flexible cable 10 is wound in the reverse direction of the outer cylinder part 2a and of the inner cylinder part 6a, respectively in a state in which the winding direction is changed at a reverse part 10a half- way.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rotary connector incorporated in a steering device of an automobile and used as an electrical connecting means such as an air bag / inflator mounted on a steering wheel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A rotary connector is one in which a fixed housing and a movable housing, which are rotatably connected to each other, are connected by a belt-shaped flexible cable. It is roughly classified into a spiral type that is wound in a spiral shape in an annular storage portion that is formed, and a reverse type that is wound in the opposite direction through an inversion portion. The latter reversal type rotary connector is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,540,223 and the like, which requires a shorter length of flexible cable as compared with the former spiral type rotary connector. Done,
Cost can be reduced.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a conventional reversing type rotary connector. As shown in FIG. 5, the fixed housing 100 has a cylindrical outer cylinder portion 100a. The movable housing 101 is rotatably mounted. The movable-side housing 101 has a cylindrical inner cylinder portion 101a, and the inner cylinder portion 101a faces the outer cylinder portion 100a via an annular storage portion 102, and the storage portion 102 has flexibility. The cable 103 is stored. The flexible cable 103 has an outer cylinder portion 10.
0a and the inner tubular portion 101a, respectively, are led out to the outside of the storage portion 102, and the winding direction is changed inside the storage portion 102 via a U-shaped reversing portion 103a. ing. Further, a moving body (not shown) is arranged in the storage section 102, and a reversing section 103a of the flexible cable 103 is looped by a roller 104 pivotally supported by the moving body.

The rotary connector roughly constructed as described above is incorporated in a steering device of an automobile, the fixed side housing 100 is fixed to a stator member such as a combination switch, and the movable side housing 101 is connected to a handle on the rotor member side. As a result, it is used as an electrical connecting means such as an air bag / inflator attached to the handle and a horn switch.

When the handle (not shown) is rotated clockwise in FIG. 5 during use, the movable side housing 101 rotates in the same direction in conjunction with this, whereby the reversing portion 103a of the flexible cable 103 and the accommodating portion 102 are also rotated. When the flexible cable 103 is wound in the clockwise direction inside the outer tubular portion 10
The rewinding state in which the number on the 0a side is increased becomes. On the contrary, when the handle is rotated in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 5, the movable side housing 101 is rotated in the same direction in association with the rotation of the handle, so that the reversing portion 103a of the flexible cable 103 is also moved in the same direction. , The flexible cable 103 is the inner tube portion 101a
It is in a tightly tightened state with many windings on the side. During the tightening and rewinding, the roller 104 and the moving body (not shown) receive the force from the reversing portion 103a of the flexible cable 103 and move in the same direction.

[0006]

By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional rotary connector, the flexible cable 103 is arranged so that the amount of rotation of the movable housing 101 becomes substantially the same as the finite number of rotations of the handle. Since the length is set, the handle is rotated to the vicinity of the end position in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction, and most of the flexible cable 103 is wound around the inner cylinder portion 101a as shown in FIG. The inner peripheral surface of the outer tubular portion 100a is exposed toward the storage portion 102. In this state, when vibration is applied from the outside or the handle is rotated in the opposite direction and a force to rewind the flexible cable 103 is applied, the reversing unit 1
There is a problem that the flexible cable 103 in the vicinity of 03a collides with the inner peripheral surface of the outer tubular portion 100a, and a jarring collision sound is generated. On the contrary, even when most of the flexible cable 103 is rewound into the outer tubular portion 100a, the outer peripheral surface of the inner tubular portion 101a is exposed toward the storage portion 102, and therefore the reversing portion 103a is formed. Flexible cable 10 in the vicinity
3 may collide with the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion 101a. In particular, since a connector for leading out the flexible cable 103 to the outside is provided in the outer tubular portion 100a and the inner tubular portion 101a, the inner peripheral surface of the outer tubular portion 100a and the inner tubular portion 101a.
It is difficult to form a smooth curved outer peripheral surface of
The flexible cable 103 includes the outer tubular portion 100a and the inner tubular portion 101.
When colliding with the discontinuous uneven portion of a, the above-mentioned collision sound becomes remarkable.

[0007]

According to the present invention, an elastic film is provided along substantially the entire circumference of at least one of the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical portion and the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion, or the elastic film is flexible. The flexible cable was wound one or more turns to give the flexible cable the same function as the elastic film. With this configuration, even at the rotation end position of the handle, most of the inner peripheral surface of the outer tubular portion and the outer peripheral surface of the inner tubular portion are covered with the elastic film or the excess flexible cable, so that it is possible to cover near the reversing portion. The flexible cable does not directly collide with the outer cylinder portion and the inner cylinder portion, and the harsh collision noise is reduced.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In a rotary connector of the present invention, a movable housing having a fixed housing having an outer cylindrical portion and an inner cylindrical portion rotatably connected to the fixed housing and facing the outer cylindrical portion. And a flexible cable that is wound between the outer tubular portion and the inner tubular portion, and has a reversing portion that reverses the winding direction in the middle, and the inner peripheral surface of the outer tubular portion and the inner cable. The elastic film is provided along substantially the entire circumference of at least one of the outer peripheral surfaces of the tubular portion.

The elastic film can be attached to the peripheral surfaces of the outer cylinder portion and the inner cylinder portion by using an adhesive or the like. However, considering workability, both ends of the elastic film in the longitudinal direction are connected to the outer cylinder. It is good to engage with the peripheral surface of the inner portion and the inner cylindrical portion.

Further, in the rotating connector of the present invention, the fixed side housing attached to the stator member of the steering device and having the outer tubular portion, and the inner tubular portion connected to the handle of the steering device and facing the outer tubular portion. It has a movable side housing and a reversing part that reverses the winding direction in the middle, and can be wound around the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder part or the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder part in conjunction with the rotation operation of the handle. A flexible cable is provided, and when the handle is rotated in any one of forward and reverse directions, the flexible cable has the inner peripheral surface side of the outer cylindrical portion or the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion at a rotation end position thereof. It was decided to wind at least one extra turn on the side.

In this case, the flexible cable wound one turn or more in many turns does not participate in tightening and unwinding, and is always wound around the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical portion or the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion. Therefore, it has the same function as the elastic film.

[0012]

Embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 is a perspective view of a rotary connector according to an embodiment, FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the rotary connector, and FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the rotary connector.

As shown in these figures, the fixed housing 1 comprises a tubular body 2 and a bottom plate 3, and the tubular body 2 and the bottom plate 3 are integrated by an appropriate means such as heat welding. The cylindrical body 2 is integrally formed with a cylindrical outer cylinder portion 2a and a mounting portion 2b protruding outward from a lower end of the outer cylinder portion 2a. As shown in FIG. 3, the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical portion 2a is formed by a plurality of rib-shaped projections so as to have irregularities. The first elastic film 4 made of is provided alongside. Both ends in the longitudinal direction of the first elastic film 4 are locked to the outer cylindrical portion 2a, and the elastic film itself forms a smooth curved surface. Therefore, the inner peripheral surface of the outer tubular portion 2a becomes a smooth curved surface by the first elastic film 4, and the space 15 is formed between them.

The movable housing 5 comprises a rotating body 6 and a rotating hub 7, and the rotating body 6 and the rotating hub 7 are integrated by snap coupling. The rotating body 6 is integrally formed with a cylindrical inner cylinder portion 6a and a top plate 6b protruding outward from the upper end of the inner cylinder portion 6a. As shown in FIG.
The outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion 6a is also formed into a surface having irregularities by a plurality of rib-shaped projections, and the second elastic film 8 made of a PET sheet material or the like is formed over substantially the entire outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion 6a. It is located alongside. Both ends in the longitudinal direction of the second elastic film 8 are locked to the inner cylindrical portion 6a, and the elastic film itself forms a smooth curved surface. Therefore, the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion 6a becomes a smooth curved surface by the second elastic film 8, and the space 16 is formed between the two.

The movable side housing 5 is the fixed side housing 1.
Is rotatably connected to the center of the movable housing 5. The outer cylindrical portion 2a of the fixed housing 1 and the bottom plate 3 and the inner cylindrical portion 6a of the movable housing 5 and the top plate 6b define an annular storage portion 9. There is. A flexible cable 10 is housed in the housing portion 9, and the flexible cable 10 extends from the outer tubular portion 2a to the first portion.
Is wound in a counterclockwise direction along the elastic film 4 and is changed in winding direction at the reversing portion 10a in the middle, and then wound in the clockwise direction around the second elastic film 8 to reach the inner cylindrical portion 6a. Has been done. One end of the flexible cable 10 is led out to the outside of the fixed housing 1 via a relay connector 11 attached to the tubular body 2, and the other end of the flexible cable 10 is attached to the rotating body 6. It is led out to the outside of the movable housing 5 via the connector 12. further,
A ring-shaped moving body 13 is arranged in the storage section 9, and a plurality of rollers 14 are axially supported by the moving body, and one of these rollers 14 is provided with a reversing section 10 of a flexible cable 10.
a is looped.

The rotary connector thus constructed is incorporated in a steering device of an automobile, and the mounting portion 2b of the fixed housing 1 is fixed to a stator member such as a combination switch. Further, the steering shaft is inserted into the rotary hub 7 of the movable housing 5, and the connecting pin 6c of the rotary body 6 is locked to the handle integrated with the steering shaft, so that the airbag / inflator mounted on the handle is inflated. It is used as an electrical connection means such as a horn switch.

When the handle (not shown) is rotated in the clockwise direction in FIG. 3 during use, the movable housing 5 rotates in the same direction in conjunction with this, whereby the flexible cable 10 is rotated.
The reversing part 10a and the moving body 13 move in the storage part 9 in the clockwise direction, and the flexible cable 10 is in a tightly wound state in which the flexible cable 10 is wound a lot on the inner cylinder part 6a side. On the contrary, when the handle is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 3, the movable side housing 5 is rotated in the same direction in conjunction with the rotation of the handle, so that the reversing portion 10a of the flexible cable 10 and the moving body 13 are also rotated. The flexible cable 10 is wound in the unwinding state in which the outer cylinder portion 2a side is increased.

When the handle is rotated to, for example, the vicinity of the end position in the clockwise direction during the operation of the above rotary connector, the flexible cable 10 is fed out from the outer tubular portion 2a side, and most of it is wound around the inner tubular portion 6a side. To be At that time, since the first elastic film 4 is provided along substantially the entire circumference of the inner peripheral surface of the outer tubular portion 2a, and the first elastic film 4 forms a smooth curved surface, the reversing portion 10a is formed. Even if the flexible cable 10 in the vicinity moves vigorously in the direction of the outer cylinder portion 2a, the movement is softened by the first elastic film 4, and a jarring collision sound is hardly generated. In particular, in this embodiment, the outer tube portion 2a and the first elastic film 4 are
Since a space 15 is formed between the first and second flexible films 10, the sound of the flexible cable 10 striking the first elastic film 4 is weakened, so that the harsh collision sound is further reduced. On the contrary, when the handle is rotated to the vicinity of the end position in the counterclockwise direction and the flexible cable 10 is unwound from the inner tubular portion 6a side and almost rewound to the outer tubular portion 2a side, the reversing portion The flexible cable 10 and the inner cylindrical portion 6 near 10a
The sound of collision with a can be reduced by the second elastic film 8. Also in this case, since the space 16 formed between the inner tubular portion 6a and the second elastic film 8 weakens the sound of the flexible cable 10 striking the second elastic film 8, a jarring collision sound. Is further reduced.

In the above-described embodiment, the rotary connector in which the length of the flexible cable 10 is set so that the amount of rotation of the movable housing 5 is substantially the same as the finite number of rotations of the handle has been described. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the movable side housing 5 with respect to the finite number of rotations of the handle.
The rotation amount is set to be sufficiently long, and the first and second elastic films 4 and 8 are omitted. For example, the finite number of rotations of the handle is about 1.5 clockwise and counterclockwise respectively.
In the case of rotation, if the length of the flexible cable 10 is set so that the movable housing 5 can rotate about 6 times in the tightening direction and about 3 rotations in the rewinding direction, the flexible cable 10 is flexible regardless of the rotating position of the handle. It is possible to create a state in which the sex cable 10 is always wound around one or more turns of the outer tubular portion 2a and the inner tubular portion 6a. That is, the excess flexible cable 10 does not participate in the winding tightening operation and the unwinding operation, but even when the handle is rotated to the end position, the excess amount of the flexible cable 10 is 1 along the peripheral surface of the outer tubular portion 2a and the inner tubular portion 6a. Since it is wound for more than one turn, the flexible cable 10 near the reversing portion 10a is prevented from directly colliding with the outer tubular portion 2a and the inner tubular portion 6a, and the first and second elastic films 4 and 8 are It has the same function.

[0020]

The present invention is embodied in the form described above and has the following effects.

When the elastic film is provided along substantially the entire circumference of at least one of the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical portion provided on the fixed housing and the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion provided on the movable housing. At the end of rotation of the handle,
Since the elastic film covers most of the inner surface of the outer cylinder and the outer surface of the inner cylinder, the flexible cable in the vicinity of the reversing part does not directly collide with the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder, resulting in a jarring collision noise. Can be reduced.

Further, when the flexible cable is wound around the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical portion or the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion at least one turn at the end of rotation of the handle, Regardless of the rotation position of the handle, it is possible to create a state in which the flexible cable is always wrapped around the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder and the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder. The flexible cable does not directly collide with the outer cylinder portion and the inner cylinder portion, and it is possible to reduce a jarring collision noise.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rotary connector according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the rotary connector of FIG.

3 is a cross-sectional view of the rotary connector of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a rotation range of a rotary connector and a handle according to another embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a conventional rotary connector.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a problem of the rotary connector of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Fixed Side Housing 2 Cylindrical Body 2a Outer Tube Section 4 First Elastic Film 5 Movable Side Housing 6 Rotating Body 6a Inner Tube Section 8 Second Elastic Film 9 Storage Section 10 Flexible Cable 10 10a Inversion Section 11, 12 Relay connector 13 Moving body 14 Rollers 15 and 16 Space

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A fixed housing having an outer tubular portion, a movable housing having an inner tubular portion rotatably connected to the fixed housing and facing the outer tubular portion, the outer tubular portion and the inner tubular member. And a flexible cable having a reversing portion that reverses the winding direction in the middle, and at least one of an inner peripheral surface of the outer tubular portion and an outer peripheral surface of the inner tubular portion. A rotary connector characterized in that an elastic film is provided along substantially the entire circumference of one peripheral surface. 2. The elastic film according to claim 1, wherein both ends in the longitudinal direction of the elastic film are locked to at least one peripheral surface of the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical portion and the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion. Characteristic rotating connector. 3. A fixed-side housing attached to a stator member of a steering device and having an outer cylinder part; a movable-side housing connected to a handle of the steering device and having an inner cylinder part facing the outer cylinder part; A flexible cable that is wound around the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder portion or the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder portion in conjunction with the rotating operation of the handle, When the handle is rotated in either one of the forward and reverse directions, at the end of the rotation, the flexible cable has at least one extra turn on the inner peripheral surface side of the outer cylindrical portion or the outer peripheral surface side of the inner cylindrical portion. A rotary connector characterized by being wound around.