JPH10188739A - Steering device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To connect steering-wheel-side electric equipment to a body-side circuit under good conditions and enable a turn signal to be turned off automatically, while using a simple, inexpensive, easy-to-assembly structure. SOLUTION: This steering device is provided with a cable reel 12 comprising a fixed case 16 and a rotating part 18, around a steering shaft 10, and parts fitted to a steering wheel 14 are connected to a body-side circuit via a cable 20 enclosed in the cable reel 12 while being wound up. A cancel switch operating part 58 is formed integrally with the rotating part 18, and when the steering wheel 14 returns to a neutral position, the cancel switch operating part 18 operates the cancel switch of a turn-signal-lamp switch device to automatically turn off a turn signal.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automobile steering system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a steering apparatus for an automobile, various electric components such as a horn, an airbag, a cruise control, and an audio switch are sometimes provided on a steering wheel. In this case, since the electrical component rotates together with the steering wheel, in order to secure the connection between the electrical component and the circuit on the body side, for example, as shown in JP-A-57-66045, a cable reel is used. A special connection means using a cookie is required.

FIG. 7 shows a conventional example of a steering device provided with such a connection means. This device includes a steering column 80, a steering shaft 82, a switch mounting bracket 84, switch devices 86 and 87, a cancel switch operating member 88, a cable reel 90, and a steering wheel 100. Are directly connected.

[0004] A steering column 80 is fixed to the body side, and a steering shaft 82 is rotatably inserted into the steering column 80. The switch mounting bracket 84 has switch mounting portions 8 on both left and right ends thereof.
4a, and has a trapezoidal shape that can be fixed to the end surface of the steering column 80. The switch devices 86 and 87 are
The turn signal lamp and the wiper are turned on / off by the driver's operation, respectively. The switch device 86 for the turn signal lamp has a switch device for automatically turning it off (that is, for automatically turning off the turn signal). A cancel switch 86a is protruded.
When the switch mounting bracket 84 is fixed to the steering column 80 in a state where the switch devices 86 and 87 are connected to the respective switch mounting portions 84a, the two switch devices 86 and 87 are connected to the steering column 80. Installation has been performed.

The cancel switch operating member 88 is formed in a tubular shape that can be fitted onto the steering shaft 82, and rotates integrally with the steering shaft 82 by fitting with a rib 82a provided on the steering shaft 82. The cancel switch operating member 88 is provided with a cancel switch operating portion 88a protruding from the outer peripheral surface thereof. When the steering wheel 100 returns to the neutral position, the cancel switch operation unit 88a operates the switch device 86.
The shape of the cancel switch operating member 88 is set so as to operate the cancel switch 86a.

The cable reel 90 includes a case 92 that opens upward, and a rotating plate 94 that is rotatably attached to the case 92 so as to close the opening. The rotating plate 94 is formed with an electric wire insertion portion 96 that penetrates vertically and a drive pin 98 that projects upward.
Electrical components (horns, airbags, etc.) on the steering wheel 100 side are connected to outer ends of the electric wires inserted into the inside 6. Then, while the case 92 is fixed to the upper surface of the switch mounting bracket 84, the drive pin 98 of the rotating plate 94 is engaged with an unillustrated engagement hole provided on the steering wheel 100 side. A rotating plate 94 is connected to the steering wheel 100 so as to rotate integrally therewith.

A flat cable (not shown) is accommodated in the case 92 in a wound state (a spiral state). The outer end of the flat cable is connected to the body-side circuit, while the inner end is connected to the electric wire in the electric wire insertion portion 96. The flat cable itself is attached to the body by a biasing means (not shown). It is being rushed.

According to such a steering device, the connection between the electric component on the steering wheel 100 side and the circuit on the body side can be kept good through the flat cable and the electric wire in the electric wire insertion portion 96 as a medium. it can. That is, even if the steering wheel 100 and its electrical components rotate relative to the body side in this device, the number of turns of the flat cable in the cable reel 90 only increases or decreases accordingly, and the winding of this flat cable The state and the connection state via the flat cable are maintained well.

[0009]

In the above-mentioned conventional apparatus, a cylindrical cancel switch operating member 88 is mounted around a steering shaft 82, and a cable reel 90 is further disposed thereon. The number of parts increases. Further, in order to fix the cancel switch operation member 88, it is necessary to devise a method such as forming a rib 82a on the steering shaft 82, which complicates the structure. In addition, the number of times of operation of bolts and the like for fixing is large, and considerable assembly time is required. All of these are major barriers to cost reduction.

In view of such circumstances, the present invention has a simple and inexpensive structure, is easy to assemble, satisfactorily connects the electrical components on the steering wheel side to the body side circuit, and provides a turn signal. An object of the present invention is to provide a steering device that can be automatically released.

[0011]

As a means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the present invention comprises a case and a rotating portion which are rotatable relative to each other around a steering shaft to which a steering wheel is connected. A cable reel for winding and storing a cable connecting the electrical components mounted on the steering wheel side and the circuit on the body side is disposed therein, and a case of the cable reel is fixed to a member on the body side, and a rotating unit is provided. A steering device connected to the steering wheel so as to rotate integrally with the steering wheel, a switch device for turning on and off a turn signal lamp is arranged near the steering shaft, and the switch device for turn signal lamp is provided. For automatic cancellation of turn signal provided in While the switch is positioned near the cable reel, a cancel switch operating section is integrally formed with the rotating section of the cable reel, and the cancel switch operating section operates the cancel switch when the steering wheel returns to the neutral position. The position where the cancel switch operating portion is formed is set so that the turn signal is released by operating the cancel switch.

According to this device, regardless of the rotation of the steering wheel, the connection between the electric component on the steering wheel side and the circuit on the body side is maintained through the wound cable in the cable reel. Moreover, since the cancel switch operating section for operating the cancel switch of the switch device for the turn signal lamp is formed integrally with the rotating section of the cable reel, a part for operating the cancel switch is separately mounted on the steering shaft. Compared with the conventional apparatus, the number of parts is small, the structure is simple, and the number of assembling steps is reduced.

The specific form of the cancel switch operating portion is not particularly limited. For example, the rotating portion is configured to penetrate the case in the axial direction, and a predetermined portion on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating portion located outside the case is provided. The cancel switch operating section may be protruded at an angular position, or the cancel switch operating section may extend in the axial direction from a predetermined angular position of the main body of the rotating section.

[0014]

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

The steering apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes a steering shaft 10, a cable reel 12, and a steering wheel 14.
Is rotatably inserted into a steering column 11 fixed to the body side. Steering wheel 14
A boss 13 is formed at the center of the steering wheel 10, and the boss 13 is externally fitted to the distal end of the steering shaft 10, whereby the steering wheel 14 and the steering shaft 10 are directly connected.

The cable reel 12 is interposed between the steering wheel 14 and the steering column 11. The cable reel 12 includes a case 16 and a rotating part 18 as shown in FIGS.
It has a cylindrical shape surrounding 0.

The body of the case 16 has the shape of a circular container with a bottom opening upward, and a flat cable 20
Are stored in a wound state. A connector housing 22 that opens downward is formed on the outer periphery of the case 16, and a connector 24 is fixed in the connector housing 22. The flat cable 2 is connected to the terminal of the connector 24.
0 is connected to the outer end of each wire. Then, a terminal connector (not shown) of the wire harness connected to the body side circuit is connected to the connector 24, and the body side circuit and the flat cable 20 are connected to each other through the connector 24 and the wire harness. Are electrically connected.

The rotating section 18 has a top plate 28 formed at the upper end of a cylindrical main body 26, and a circumferential groove 29 formed at the lower surface of the outer peripheral portion of the top plate 28. When the main body 26 passes through the through hole 25 formed in the bottom plate 17 of the case 20 and the peripheral groove 29 is fitted to the upper end of the main body of the case 16, the rotating part is attached to the case 16. 18 is rotatably mounted. A retaining / fixing member 30 is fixed at a predetermined position on the outer peripheral surface of the main body 26, and the main body 26 is prevented from coming off by abutment between the retaining / fixing member 30 and the lower surface of the bottom plate 17. .

An electric wire insertion portion 32 penetrating vertically through the top plate 28 and a drive pin 34 are formed at appropriate places. A plurality of electric wires 33 are inserted into the electric wire insertion portion 32, and the lower end of the electric wire 33 is connected to the flat cable 2.
0 is connected to the radially inner end of each wire. The drive pin 34 is connected to the steering wheel 14.
The steering wheel 14 and the rotating portion 18 are connected so as to rotate integrally with each other by being engaged with an engaging hole (not shown) formed in the steering wheel 14, and a through hole 35 ( In FIG. 1), the electric wire insertion portion 32 is inserted, and the upper end of the electric wire 33 in the electric wire insertion portion 32 is connected to an unillustrated electric component (a horn, an airbag, or the like) provided on the steering wheel 14 side. Have been.

The means for integrally rotating the steering wheel 14 and the rotating portion 18 is not particularly limited. For example, a projection or a recess provided on the steering shaft 10 and a recess or a projection provided on the rotating portion 18 are used. Even if they are fitted, they can be integrally rotated.

The means for connecting the flat cable 20 and the electric components on the steering wheel 14 side is not particularly limited. A connector 39 is incorporated into the top plate 28 as shown in FIG. 20 and an electrical component may be connected.

The case 16 and the steering column 10
And a pair of left and right switch mounting bases 36A, 36B.
Is interposed. Specifically, the lower surfaces of the switch mounting bases 36A and 36B are directly fixed to the upper end surface of the steering column 11 with bolts and the like, and the bottom plate 17 of the case 16 is mounted on the upper surfaces of both switch mounting bases 36 with bolts and the like. Has been concluded. And both switch mounts 3
Switch devices 42 as shown in FIG. 4 are respectively attached to both front and rear ends of 6A and 36B. In this embodiment, two switch devices, a switch device for a turn signal lamp and a switch device for a wiper, are used as these switch devices 42.

As a specific structure, a pair of front and rear ridges 38A (38B) extending in the front and rear direction are formed on the inner surface of the switch mounting base 36A (36B), respectively. A screw hole 40 is formed in the outer end face. In contrast, each switch device 4
2 includes a switch body 44 and a lever 46 operated by a driver, and fitting grooves 50A and 50B are formed on both left and right sides of the switch body 44. These fitting grooves 5
0A and 50B are the left and right outer sides and the switch mount 3
It has a shape that opens only on the 6A, 36B side (inside), and a bolt insertion hole 52 is provided in a wall 51 adjacent to the fitting grooves 50A, 50B. And each fitting groove 50A, 50
B and ridges 38A of the switch mounting bases 36A, 36B,
38B, the bolts 54 are inserted and screwed into the screw holes 40 through the bolt insertion holes 52, whereby the respective switch devices 42 are connected to the switch mounting base 36.
A, 36B.

Further, of the two switch devices 42, FIG.
The cancel switch 4 is provided on the inner surface (the surface facing the steering shaft 10 side) of the switch body 44 of the switch device 42 (turn signal lamp switch device) shown in FIG.
The switch device 42 is configured such that the turn signal lamp in the on state is automatically turned off (that is, the turn signal is automatically canceled) by operating the cancel switch 48. ing.

On the other hand, as a feature of this device, a cancel switch operation is integrally provided at an appropriate position on an outer peripheral surface of a lower end portion (a portion projecting downward from the retaining member 30) of the rotating portion main body 26. The drive pin 34 and the cancel switch operating section 58 are provided so that the cancel switch operating section 58 operates the cancel switch 48 when the steering wheel 14 returns to the neutral position. The relative rotation position has been set.

In FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, reference numeral 41 denotes a bolt insertion hole into which a bolt for fixing the switch mounts 36A and 36B to the steering column 11 is inserted.

According to such a steering device, the electric components mounted on the steering wheel 14 are composed of the electric wire 33 inserted into the electric wire insertion portion 32 → the flat cable 20.
→ Connector 24 → Connected to the circuit on the body side via a wire harness (not shown) in order. When the steering wheel 14 is rotated, the rotating unit 18 rotates integrally with the steering wheel 14, and the rotating unit 18 rotates.
At the same time, the inner end of the flat cable 20 rotates, but this rotation merely increases or decreases the number of turns of the flat cable 20 in the case 16, and the winding state of the flat cable 20, and further, the connection via the flat cable 20. The condition is well maintained. That is, by utilizing the cable reel 12, the steering wheel 14
A good connection state is maintained regardless of the rotation of.

In addition, in this apparatus, the cancel switch 4 is attached to the rotating portion 18 constituting the cable reel 12.
Since the cancel switch operating portion 58 for operating the steering shaft 8 is integrally formed, the number of parts and the assembly are smaller than those in which a member 88 dedicated to cancel switch operation is mounted on the steering shaft 82 as in the conventional device shown in FIG. Man-hours can be reduced and costs can be reduced.

In the first embodiment, the cancel switch operating portion 58 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the lower end portion 56 of the rotating portion main body 26 projecting outside the case 16. As shown in FIG. 6, the lower end portion 56 of the rotating portion main body 26 is deleted, and only a cancel switch operating portion 58 having a pin shape or the like from a predetermined angular position on the lower end surface of the rotating portion main body 26 is lowered (see FIG. 6). (Axial direction).

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, a cancel switch of a switch device for a turn signal lamp is provided on a rotating part integrally rotating with a steering wheel among a case and a rotating part of a cable reel provided around a steering shaft. Since the cancel switch operating portion for automatically operating the steering wheel is integrally formed, a good connection between the electric component on the steering wheel side and the body side circuit via the cable housed in a wound state on the cable reel is provided. By integrating the rotating part and the cancel switch operating part while maintaining, the number of parts and the number of assembling steps can be reduced, thereby contributing to a reduction in the cost of the entire apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional front view of a steering device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional front view showing a main part of the steering device.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cable reel as viewed from obliquely below.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an attachment structure of a switch device to the cable reel.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional front view showing a modified example of a connection structure between a rotating part of the cable reel and a steering wheel side electrical component.

FIG. 6 is a sectional front view showing a main part of a steering device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of a conventional steering device.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 10 steering shaft 11 steering column 12 cable reel 14 steering wheel 16 case 18 rotating part 20 flat cable 42 switch device for driver operation (switch device for turn signal lamp) 48 cancel switch 58 cancel switch operation unit

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Minoru Yamada 1-7-10 Kikuzumi, Minami-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi Harness Research Institute, Inc.

Claims (3)

[Claims] An electric component mounted on the steering wheel side and a circuit on the body side having a case and a rotating portion rotatable relative to each other around a steering shaft to which the steering wheel is connected. In a steering device in which a cable reel for storing a cable for winding the cable reel in a wound state is arranged, a case of the cable reel is fixed to a member on the body side, and a rotating part is connected to the steering wheel so as to rotate integrally therewith. A turn signal lamp switch device for turning a turn signal lamp on and off is disposed near the steering shaft, and a cancel switch for automatically canceling a turn signal provided in the turn signal lamp switch device is disposed near the cable reel. While the above cable A cancel switch operating part is integrally formed on the rotating part of the reel, and when the steering wheel returns to the neutral position, the cancel switch operating part operates the cancel switch to cancel the turn signal so that the turn signal is released. A steering device wherein a position at which a part is formed is set. 2. The steering device according to claim 1, wherein the rotating portion penetrates the case in the axial direction, and the canceling portion is positioned at a predetermined angular position on an outer peripheral surface of the rotating portion located outside the case. A steering device having a switch operation section protruding therefrom. 3. The steering device according to claim 1, wherein the cancel switch operating portion extends in an axial direction from a predetermined angular position of a main body of the rotating portion.