JPH10188740A - Steering device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To connect steering-wheel-side electronic equipment to a body-side circuit under good conditions and mount a switch to be operated by the driver, while using a simple, inexpensive, easy-to-assemble structure. SOLUTION: This steering device is provided with a cable reel 21 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. Switch mounting parts 36A, 36B are formed integrally with the case 16, and a switch device to be operated by the driver, such as turn signal lamp switch device, is mounted thereon.

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. 5 shows a conventional example of a steering device provided with such a connecting 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 switch mounting bracket 84 is fixed to an end face of a steering column 80, and a case 92 of a cable reel 90 is further fixed thereon. The number of parts is large and the structure is complicated. In addition, the number of times of operating the bolts and the like is large, and considerable assembly time is required. These are major obstacles to cost reduction.

Further, in order to accurately center the cable reel 90, it is necessary to accurately match both the position where the bracket 84 is fixed to the steering column 80 and the position where the cable reel 90 is fixed to the bracket 84. However, such a positioning operation is not easy.

In view of such circumstances, the present invention has a simple and inexpensive structure, is easy to assemble, and provides good connection between the electric components on the steering wheel side and the circuit on the body side. It is an object of the present invention to provide a steering device to which a switch for mounting can be attached.

[0012]

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. In the steering device, which is connected to the steering wheel so as to rotate integrally with the steering wheel, a switch mounting portion for mounting a switch device for driver operation is integrally formed on the case of the cable reel.

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 body side circuit is maintained through the wound cable in the cable reel. Moreover, since the switch mounting portion for mounting the switch device for driver operation is integrally formed with the case of the cable reel, the number of parts and the number of assembling steps are reduced as compared with the conventional device using the switch mounting bracket, In addition, the work of centering the cable reel becomes easy.

In the above case, the position where the switch mounting portion is formed may be set as appropriate. However, the switch mounting portion is formed at a position opposite to the steering wheel, and the switch mounting portion is directly connected to a body-side member. If the switch device is fixed to the body, even if the switch device is large and relatively heavy, it can be mounted on the body side in a stable state.

The switch device may be any one which can be operated by a driver, and various switch devices for a turn signal lamp, a head lamp, a wiper and the like can be applied. When installing the lamp switch device, the cancel switch for automatically turning off the turn signal provided in the turn signal lamp switch device is located near the cable reel, and the cancel switch operating unit is provided on the rotating portion of the cable reel. If the cancel switch operating portion is formed integrally and the cancel switch operating portion sets the forming position of the cancel switch operating portion so as to release the turn signal by operating the cancel switch when the steering wheel returns to the neutral position, the cancel is performed. Parts dedicated to switch operation Compared with the conventional apparatus are, it is possible to further reduce the number of components.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

The steering device 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 main 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 portion 18 has a top plate 28 formed at the upper end of a cylindrical main body 26, and a peripheral groove 29 formed on 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. Further, a retaining member 30 is fixed at a predetermined position on the outer peripheral surface of the main body 26, and by contact between the retaining member 30 and the lower surface of the bottom plate 17,
The main body 26 is prevented from falling off.

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 may be used. Even if they are fitted, they can be integrally rotated.

Further, as a feature of this device, a pair of left and right switch mounting bases 36A, 36B is formed integrally with the lower part of the case 16 above. The lower surfaces of the switch mounts 36A and 36B are directly fixed to the upper end surface of the steering column 11, and switch devices 42 as shown in FIG. 4 are mounted on both front and rear ends of the switch mounts 36A and 36B, respectively. It is supposed to be. These switch devices 42 may be any type and number as long as they are operated by the driver, such as a switch device for a turn signal lamp, a switch device for a headlamp, a switch device for a wiper, etc. In this embodiment, two switch devices, a switch device for a turn signal lamp and a switch device for a wiper, are used.

As a specific structure, a pair of front and rear ridges 38A (38B) extending in the front-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.
When the cancel switch 48 is operated, the turn signal lamp in the on state is automatically switched off (that is, the turn signal is automatically canceled). In contrast,
A cancel switch operating portion 58 is provided at an appropriate position on the outer peripheral surface of a lower end portion (a portion projecting below the retaining member 30) of the rotating portion main body 26, and the steering wheel 14 is in a neutral position. The relative rotation position between the drive pin 34 and the cancel switch operating unit 58 is set so that the cancel switch operating unit 58 operates the cancel switch 48 when returning to the state of FIG.

2 to 4, reference numeral 41 denotes a bolt insertion hole into which a bolt for fixing the switch mounting bases 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.

Further, in this device, the switch mounting bases 36A and 36B for mounting the respective switch devices 42 are integrally formed in the case 16 constituting the cable reel 12, so that the conventional device shown in FIG. The number of parts and the number of assembling steps are reduced as compared with the case where the bracket 84 dedicated to mounting the switch is used as described above, and the cost is reduced.

Further, in the conventional apparatus shown in FIG. 5, in order to accurately center the cable reel, the fixing position of the bracket 84 to the steering column 80 shown in FIG.
Although the position of fixing the cable reel 90 to the bracket 84 must be simultaneously and accurately adjusted, such a positioning operation is extremely difficult. However, in the apparatus shown in FIGS. The case 16 and the switch mounts 36A, 36B are integrated, so that the switch mount 36
The centering of the cable reel 12 can be accurately performed only by adjusting the fixing positions of the A and 36B.

Further, in this embodiment, since the cancel switch operating portion 58 is formed integrally with the rotating portion main body 26, an operating member dedicated to cancel switch operation as in the conventional apparatus shown in FIG. The number of parts can be further reduced as compared with the case where the 88 is attached to the steering shaft 82.

The embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this,
For example, the following form is also possible.

(1) In the above embodiment, the switch mounting base 36A, which is a switch mounting portion,
Although 36B is formed, for example, a switch mounting portion may be formed on the outer surface of the main body of the case 16, and the lower surface of the main body of the case 16 may be fixed to the body-side member (such as the steering column 11). However, many of the switch devices for driver operation mounted on the switch mounting portion are larger and heavier than the cable reel 12, so that
As in the above-described embodiment, the switch mounts 36A and 36B, which are switch mounts, are formed on the side opposite to the steering wheel 14 (the lower side in FIG. 2), and these switch mounts 36A and 36B are directly mounted on the steering column 11 and the like. If fixed, the switch device can be mounted in a more stable state.

(2) In the above-described embodiment, the cancel switch operating portion 58 is formed integrally with the rotating portion main body 26. However, this is omitted, and a part dedicated to cancel switch operation is provided on the steering shaft 10 as in the conventional case. You may make it attach. Further, even when the cancel switch operation part 58 is formed integrally with the rotating part 18, the formation part and the shape may be appropriately set. For example, the lower end part 56 of the rotating part main body 26 shown in FIG. Only a pin-shaped cancel switch operating section may be extended from the rotating section main body 26.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, of the cable reel case and the rotating portion provided around the steering shaft, the switch device for driver operation is mounted on the case fixed to the member on the body side. Since the switch mounting portion is integrally formed, while maintaining 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, By integrating the case and the switch mounting portion, the number of parts and the number of assembling steps can be reduced, and the centering operation of the cable reel can be facilitated.

Here, according to the switch mounting portion formed at a position opposite to the steering wheel and the switch mounting portion directly fixed to a member on the body side,
Even if the switch device is large and relatively heavy, the switch device can be stably mounted on the body side.

A switch device for turning on and off the turn signal lamp is mounted on the switch mounting portion, and a cancel switch for automatically canceling a turn signal provided on the switch device for turn signal lamp is connected to the cable. The cancel switch operating part is formed integrally with the rotating part of the cable reel while being positioned near the reel, and when the steering wheel returns to the neutral position, the cancel switch operating part operates the cancel switch to turn. If the position where the cancel switch operation section is formed is set so as to cancel the signal, the effect of further reducing the number of components can be obtained by integrating the cancel switch operation section with the rotating section of the cable reel.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional front view showing an example of a steering device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional front view of a cable reel constituting 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 an exploded perspective view showing an example of a conventional steering device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Steering shaft 11 Steering column 12 Cable reel 14 Steering wheel 16 Case 18 Rotating part 20 Flat cable 36A, 36B Switch mounting base (Switch mounting part) 42 Switch device for driver operation 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. And a switch mounting portion for mounting a switch device for driver operation on the case of the cable reel. 2. The steering device according to claim 1, wherein the switch mounting portion is formed at a position opposite to the steering wheel, and the switch mounting portion is directly fixed to a member on the body side. apparatus. 3. The steering device according to claim 2, wherein a switch device for a turn signal lamp for turning on and off a turn signal lamp is mounted on the switch mounting portion, and a turn signal provided on the switch device for the turn signal lamp. While the cancel switch for automatic release is located near the cable reel,
A cancel switch operating part is integrally formed on the rotating part of the cable reel, and the cancel switch operating part operates the cancel switch to cancel the turn signal when the steering wheel returns to the neutral position. A steering device wherein a position at which a switch operation section is formed is set.