JPH10208837A - Rotary connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the cost, stably use it over a long period of time, and reduce an abnormal noise. SOLUTION: In a rotary connector formed by housing a flat cable 30 in a spiral shape in a space formed of an inside case 10 and an outside case 20 coaxially combined with each other so as to be relatively rotatable, flat cable support bodies 40 are integrally arranged with the outside case 20, and the flat cable support bodies 40 are arranged in a plurality at intervals in the peripheral direction on the inner peripheral surface side of a body part 21 of the outside case 20.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rotary connector for making an electrical connection between, for example, a steering wheel of an automobile and a steering column.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a rotary connector for making an electrical connection between a steering wheel and a steering column of an automobile, there is known a rotary connector described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 64-37771.

In this rotary connector, an inner case and an outer case are coaxially combined so as to be relatively rotatable, and a flat cable is formed in an annular space formed by the coaxially combined inner case and outer case. Are spirally accommodated, and a plurality of biasing members having spring characteristics are attached to the inner peripheral surface of the body of the outer case at intervals.

According to this rotary connector, since the urging member having the spring characteristic urges the spiral flat cable in the radial direction, adjacent flat cables are held in contact with each other. There is an advantage that abnormal noise generated when adjacent flat cables collide with each other can be effectively prevented.

[0005]

However, as described above, in the case where a plurality of biasing members having spring characteristics are attached at intervals to the inner peripheral surface of the outer case, the outer case has the same spring characteristics as the outer case. Since the urging member is a separate component, there is a problem in that the operation of assembling the urging member having the spring characteristic to the outer case is troublesome and the parts management is troublesome. Further, the urging member having the spring characteristic has a problem that the spring characteristic may be deteriorated during long-term use.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a rotary connector which solves the above-mentioned problems, and has a structure in which an inner case and an outer case are coaxially combined so as to be relatively rotatable. Wherein a flat cable is spirally housed in the space formed by the flat cable support and the flat cable support is provided integrally with the outer case. It is characterized in that a plurality are provided on the peripheral surface side at intervals in the circumferential direction.

As described above, when the flat cable support is provided integrally with the outer case, the work of assembling the flat cable support to the outer case becomes unnecessary, and the number of parts is reduced, so that the parts management becomes easy. Therefore, an inexpensive rotary connector can be obtained. In addition, by providing the flat cable support integrally with the outer case, a flat cable support that is not damaged even when used for a long period of time can be obtained, so that it can be used stably for a long period of time. Furthermore, when a plurality of flat cable supports are provided on the inner peripheral surface side of the body portion of the outer case at intervals in the circumferential direction, the outer peripheral surface of the flat cable can be supported by the flat cable support. The gap between the adjacent flat cables is reduced, and the noise generated when the adjacent flat cables collide with each other can be reduced.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1A and 1B show a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG.
(B) is a sectional view taken along line AA of (A). The rotating connector is adapted to rotate relative to the inner case 10.
And the outer case 20 are coaxially combined, and the flat cable 30 is spirally housed in an annular space formed by the inner case 10 and the outer case 20 that are coaxially combined, as in the conventional rotary connector. However, the rotary connector according to the present invention is provided with a flat cable support 40 integrally with the outer case 20, and the flat cable support 40 is provided on the inner peripheral surface side of the body 21 of the outer case 20 in the circumferential direction. It is characterized in that a plurality are provided at intervals.

That is, three arc-shaped flat cable supports 40 are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the body 21 of the outer case 20 at intervals in the circumferential direction. The flat cable support 40 is formed by injection molding a plastic resin integrally with the outer case 20, and has no spring characteristics. This flat cable support 40
The size and the number of the arc surfaces are appropriately selected.

The inner end of the flat cable 30 is fixed to the inner case 10, and the outer end is connected to the outer case 20.
It is fixed to. Further, the outer case 20 in the embodiment is configured by combining a first housing 22 having a body portion 21 and a second housing 23 having a disk shape. That is, for example, the first
The outer case 20 is integrally formed by providing an engagement projection on one of the outer peripheral portions of the joint portion between the housing 22 and the second housing 23 and engaging the other with the engagement projection. Make up. Further, FIG.
(A) In (b), 50 is the inner case 10 on the base end side.
The end support is fixed to
This is for preventing buckling on the inner end side of the flat cable 30 fixed to the inner case 10. Reference numeral 60 denotes an anti-vibration sheet disposed on the lower surface side 22 of the outer case 20,
This is to prevent the flat cable 30 from hitting the lower surface of the outer case 20 and generating abnormal noise.

In the rotary connector having the above structure, the outer periphery of the lower surface of the flat cable 30 which hangs down to open a gap between the adjacent flat cables,
Since the flat cables can be supported by the flat cable support 40, the gap between the adjacent flat cables can be reduced. Therefore, even if adjacent flat cables collide with each other due to vibration or the like, abnormal noise can be reduced without generating a loud collision sound. Further, since the flat cable support 40 is formed by injection molding a plastic resin integrally with the outer case 20, it can be formed easily and is not damaged by long-term use.

FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C show a second embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the above embodiment is that the flat cable support 40 is attached to the outer This is a point protruding from the second housing 23 side. That is, the flat cable support 40 is provided integrally with the second housing 23 from the second housing 23 side of the outer case 20. Flat cable support 40
Has an arc shape, and three are formed at intervals in the circumferential direction. The size and number of the circular arc surfaces of the flat cable support 40 are appropriately selected.

As described above, the flat cable support 40 provided integrally with the second housing 23 from the second housing 23 side of the outer case 20
Is used by being arranged on the inner peripheral surface side of the trunk portion 21. 2A, 2B, and 3C, FIG.
(A) The same parts as (B) are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

The flat cable support 40 as described above
In this case, since the outer periphery of the flat cable 30 can be supported, abnormal noise can be reduced, and the flat cable 30 can be used stably for a long time.

The flat cable support 40 used in the present invention may have any structure as long as it is arranged on the inner peripheral surface side of the body 21 of the outer case 20 and can support the outer periphery of the flat cable 30. Are not limited to the shapes and the numbers of the above embodiments.

[0016]

As described above, the rotary connector according to the present invention spirally winds a flat cable in a space formed by an inner case and an outer case which are coaxially combined so as to be relatively rotatable. In the rotating connector to be housed, a flat cable support is provided integrally with the outer case, and the flat cable support is provided on the inner peripheral surface side of the body of the outer case at a plurality of intervals in the circumferential direction. Since it is characterized by being provided, it is inexpensive, can be used stably for a long period of time, and has a remarkable effect of reducing abnormal noise.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1A and 1B show an embodiment of a rotary connector according to the present invention, wherein FIG.
FIG.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the present invention.
Is a front view of the center section, (b) is a sectional view taken along line BB of (a),
(C) is a perspective view of a main part.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Inner case 20 Outer case 21 Body 22 First housing 23 Second housing 30 Flat cable 40 Flat cable support 50 End support 60 Anti-vibration sheet

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A rotary connector in which a flat cable is spirally accommodated in a space formed by an inner case and an outer case that are coaxially combined so as to be relatively rotatable, and is integrated with the outer case. And a plurality of flat cable supports are provided on the inner peripheral surface side of the body of the outer case at intervals in the circumferential direction.