JPH10341521A - Cable reel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve reliability, in a cable reel around which a flat cable is reverselywound in an outer cylindrical part and an inner cylindrical part through a reversing part, by delivering the flat cable wound around the outer cylindrical part or the inner cylindrical part smoothly in the direction of the reversing part. SOLUTION: A lower case 1 having an outer cylindrical part 7 and an upper case 2 having an inner cylindrical part 8 are rotatingly connected with each other, and an annular space 10 is formed between the outer cylindrical part 7 and the inner cylindrical part 8. Inside the space 10, the direction of a flat cable 3 is switched by the reversing part 3a so as to be reverselywound around, and reinforcing sheets 13 constituted of Teflon sheet or the like are piled up and wound around the flat cable 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is applied to a device having a finite number of revolutions, such as a steering device of an automobile,
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cable reel for performing electrical connection between a movable body and a fixed body using a flat cable, and more particularly to a reversing type cable reel in which a flat cable is reversed in the middle and wound in the opposite direction. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art This type of cable reel includes a fixed body,
It is roughly composed of a movable body that is rotatably mounted concentrically on this fixed body, and a flat cable that connects between the fixed body and the movable body. It is roughly divided into the reversing type.

The former spiral type cable reel is
A flat cable spirally wound and housed in a space between an outer cylinder provided on one of the fixed body and the movable body and an inner cylinder provided on the other. When the cable is rotated in one of forward and reverse directions, the flat cable is wound around the inner cylinder or wound back to the outer cylinder in accordance with the direction of rotation. In such a spiral type cable reel, since the finite number of rotations when the movable body is rotated in one direction is determined by the number of turns of the flat cable, the handle is moved in both forward and reverse directions by about 2 to 2 with respect to the center position. When applied to a steering device that rotates .5 turns, the total length of the required flat cable becomes considerably long.

[0004] On the other hand, the latter reversal type cable reel is obtained by reversing a flat cable in the middle and winding it around an outer tube portion and an inner tube portion in a reverse direction. When rotated in one direction, the flat cable wound around the outer cylinder is drawn out in the direction of the inversion section and is wound around the inner cylinder, or the flat cable wound around the inner cylinder is oriented in the direction of the inversion section. It is fed out and rewound to the outer tube. In such a reversing type cable reel, since the reversing part of the flat cable moves by about half the rotation amount of the movable body, the required total length of the flat cable is significantly shortened.

[0005]

As described above, the conventionally-reversed type cable reel which has been conventionally proposed makes the required flat cable length much shorter than that of the spiral type cable reel. Although it has the advantage of being able to do so, it is not without its problems.

That is, in this type of reversing type cable reel, since the flat cable is wound around the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder in opposite directions, it is necessary to sharply curve the flat cable at the reversing part in the middle. is there. For this reason, when a flat cable with too high rigidity (so-called waist strength) is used, the bending film acting on the reversing part easily damages the insulating film and conductor of the flat cable,
If a flat cable with low rigidity is used for fear of such a case, the flat cable wound around the outer tube or the inner tube will sag in the middle of being fed out to the reversing unit.
There is a problem that the movable body does not rotate smoothly.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a flat cable is stored in a space defined between an outer tube portion and an inner tube portion with a winding direction reversed at a reversing portion. A reinforcing sheet not involved in the electrical connection is stored in the space, and the reinforcing sheet is wound around a flat cable. With this configuration, when the flat cable wound around the outer tube portion or the inner tube portion is fed out to the reversing portion, the reinforcing sheet prevents the flat cable from being sagged while being fed out to the reversing portion. When the body rotates, the flat cable is smoothly fed out in the direction of the reversing part.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A cable reel according to the present invention comprises a first casing having an outer cylinder, a second casing having an inner cylinder, and a strip-shaped flat cable having a plurality of conductors parallel to each other. The first casing and the second casing are rotatably connected to each other with a space in which the flat cable is housed, and the flat cable is turned upside down to be connected to the outer tube and the inner tube. In the cable reel wound in the opposite direction, a band-shaped reinforcing sheet set to be substantially the same width as the flat cable is stored inside the space, and the reinforcing sheet is wound around the flat cable while being wrapped around the flat cable. Both ends of the reinforcing sheet were supported by the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder.

As long as at least both ends of the reinforcing sheet are supported by the outer cylindrical portion and the inner cylindrical portion, the reinforcing sheet does not necessarily have to be fixed to the flat cable in the middle, but the reinforcing sheet extends over the entire circumference of the flat cable. Then, the reinforcing sheet and the flat cable can be handled as an integrated product.

[0010]

Embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a part of a cable reel in a cutaway manner, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a part of an upper case of the cable reel in which a part is omitted, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. It is.

As shown in these figures, the cable reel according to the present embodiment comprises a lower case (first casing) 1 and
An upper case (second casing) 2 rotatably mounted on the lower case 1, a flat cable 3 housed between the two cases 1, 2, and wound around the flat cable 3. It is roughly composed of a reinforcing sheet 13 and a moving body 4 rotatably disposed between the cases 1 and 2.

The lower case 1 includes a bottom plate 6 having a center hole 5 formed in the center thereof, and an outer cylindrical portion 7 erected on the outer periphery of the bottom plate 6.
And is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom as a whole. On the other hand, the upper case 2 has a top plate 9 having an inner cylinder portion 8 suspended in the center, and the inner cylinder portion 8 is guided by the center hole 5 and the outer edge of the top plate 9 is guided by the outer cylinder portion 7. The lower case 1
, And in this connection state, the bottom plate 6 and the outer cylindrical portion 7 of the lower case 1 and the upper case 2
The ring-shaped space 10 in plan view with the top plate 9 and the inner cylindrical portion 8
Is defined.

The flat cable 3 is a band formed by laminating parallel conductors with a pair of insulating films. In this embodiment, a flat cable in which five conductors are embedded is used. On the other hand, the reinforcing sheet 13 is a belt-like body made of a material having excellent lubricity such as a Teflon sheet and has a width dimension substantially equal to that of the flat cable 3. Not involved in electrical connection. The reinforcing sheet 13 is fixed to the whole or a part of the peripheral surface of the flat cable 3 by using an appropriate means such as an adhesive or heat fusion. It is fixed to the inner cylinder 8.

As shown in FIG. 2, one end of the flat cable 3 is connected to a first connector 11 fixed to the outer cylinder 7 and led out of the lower case 1 via the first connector 11. Have been. On the other hand, the other end of the flat cable 3 is connected to a second connector 12 fixed to the inner cylindrical portion 8, and is led out of the upper case 2 via the second connector 12. In addition, the flat cable 3 and the reinforcing sheet 13 are wound counterclockwise from the first connector 11 on the inner wall of the outer tubular portion 7 and inverted therefrom into a U-shape (hereinafter referred to as an inverted portion 3a). Further, it is housed in the space 10 so as to be wound clockwise around the outer wall of the inner cylindrical portion 8 to reach the second connector 11. Therefore,
The reinforcing sheet 13 is provided between the first connector 11 and the reversing portion 3a.
Is provided along the inner peripheral surface of the flat cable 3, and between the reversing part 3 a and the second connector 12 is provided along the outer peripheral surface of the flat cable 3.

The movable body 4 is made of a synthetic resin material formed in a C-shape in a plan view, is disposed in the space 10 so as to be movable in the circumferential direction, and the inverted portion 3a of the flat cable 3 is It is looped together with the reinforcing sheet 13 on the peripheral surface of one opening end of the moving body 4.

Next, the operation of the cable reel according to the above embodiment will be described with reference to an example in which the lower case 1 is used as a fixed body and the upper case 2 is used as a movable body. First, when the upper case 2 is rotated clockwise from the state shown in FIG. 2, the reversing portion 3a of the flat cable 3 moves clockwise by a smaller rotation amount than the upper case 2, and the flat cable 3 has a flat length equal to the movement amount. Cable 3 and reinforcement sheet 13
Is fed out from the outer cylinder part 7 side and wound around the inner cylinder part 8 side. In this case, the moving body 4 moves in the clockwise direction by receiving a force from the reversing portion 3a of the flat cable 3 moving in the clockwise direction. However, since the reinforcing sheet 13 is interposed between the two, the moving body 4 The frictional resistance generated between the reversing portion 3a is greatly reduced. In addition, when the flat cable 3 wound around the outer cylinder 7 is viewed, the reinforcing sheet 13 is adhered along the inner peripheral surface (the surface facing the moving body 4). As a result, the slack in the middle of being fed to the reversing portion 3a is also prevented, and the flat cable 3 on the outer cylinder portion 7 is smoothly wound around the inner cylinder portion 8 via the reversing portion 3a.

Contrary to the above, when the upper case 2 is rotated counterclockwise from the position shown in FIG. 2, the reversing portion 3a of the flat cable 3 moves counterclockwise by a smaller amount of rotation than the upper case 2, The flat cable 3 and the reinforcing sheet 13 having a length equal to the moving amount are fed out from the inner tube portion 8 side and rewound to the outer tube portion 7 side. In this case, a force swelling radially outward acts on the flat cable 3 wound around the inner cylindrical portion 8, but the flat cable 3 is fed to the reversing portion 3 a by a reinforcing sheet 13 provided along the outer peripheral surface of the flat cable 3. The slack in the middle of the flat cable 3 is prevented, and even if the flat cable 3 slightly slackens, the reinforcing sheet 13 provided along the outer circumferential surface and the inner circumferential surface of the moving body 4 come into contact with a small frictional resistance. Therefore, the moving body 4 is pressed by the reversing portion 3a that moves in the counterclockwise direction and moves in the counterclockwise direction. On the other hand, the flat cable 3 wound around the outer cylindrical portion 7 receives a force that is drawn inward in the radial direction, and the flat cable 3 fed out from the inner cylindrical portion 8 via the reversing portion 3a has the above-mentioned force. In contrast, the wire is passed back between the moving body 4 and the flat cable 3 already wound around the outer tube portion 7 and is rewound to the outer tube portion 7. At this time, a reinforcing sheet 13 already wound together with the flat cable 3 is interposed between the flat cable 3 already wound around the outer tubular portion 7 and the flat cable 3 newly wound. The reinforcing sheet 13 wound together with the flat cable 3 is interposed between the flat cable 3 newly wound around the outer cylindrical portion 7 and the outer peripheral surface of the moving body 4. Not only the generated frictional resistance but also the frictional resistance generated between the flat cable 3 and the outer peripheral surface of the moving body 4 is greatly reduced. Accordingly, the reinforcing sheet 13 provided along the peripheral surface of the flat cable 3 as described above allows the space between the flat cable 3 wound around the inner cylindrical portion 8 and the inner peripheral surface of the moving body 4 and the outer cylindrical portion. Between the flat cable 3 wound around 7 and the outer peripheral surface of the moving body 4;
The frictional resistance between the flat cable 3 and the flat cable 3 is reduced, and the flat cable 3 on the inner cylinder portion 8 is smoothly rewound to the outer cylinder portion 7 via the reversing portion 3a.

In the cable reel according to the above-described embodiment, the flat cable 3 is connected to the outer cylindrical portion 7 via the reversing portion 3a.
And the inner cylindrical portion 8 in the opposite direction, the required length of the flat cable 3 can be shortened, and as a result, the total cost can be reduced and the size can be reduced. . Further, the belt-shaped reinforcing sheet 13 is provided along the outer peripheral surface of the flat cable 3 wound around the inner cylindrical portion 8 and along the inner peripheral surface of the flat cable 3 wound around the outer cylindrical portion 7. The flat cable 3 wound around the inner cylindrical portion 8 during the rewinding operation
Becomes less likely to sag while being fed to the reversing portion 3a,
Even if the flat cable 3 has some slack, since the reinforcing sheet 13 provided along the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of the moving body 4 come into contact with a small frictional resistance, the flat cable 3 is wound around the inner cylindrical portion 8. The turned flat cable 3 is smoothly fed out in the direction of the reversing part 3 a and is rewound to the outer cylinder part 7. Therefore, even when the upper case 2 is rotated in the direction in which the flat cable 3 is rewound, the rotational force is reliably transmitted to the reversing portion 3a, and on the way from the inner cylinder portion 8 to the reversing portion 3a and from the reversing portion 3a to the outer cylinder. Buckling of the flat cable 3 on the way to the section 7 can be prevented. Further, during the tightening operation, the reversing portion 3a presses the end surface of the moving body 4 via the reinforcing sheet 13, so that the frictional resistance generated between the reversing portion 3a and the moving body 4 is reduced, and the tightening operation is reliably performed. It can be carried out.

In the above embodiment, the case where the reinforcing sheet 13 is provided along only one side of the flat cable 3 has been described.
It is also possible to install 3 alongside. In this case, in both the winding operation and the rewinding operation, the reversing portion 3a can be pressed against the end face of the moving body 4 via the reinforcing sheet 13, so that the movement of the reversing portion 3a can be further smoothed.

In the above embodiment, the moving member 4 having a C-shape in plan view is described. However, for example, a large number of rollers packed in the space 10 may be used as the moving member.
What is necessary is just to be able to regulate the movement of the flat cable 3 in the radial direction.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the lower case 1 is used as a fixed body and the upper case 2 is used as a movable body has been described. On the contrary, the upper case 2 is used as a fixed body and the lower case 1 is used as a fixed body. Can be used as a movable body.

[0022]

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

The flat cable is accommodated in the space defined between the outer tube portion and the inner tube portion with the winding direction reversed at the reversing portion, and reinforcement not involved in electrical connection is provided in this space. When the flat cable wound around the outer tube or the inner tube is fed out to the reversing section, the flat cable is fed out to the reversing section by the reinforcing sheet. Since the slack is prevented, the flat cable can be smoothly fed out in the direction of the reversing portion when the movable body rotates, and a highly reliable cable reel with smooth rotation of the movable body can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a part of a cable reel according to an embodiment in a cutaway manner.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a part of an upper case of the cable reel shown in FIG. 1 with a part thereof omitted;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Lower case (1st casing) 2 Upper case (2nd casing) 3 Flat cable 3a Inversion part 4 Moving body 7 Outer cylinder part 8 Inner cylinder part 10 Space 13 Reinforcement sheet

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A first casing having an outer cylinder portion, a second casing having an inner cylinder portion, and a strip-shaped flat cable having a plurality of conductors parallel to each other, wherein the first casing and the second casing are provided. And a cable reel in which the flat cable is rotatably connected with a space in which the flat cable is housed, and the flat cable is turned upside down and wound around the outer tube and the inner tube in opposite directions. A belt-like reinforcing sheet set to have substantially the same width as the flat cable is accommodated in the space, the reinforcing sheet is wound around the flat cable, and both ends of the reinforcing sheet are connected to the outer cylindrical portion. And a cable reel supported by the inner cylindrical portion. 2. The cable reel according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing sheet is attached over the entire circumference of the flat cable.