JPH1167404A - Rotary connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To restrict vibration of a flat cable in the optimum condition by providing a vibration restricting member having a desired elasticity. SOLUTION: A connector comprises a first housing and a second housing relatively rotatably combined with each other, a spiral flat cable is housed in a space formed by both housings, and a vibration restricting member 50 to restrict vibration of the flat cable is disposed between the flat cable and inner walls of the housings. In this case, the vibration restricting member 50 comprising two films 51, 52 having a gas cushion layer 53 between them is used, and pressure of the gas cushion layer 53 is adjusted, thereby the vibration restricting member 50 having a desired elasticity is provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rotary connector used for transmitting signals, electric power, and the like between a rotating body having a finite number of rotations and a fixed body such as a steering device in an automobile. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional rotary connectors are disclosed in
The structure was as described in No. 41057. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, this rotary connector is composed of a first housing 10 and a second housing 20 which are combined concentrically and relatively rotatably, and
A band-shaped flat cable 40 is spirally accommodated in a ring-shaped chamber 30 formed by 0 and 20. One end (outer end) of the flat cable 40 is fixed to the first housing 10 and the other end (inner end). Is fixed to the second housing 20,
Further, a vibration suppressing member 50 for suppressing vibration of the flat cable 40 is arranged between the flat cable 40 and the inner wall of the housing 10.

The vibration suppressing member 50 includes a spring piece 50A integrally formed with the first housing 10 and a spring piece 50A.
And a resin-made vibration suppressing plate 50B pressed against the substrate.

[0004]

However, when the vibration suppressing member 50 is formed by a spring piece 50A formed integrally with the first housing 10 and a resin vibration suppressing plate 50B pressed by the spring piece 50A, There is a problem that it is difficult to adjust the elastic force of the spring piece, and it is difficult to obtain a vibration suppressing member having an optimal elastic force.

Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 63-141057 also discloses that the vibration suppressing member is formed of a spring piece of an elastic metal material. As described above, the vibration suppressing member is formed of a spring piece of an elastic metal material. Even if it is formed, it is difficult to adjust the elastic force of the spring piece,
There is a problem that it is difficult to obtain a vibration suppressing member having an optimal elastic force.

On the other hand, apart from the above, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No.
No. 4 discloses a vibration suppressing member.
This vibration suppressing member is formed by providing a groove in the housing and engaging both edges of the film body in the groove.

However, even with the above-described vibration suppressing member, there is a problem that it is difficult to adjust the elastic force, and it is difficult to obtain a vibration suppressing member having an optimum elastic force.

[0008] Further, as a vibration suppressing member, a structure in which a rubber foam is laminated with a plastic film is known, but also in this case, it is difficult to adjust the elastic force, and a vibration suppressing member having an optimum elastic force is required. There was a problem that it was difficult to obtain.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a rotary connector which solves the above-mentioned problems, and has a structure in which a first housing and a second housing are relatively rotatably combined. A rotary connector in which a spiral flat cable is accommodated in a space defined by both housings, and a vibration suppressing member for suppressing vibration of the flat cable is disposed between the flat cable and an inner wall of the housing. As a member, a vibration suppression member having a gas or liquid cushion layer provided between films is used.

As described above, when a gas or liquid cushion layer is provided between films to form a vibration suppressing member,
Since the pressure of the gas or liquid cushion layer can be easily adjusted, a vibration suppressing member having a desired elastic force can be easily obtained.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing one embodiment of a vibration suppressing member 50 used in the present invention.

The vibration suppressing member 50 is formed by closing the inner and outer peripheral portions of two disk-shaped films 51 and 52 with a weld 55 or the like and providing an air cushion layer 53 inside. As the films 51 and 52, polyester, polycarbonate, PEN (polyethylene naphthalate) or the like can be used.

In the vibration suppressing member 50 having the above-described structure, the first housing 10 and the second housing 20 are combined concentrically and relatively rotatably as shown in FIG. A band-shaped flat cable 40 is spirally housed in a ring-shaped chamber 30 formed by 20.
One end (outer end) of the flat cable 40 is fixed to the first housing 10, and the other end (inner end) is incorporated in a rotary connector fixed to the second housing 20. That is, the vibration suppressing member 50 is provided between the flat cable 40 and the inner wall of the first housing 10, between the flat cable 40 and the inner wall of the second housing 20, or between the flat cable 40 and the two housings 1.
It is used by being incorporated between the inner walls 0 and 20.

As described above, the two disc-shaped films 5
By using the vibration suppressing member 50 in which the inner peripheral portion and the outer peripheral portion of the first and second 52 are closed by welding 55 or the like and provided with the air cushion layer 53 inside, the pressure of the air cushion layer 53 can be easily adjusted. Therefore, the vibration suppressing member 50 having a desired elastic force can be easily obtained. Therefore, vibration of the flat cable 40 can be suppressed in an optimal state.

FIG. 2 shows a vibration suppressing member 50 used in the present invention.
It is sectional drawing which shows other Embodiment of this. This vibration suppressing member 50 is the same as the previous embodiment in that the inner and outer peripheral portions of the two disc-shaped films 51 and 52 are closed by welding 55 or the like and an air cushion layer 53 is provided inside. Yes, but 2
The lower film 51 of the sheets 51 and 52 is a thick film, and the upper film 52 is
Is different from the above embodiment in that a thin film is used.

If a thick film is used for the lower film 51 as described above, the vibration suppressing member 50 can be hardened, so that there is an advantage that the assembling work when assembling the rotary connector is facilitated. In use, the thin film 52 is arranged and used so as to contact the flat cable 40.

FIG. 3 shows a vibration suppressing member 50 used in the present invention.
It is sectional drawing which shows further another Embodiment of this. This vibration suppressing member 50 is the same as the previous embodiment in that the inner and outer peripheral portions of the two disc-shaped films 51 and 52 are closed by welding 55 or the like and an air cushion layer 53 is provided inside. However, the present embodiment is different from the above-described embodiment in that the flocked portion 54 is provided inside the air cushion layer 53.

If the flocked portion 54 is provided inside the air cushion layer 53 as described above, the flocked portion 54 becomes a cushion even if air escapes, so that the cushioning effect of the cushion layer 53 is maintained. There is an advantage that you can.

FIG. 4 shows a vibration suppressing member 50 used in the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a plan view showing still another embodiment of FIG. This vibration suppressing member 50 is the same as the previous embodiment in that the inner and outer peripheral portions of the two disc-shaped films 51 and 52 are closed by welding 55 or the like and an air cushion layer 53 is provided inside. However, this embodiment is different from the above-described embodiment in that a plurality of radially welded portions 56 are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction of the air cushion layer 53. Radial welding portion 56 in this embodiment
Are provided so that the air cushion layer 53 communicates in the circumferential direction.

As described above, if a plurality of radially welded portions 56 are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction of the air cushion layer 53, the contact portion between the air cushion layer 53 and the flat cable 40 can be reduced. Therefore, there is an advantage that the flat cable 40 is easily rotated.

The above-mentioned radially welded portions 56 prevent the air cushion layers 53 from communicating with each other in the circumferential direction, that is, separate the air cushion layers 53 by the radially welded portions 56, so that each air cushion layer 53 is separated. May be formed independently of each other. Multiple air cushion layers 53
Are independent of each other, even if some cushion layers 53 are damaged and air leaks,
This has the advantage that the cushion effect can be maintained.

In each of the above embodiments, the case where the air cushion layer 53 is used as the cushion layer 53 has been described. However, the cushion layer 53 may be a water or other liquid cushion layer. As described above, in the cushion layer 53 using a liquid, an optimal elastic force can be easily obtained by adjusting the amount of the liquid. The number of films forming the cushion layer 53 is not limited to two, and a plurality of films may be used. Further, the shapes of the first housing and the second housing and the shape of the flat cable used in the present invention are not particularly limited, and any shape can be used.

[0023]

As described above, in the rotary connector according to the present invention, the first housing and the second housing are relatively rotatably combined, and a spiral flat cable is provided in a space defined by both housings. Is housed, and a vibration suppressing member for suppressing vibration of the flat cable is disposed between the flat cable and the inner wall of the housing. In the rotary connector, a gas or liquid cushion layer is formed between films as the vibration suppressing member. Since the vibration suppressing member provided is used, a vibration suppressing member having a desired elastic force can be easily obtained. Therefore, the vibration of the flat cable can be suppressed in an optimum state.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing an embodiment of a vibration suppressing member used in the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the vibration suppressing member used in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing still another embodiment of the vibration suppressing member used in the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing still another embodiment of the vibration suppressing member used in the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the rotary connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 1st housing 20 2nd housing 30 Ring-shaped chamber 40 Flat cable 50 Vibration suppression member 51, 52 Film 53 Cushion layer 54 Flocked part 55, 56 Welding

Claims (1)

[Claims] A first housing and a second housing are rotatably combined with each other, a spiral flat cable is housed in a space defined by both housings, and a space between the flat cable and the inner wall of the housing is provided. In a rotary connector in which a vibration suppressing member for suppressing vibration of the flat cable is arranged, as the vibration suppressing member,
A rotary connector using a vibration suppressing member having a gas or liquid cushion layer between films.