KR20000011392A - Rotary connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A rotary connector is provided to promote the reduction of sliding noise generated between a flexible cable and the outer tool unit of a lower part holder of a moving body. CONSTITUTION: The rotary connector is composed of:a first housing(10); a second housing (2) installed to freely revolve to the first housing; a flexible cable(4) wound up within a ring type storing unit(3) that both housings form; a moving body(5) arranged to freely revolve within the storing unit. Herein, the first housing has:an upper case(8) that an external body(7) droops down around the edge of the ceiling plate(6); a lower cover(9) bonded on the lower end of the external body. A R-shaped rounded unit(8a) is formed in the part where the ceiling plate and the external body continues.

Description

Rotary Connector {ROTARY CONNECTOR}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rotary connector assembled to a steering apparatus of a motor vehicle and used as an electrical connection means such as an airbag system.

The rotary connector is connected between a pair of housings coaxially and relatively rotatable freely connected by a band-shaped flexible cable, which is largely divided into two types by a method of winding the flexible cable. One is to wind the flexible cable in the annular accommodating part of both housings, and the other is to wrap the flexible cable in the accommodating part in the opposite direction. The length of the flexible cable required by the latter side is Since it can be shortened, it is advantageous in reducing the total price of a rotary connector.

However, in the conventional rotary connector, the flexible cable is moved in and out of the housing part in response to vibration from the automobile, so that both ends of the flexible cable in the width direction collide with the upper case and the lower cover of the first housing and become unobtrusive. There was a problem that this occurred.

From this, the first and second housings, which are coaxially and relatively rotatably connected, are wound in the reverse direction through the inverting portion in the annular accommodating portion formed by the two housings, and both ends thereof are band-like fixed to the two housings. A rotary connector having a flexible cable of a flexible cable and a movable body which is disposed in the receiving portion so as to be rotatable and has an opening through which the inverting portion of the flexible cable passes, the outer side of which faces the movable body in the widthwise direction of the flexible cable. The applicant has previously proposed to form an extension and reduce the noise by pressing the flexible cable in the outer extension (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-129333).

Fig. 9 is a partial plan view, in which a portion of the first housing side connecting portion of the flexible cable in the proposed rotary connector is taken in cross section, and Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line 10-10 in Fig. 9.

As shown in FIG. 9, the flexible cable 4 intersects the outer extension part 17b of the lower holder 17 (refer FIG. 10) of the movable body at the point P, and the upper case 8 of the 1st housing (Refer to FIG. 10) to the fixed side connection part 31 provided, and the connection end part of the flexible cable 4 is being fixed to this fixed side connection part 31. As shown in FIG. Reference numeral 18 denotes a roller of the movable body.

In such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 10, the outer extension part 17b of the lower holder 17 contacts the end edge of the flexible cable 4 at the point P part of FIG. 9, and slides in this part. There was a problem that noise caused by sound occurs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the prior art, and its object is to provide a rotary connector with no noise that eliminates the sliding noise generated between the flexible cable and the outer extension of the lower holder of the movable body with a simple configuration. There is.

1 is a cross-sectional view showing a first embodiment of a rotary connector according to the present invention;

2 is an exploded perspective view of the rotary connector,

3 is a half sectional view showing a second embodiment of a rotary connector according to the present invention;

4 is a half sectional view showing a third embodiment of a rotary connector according to the present invention;

5 is a half sectional view showing a fourth embodiment of a rotary connector according to the present invention;

6 is a view showing a relationship between the flexible cable and the outer extension showing the first embodiment;

7 is a view showing a relief structure of a flexible cable according to a second embodiment;

8 is a view showing a relief structure of the flexible cable according to the third embodiment;

Fig. 9 is a partial plan view in which a part of the first housing side connection portion of the flexible cable in the rotary connector proposed by the present applicant is taken in cross section;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

※ Explanation of symbols for main parts of drawing

1: first housing 2: second housing

3: accommodating part 4: flexible cable

5: moving body 6: ceiling plate

7: outer tube 8: upper case

8a: wall 9: lower cover

10, 11: center hole 14: inner cylinder

15, 21, 24: sliding cap 15a, 21a, 24a: flange portion

16: upper holder 17: lower holder

16a, 17a: inner extension 17b: outer extension

18: roller 19: fixed cylinder

22: air gap 31: fixed side connection part

40: notch part 41: standing part

42: connection part storage space 43: spacer

In order to achieve the above object, the first means comprises a first and a second housing which are coaxially and relatively rotatably connected, and are wound in the opposite direction via an inverting portion in an annular accommodating portion formed by both housings, and both ends thereof. A band-shaped flexible cable fixed to the two housings, and a movable body disposed rotatably in the housing portion and having an opening through which the inverting portion of the flexible cable passes, wherein the movable body has a width direction of the flexible cable The rotary connector is formed so as to form an outer extension facing the end of the connector, and the connecting end of the flexible cable crosses the outer extension of the movable body and is connected to the fixed side connecting portion provided in the first housing.

And at the intersection of the end edge of the connecting end of the flexible cable and the outer extension of the movable body, both of them are not in contact with each other.

In order to achieve the above object, the second means is, in the first means, a notch portion is provided at the end edge of the connecting end of the flexible cable, and extends the end edge of the flexible end of the flexible cable and the outside of the movable body. It is a structure which does not contact a part, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

In order to achieve the above object, the third means includes, in the first means, an end edge of a connecting end of the flexible cable being lifted by a part of the first housing, and an end of the connecting end of the flexible cable. It is characterized in that the edge and the outer extension of the movable body are not in contact with each other.

In order to achieve the above object, in the fourth means, in the first means, the end edge of the connecting end of the flexible cable is lifted by the fixed side connecting part of the first housing. It is characterized in that the end of the edge and the outer extension of the moving body is not configured to contact.

Thus, in this invention, the notch part is provided in the edge part of the connection end part of a flexible cable, or the edge part of the connection end part of a flexible cable is lifted by a part of 1st housing, or it is flexible The end edge of the connecting end of the cable is lifted by the fixed side connecting part of the first housing, so that the end edge of the connecting end of the flexible cable and the outer extension of the movable body do not come into contact with each other. Since it is comprised, the generation | occurrence | production of the sliding sound which arises between both by a simple structure can be prevented completely.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the rotating connector which concerns on embodiment of this invention is demonstrated based on drawing. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a rotary connector according to a first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the rotary connector.

As shown in these drawings, the rotary connector has an annular shape formed by the first housing 1, the second housing 2 rotatably attached to the first housing 1, and the two housings 1, 2. The flexible cable 4 wound around the accommodating part 3 and the movable body 5 arrange | positioned freely in the accommodating part 3 are comprised.

The first housing 1 is an upper case 8 in which the outer cylinder portion 7 is placed down on the outer periphery of the ceiling plate 6, and a lower cover 9 joined and integrated at the lower end of the outer cylinder portion 7. It is comprised and the R-shaped curved part 8a is formed in the part which the top board 6 and the outer cylinder part 7 in the inner wall of the upper case 8 continue.

Center holes 10 and 11 are opened in the centers of the top plate 6 and the lower cover 9 of the upper case 8, and ring-shaped guide recesses 12 are provided on the lower surface of the lower cover 9. Is installed.

The second housing 2 is made of a cylindrical body having a shaft insertion hole 13 in the center thereof, and an outer circumferential surface thereof is an inner cylinder portion 14.

A ring-shaped sliding cap 15 is closely interposed between the upper outer peripheral edge of the second housing 2 and the center hole 10 of the upper case 8, and both housings 1, 2) is rotatably connected to each other by using the sliding cap 15 as a sliding portion. The sliding cap 15 is formed of synthetic resins of different types from the housings 1 and 2, and a thin flange portion 15a is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the lower end thereof. The accommodating portion 3 is formed between the ceiling plate 6, the outer cylinder portion 7 and the lower cover 9 on the first housing 1 side, and the inner cylinder portion 14 on the second housing 2 side. The gap G is formed between the flange portion 15a of the sliding cap 15 and the ceiling plate 6 in the housing portion 3.

The flexible cable 4 is called a strip-shaped flat cable in which conductors parallel to each other are laminated with a pair of insulating films. Both ends of the flexible cable 4 have the outer cylinder portion 7 and the inner cylinder portion 14. ), It is led out of the first housing 1 and the second housing 2, respectively. The flexible cable 4 is wound in the clockwise direction along the inner wall of the outer cylinder portion 7 inside the housing portion 3, and inverted into a U-shape therefrom (hereinafter referred to as an inverted portion 4a). It is wound counterclockwise around the outer wall of the inner cylinder part 14.

The movable body 5 includes a ring-shaped upper and lower holders 16 and 17 facing each other at a predetermined interval, a plurality of groups of rollers 18 axially supported between the holders 16 and 17, and both holders ( It consists of one holding cylinder 19 fixed between 16 and 17, and the several elastic arm 20 is integrally molded in the lower surface of the lower holder 17. As shown in FIG. The lower holder 17 is formed to be wider in the radial direction than the upper holder 16, and the inner extension 17a and the outer extension 17b formed at both circumferential edges of the lower holder 17 are It protrudes more than the said roller 18 group and the fixed cylinder 19. As shown in FIG.

The movable body 5 is disposed in the housing portion 3, and each elastic arm 20 slides on the guide concave portion 12 of the lower cover 9 in the radial direction of the housing portion 3. Rotation is guided freely. At that time, the inverting portion 4a of the flexible cable 4 passes through the opening between the fixing cylinder 19 and one roller 18 opposite thereto, and is looped to the roller 18. In addition, the inner winding portion of the flexible cable 4 is fitted by the flange portion 15a of the sliding cap 15 and the inner extension portion 17a of the lower holder 17, and the flexible cable 4 The outer wound portion of the upper portion 8 is fitted into the curved portion 8a of the upper case 8 and the outer extension portion 17b of the lower holder 17.

Next, the operation of the rotary connector will be described taking as an example the case where the first housing 1 is used as the stationary body and the second housing 2 is used as the movable body. In this case, the first housing 1 is fixed to the steering column side of the steering apparatus so that the second housing 2 is connected to the steering shaft or the handle.

In use, when the handle is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise, its rotational force is transmitted to the second housing 2 so that the second housing 2 rotates clockwise or counterclockwise. For example, when the second housing 2 rotates clockwise from the neutral position of the handle, the inverting portion 4a of the flexible cable 4 moves only a smaller amount of rotation than the second housing 2 clockwise. Since one of the rollers 18 is pulled to the inverting portion 4a, the movable body 5 also moves clockwise along the inverting portion 4a, and the flexible cable 4 of about twice the amount of these movements is It is unwound from the outer cylinder part 7 side, and wound around the peripheral surface of the inner cylinder part 14 firmly.

On the contrary, when the second housing 2 rotates counterclockwise from the neutral state of the handle, the inverting portion 4a of the flexible cable 4 has only a smaller amount of rotation than the second housing 2 counterclockwise. Moving inwardly, the inverting portion 4a is separated from the roller 18 and presses the fixed cylinder 19, so that the movable body 5 also moves counterclockwise in accordance with the inverting portion 4a, which is about twice the amount of these movements. The flexible cable 4 of length is released from the inner cylinder portion 14 and rewound to the outer cylinder portion 7.

During such an operation, since the sliding cap 15 is closely provided in the rotary sliding portions of both housings 1 and 2, sliding noise when the second housing 2 is rotated can be greatly reduced.

In addition, when a force in the vertical direction (axial direction of the steering shaft) acts on the flexible cable 4 due to vibration from the automobile, the flexible cable 4 tries to move up and down the inside of the housing part 3, As for the inner wound part of the flexible cable 4, since the flange part 15a of the sliding cap 15 and the inner extension part 17a of the lower holder 17 oppose the both ends of the width direction, for example, Even if both ends of the flexible cable 4 in the width direction collide with these flange portions 15a and the inner extension portion 17a to generate a sliding sound, the sliding sound is the sliding cap 15 or the lower holder 17. Is absorbed into. In particular, when a predetermined gap G is formed between the flange portion 15a of the sliding cap 15 and the ceiling plate 6, the flange portion 15a is bent using this gap G. Since the absorbing effect of the sliding sound by the sliding cap 15 is large, the sliding sound of the flexible cable 4 leaking out of both housings 1 and 2 can be almost eliminated.

In addition, since the elastic arm 20 is provided on the lower surface of the lower holder 17, the flexible cable 4 is elastically received by the lower holder 17 even when the flexible cable 4 collides with the lower holder 17. Sliding sound becomes particularly small.

On the other hand, about the outer winding part of the flexible cable 4, the curved part 8a of the upper case 8 and the outer extension part 17b of the lower holder 17 oppose the both ends of the width direction. Therefore, the upper end of the flexible cable 4 is gradually missed by the curved portion 8a, and the lower end of the flexible cable 4 is avoided from colliding with the lower cover 9 by the outer extension 17b. . The outer extension part 17b narrows the space where the flexible cable 4 moves up and down, and is gradually thinner with the tip being lifted up in order to elastically receive the flexible cable 4. Therefore, the sliding sound generated from the outer winding of the flexible cable 4 can be reduced and the sliding sound can be prevented from leaking to the outside of the housings 1 and 2.

Fig. 3 is a half sectional view showing a second embodiment of the rotary connector according to the present invention, in which parts corresponding to Fig. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the inner extension 17a of the lower holder 17 is omitted, and the lower outer periphery and lower cover 9 of the second housing 2 are omitted. The sliding cap 21 such as the sliding cap 15 is closely installed between the center holes 11 of the center holes 11, and the flange 21a of the sliding cap 21 is placed in the width direction of the flexible cable 4. It is in the point which opposes the lower end, and the structure of that other than that is fundamentally the same.

Thus, when the two housings 1 and 2 are pivotally connected via the upper and lower sliding caps 15 and 21, the second housing 2 can be rotated smoothly and the second housing 2 can be rotated. Sliding noise can be further reduced. Moreover, since the flange parts 15a, 21a of the sliding caps 15, 21 oppose the both ends of the inner side of the flexible cable 4 in the width direction, the flexible cable 4 has these flange parts 15a. And 21a, it is elastically held, and the sliding sound generated by the flexible cable 4 colliding with the flange portions 15a and 21a can be almost eliminated.

Fig. 4 is a half sectional view showing a third embodiment of the rotary connector according to the present invention, in which parts corresponding to Fig. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the sliding cap 15 is omitted and the inner side of the upper holder 16 protrudes inwardly from the roller 18 group and the fixing cylinder 19. The extension part 16a is formed and the both ends of the width direction of the flexible cable 4 are supported by this inner extension part 16a and the inner extension part 17a of the lower holder 17, The other configuration is basically the same.

In this case, since the inner extension portions 16a and 17a of both holders 16 and 17 face each other in the width direction of the inner winding portion of the flexible cable 4, the flexible cable 4 is the upper case. There is no direct collision with the ceiling plate 6 and the lower cover 9 of (8), and the sliding sound can be reduced.

Fig. 5 is a half sectional view showing a fourth embodiment of the rotary connector according to the present invention, in which parts corresponding to Fig. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the flange plate 23 integrally formed on the upper end of the second housing 2 constitutes the ceiling plate of the housing portion 3, and this plan The sliding cap 24 which has the flange part 24a is provided between the outer periphery edge of the branch part 23, and the upper end of the said outer cylinder part 7, The structure of that other than that is basically the same.

In this way, the rotary sliding portions of both housings 1 and 2 can be appropriately changed. In this embodiment, the flange portions of the sliding cap 24 at both ends in the width direction of the outer winding portion of the flexible cable 4 are provided. Since 24a) and the outer extension part 17b of the lower holder 17 oppose, both ends of the width direction of the flexible cable 4, for example, are the flange part 24a and the outer extension part 17b. Even if a sliding sound occurs due to the sliding sound is absorbed by the sliding cap 15 or the lower holder 17 can reduce the sliding sound.

In the above example, the case where the first housing 1 is used as the stationary body and the second housing 2 is used as the movable body has been described. On the contrary, the first housing 1 is the movable body and the second housing is used. It is also possible to use (2) as a stationary body.

In the above example, the flanges 15a, 21a, 24a of the sliding caps 15, 21, 24 and the holders 16, 17 at the upper and lower ends of the inner and outer winding portions of the flexible cable 4 are provided. Although the noise reduction means such as the extension parts 16a, 17a, 17b has been described, the present invention can be appropriately combined with these noise reduction means. For example, instead of using the sliding cap 15 or the inner extension 16a of the upper holder 16, a void may be provided inside the top plate 6 of the upper case 8, in which case it is flexible. The sliding sound when the upper end of the sex cable 4 collides with the ceiling plate 6 can be reduced. Alternatively, one or more of the noise reduction means can be selectively used.

Next, the specific example for preventing the outer extension part 17b of the lower holder 17 and the end edge of the connection end part of the flexible cable 4 from contacting at the intersection position (P position of FIG. 9) is shown. .

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between the flexible cable and the outer extension showing the first embodiment. In the specific example shown in the figure, the notch part 40 is formed in the end edge of the connection end part of the flexible cable 4, and this notch part 40 of the flexible cable 4 and the lower holder 17 is shown. The outer extension portion 17b is not in contact with each other to prevent the occurrence of sliding sound between the two portions.

7 is a view showing a relief structure of the flexible cable according to the second embodiment. In the specific example shown in the same figure, the rising edge part 41 of which the edge part of the connection end part of the flexible cable 4 stood in a part of 1st housing 1, specifically, the outer periphery of the lower cover 9 was provided. Is lifted up. The standing pieces 41 prevent the outer extension 17b of the lower holder 17 from contacting each other, thereby preventing the occurrence of sliding sound between them.

8 is a view showing a relief structure of the flexible cable according to the third specific example. In the specific example shown in the figure, the end edge of the connecting end of the flexible cable 4 is lifted by the fixed connecting portion 31 in the upper case 8 of the first housing 1. That is, although the fixed connection part 31 is accommodated in the connection part storage space 42 of the upper case 8, the spacer 43 is interposed below and the connection end part of the flexible cable 4 is connected by this spacer 43. The edge of the edge is to be lifted up. As a result, the flexible cable 4 and the outer extension 17b of the lower holder 17 do not come into contact with each other, thereby preventing the occurrence of sliding noise between the two, thereby reducing noise.

As described above, in the present invention, the notch portion is provided at the end edge of the connecting end of the flexible cable, or the end edge of the connecting end of the flexible cable is lifted by a part of the first housing, or the flexible cable The end edge of the connecting end of the flexible housing is lifted by the fixed side connecting portion of the first housing, so that the end edge of the connecting end of the flexible cable and the outer extension of the movable body do not come into contact with each other. As a result, the simple structure makes it possible to completely prevent the generation of noise due to the sliding sound generated between them.

Claims (8)

Belt-like flexibility in which the first and second housings are coaxially and relatively rotatably connected, and are reversely wound through the inverting portion in the annular accommodating portion formed by the two housings, and both ends thereof are fixed to the two housings. And a movable body disposed in the housing so as to be rotatable and having an opening through which the inverting portion of the flexible cable passes. A fixed side connecting portion provided on the movable body, the outer extending portion being opposed to an end portion in the width direction of the flexible cable, the connecting end of the flexible cable intersecting with the outer extending portion of the movable body, provided in the first housing; A rotary connector to be connected, wherein the rotary connector is configured to be in contact with each other at an intersection of an end edge of the connecting end of the flexible cable and an outer extension of the movable body. The method of claim 1, And a notch portion is provided at an end edge of the connecting end of the flexible cable so that the end edge of the connecting end of the flexible cable does not come into contact with the outer extension of the movable body. The method of claim 1, The end edge of the connecting end of the flexible cable is lifted by a part of the first housing so that the end edge of the connecting end of the flexible cable does not come into contact with the outer extension of the movable body. Rotary connector. The method of claim 1, The end edge of the connecting end of the flexible cable is lifted by the fixed side connecting portion of the first housing so that the end edge of the connecting end of the flexible cable does not come into contact with the outer extension of the movable body. Rotating connector, characterized in that. The method of claim 1, The outer extension portion is a rotary connector, characterized in that the tip is raised upwards. The method of claim 5, And a notch portion is provided at the end edge of the connecting end of the flexible cable so that the end edge of the connecting end of the flexible cable does not come into contact with the outer extension of the movable body. The method of claim 5, The end edge of the connecting end of the flexible cable is lifted by a part of the first housing so that the end edge of the connecting end of the flexible cable does not come into contact with the outer extension of the movable body. Rotary connector. The method of claim 5, The end edge of the connecting end of the flexible cable is lifted by the fixed side connecting portion of the first housing so that the end edge of the connecting end of the flexible cable does not come into contact with the outer extension of the movable body. Rotating connector, characterized in that.