US20010007799A1 - Rotary connector - Google Patents
Rotary connector Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20010007799A1 US20010007799A1 US09/752,778 US75277801A US2001007799A1 US 20010007799 A1 US20010007799 A1 US 20010007799A1 US 75277801 A US75277801 A US 75277801A US 2001007799 A1 US2001007799 A1 US 2001007799A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- movable contact
- stator housing
- contact plate
- rotary connector
- housing
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R16/00—Electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for; Arrangement of elements of electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for
- B60R16/02—Electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for; Arrangement of elements of electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for electric constitutive elements
- B60R16/023—Electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for; Arrangement of elements of electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for electric constitutive elements for transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems
- B60R16/027—Electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for; Arrangement of elements of electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for electric constitutive elements for transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems between relatively movable parts of the vehicle, e.g. between steering wheel and column
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R35/00—Flexible or turnable line connectors, i.e. the rotation angle being limited
- H01R35/02—Flexible line connectors without frictional contact members
- H01R35/025—Flexible line connectors without frictional contact members having a flexible conductor wound around a rotation axis
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R39/00—Rotary current collectors, distributors or interrupters
- H01R39/64—Devices for uninterrupted current collection
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a rotary connector that electrically connects between a steering wheel and a body of an automobile, and more particularly to a rotary connector that incorporates a slip-ring mechanism.
- a conventional rotary connector is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent No. 3-55955.
- This conventional connector includes a rotor housing and a stator housing assembled to each other into a complete housing assembly in which a flat cable in the shape of a spiral is housed and electrically connects the vehicle body and the steering wheel.
- the conventional rotary connector is used for an air bag system or an alarm device mounted to the steering wheel.
- the current that flows through the connector is small.
- the flat cable includes thin wires covered with a thin film.
- the aforementioned conventional rotary connector can be used only for low current applications.
- the conventional rotary connector cannot be applied to a heater that heats a steering wheel, because the heater requires a large current. If the heater current flows through a conventional flat cable, the conductors in the flat cable generate heat sufficient to melt the film covering the conductors.
- An object of the present invention is to solve the problems associated with the aforementioned conventional rotary connector. More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide a rotary connector suitable for an electric apparatus that is assembled into a steering wheel and consumes a relatively large current.
- the present invention comprises a rotary connector having: a stator housing mounted on a vehicle body of an automobile; a rotor housing rotatably mounted to the stator housing and coupled to a steering wheel; an attachment that couples the rotor housing to the stator housing so that the rotor housing is rotatable relative to the stator housing; and a flat cable accommodated in a space defined by the rotor housing and the stator housing.
- the attachment has an annular flange formed at an outer periphery thereof, and a slip-ring mechanism provided between the flange and a bottom section of the stator housing.
- the rotary connector has the flat cable and a cord, and the cord has one end thereof connected to a device mounted on the steering wheel and the other end thereof connected to the slip-ring mechanism through a shaft sleeve.
- the flange of the attachment supports movable contact plates of the slip-ring mechanism thereon; and the bottom of the stator housing has a non-movable contact plate thereon on which the movable contact plate slides.
- the movable contact plate is provided on the flange of the attachment and connected to the cord, and the non-movable contact plate is insert-molded in the bottom section of the stator housing.
- FIG. 1 is a top view of a rotary connector according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the rotary connector when it is mounted to a combination switch.
- FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the rotary connector shown in FIG. 1.
- a rotary connector 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings.
- the rotary connector 1 electrically connects the vehicle body of an automobile to a steering wheel 11 of the automobile.
- the rotary connector 1 includes a stator housing 2 , a rotor housing 3 , an attachment 4 , and a flat cable 5 .
- the stator housing 2 is mounted to a combination switch 9 that is fixed to the steering column (not shown).
- the rotor housing 3 engages the underside of the steering wheel 11 and rotates together with the steering wheel 11 .
- the attachment 4 rotatably engages the rotor housing 3 .
- the flat cable 5 is in the shape of a spiral accommodated in a space defined between the stator housing 2 and the rotor housing 3 .
- the stator housing 2 is a stationary part that is fixed on a base 10 of the combination switch 9 by means of a screw or a fastening portion 2 c.
- the stator housing 2 includes a bottom section 2 a and a side section 2 b that are assembled together. Specifically, the side section 2 b has engagement holes (not shown), while the bottom section 2 a has claws (not shown). The bottom section 2 a and side section 2 b are assembled together with the claws fitted into the engagement holes.
- the bottom section 2 a and side section 2 b may be formed in a one piece construction, thereby providing the stator housing 2 in a single piece.
- the upper surface of the bottom section 2 a holds one end of the flat cable 5 , as shown in FIG. 2, and has a guide (not shown) in a space A defined by the stator housing 2 and the rotor housing 3 .
- the guide guides the flat cable 5 accommodated in the space A.
- the space A has a slide sheet 13 placed on the inner bottom floor of the bottom section 2 a.
- Disposed below the guide is a connector 2 d provided on the side section 2 b of the rotor housing 2 .
- the bottom section 2 a has a plurality of ring-shaped non-movable contact-plates 7 that are exposed.
- the non-movable contact-plates 7 are, for example, insert-molded in the bottom surface of the stator housing 2 .
- first ends of the non-movable contact-plates 7 are exposed within the bottom section 2 a and second ends are exposed as terminals 7 a in the connector 2 d.
- the connector 2 d has terminals (not shown) that are connected via the flat cable 5 to a wire harness 12 disposed on the rotor housing 3 .
- the terminals (not shown) connected to the flat cable 5 and the terminals 7 a of the non-movable contact-plate 7 may be disposed in the connector 2 d or may be disposed in separate connectors (not shown).
- the side section 2 b has a substantially ring-shaped cylindrical portion 2 e and a frame section 2 f formed on an outer periphery around the lower end of the cylindrical portion 2 e.
- the frame section 2 f and the cylindrical portion 2 e having a one-piece construction.
- the frame section 2 f has the connector 2 d and the fastening portion 2 c for fixing the rotary connector 1 to the base 10 of the combination switch 9 .
- the attachment 4 has a fitting portion 4 b and a projection 4 c shown in FIG. 2 that couples the stator housing 2 to the rotor housing 3 .
- the attachment 4 also has an annular flange 4 a around the outer surface of the attachment 4 , and a through-hole 4 d formed below the flange 4 a.
- a cord 8 passes through the through-hole 4 d.
- the attachment 4 couples the stator housing 2 to a rotor housing 3 by using such a means as disclosed in Laid-Open Japanese Patent No. 10-22029.
- the flange 4 a supports a plurality of movable contact plates 6 that are formed of an electrically conductive, resilient material as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
- movable contact plates 6 are used, but more movable-contact plates may be used as required.
- the movable contact plate 6 is crimped to securely attach to the flange 4 a, and a crimped portion projects downwardly of the flange 4 a.
- the projecting portion of the movable contact plate 6 is soldered to a cord 8 .
- the cord 8 inserted through the through-hole 4 d near the flange 4 a passes through a shaft sleeve 1 a, and is connected to a device, such as a steering wheel heater, mounted to the steering wheel 11 .
- the cord 8 has a large diameter such that a relatively large current can flow through the cord 8 .
- the flat cable 5 has a plurality of, for example, belt-shaped wires that are arranged at predetermined intervals and sandwiched between two sheets of resin films made of insulation resin pressed together with heat applied thereto.
- the flat cable 5 has one end connected to the terminals in the connector 2 d of the stator housing 2 and the other end connected to the wire harness 12 of the rotor housing 3 .
- the flat cable 5 is accommodated in a doughnut-shaped space defined by the stator housing 2 and rotor housing 3 such that the flat cable 5 is rotated clockwise and counterclockwise through more than two complete rotations from a neutral position at which the vehicle runs straight.
- the rotary connector according to the present invention has the construction described above.
- the rotary connector apparatus 1 and movable contact plate 6 are such that when the steering wheel 11 is rotated, the cord 8 rotates together with the steering wheel 11 , attachment 4 , and rotor housing 3 . Thus, there is no chance of the cord being twisted.
- the movable contact plate 6 slides while also being in pressure contact with the non-movable contact plate 7 at all times.
- the cord 8 , movable contact plate 6 , and non-movable contact plate 7 are thicker than the conductors of the flat cable 5 , so that a larger current can flow therethrough.
- a rotary connector having: a stator housing mounted on a vehicle body of an automobile; a rotor housing rotatably mounted to the stator housing and coupled to a steering wheel; an attachment that couples the rotor housing to the stator housing so that the rotor housing is rotatably relative to the stator housing; and a flat cable accommodated in a space defined by the rotor housing and the stator housing; wherein the attachment has an annular flange formed at an outer periphery thereof, and a slip-ring mechanism provided between the flange and a bottom of the stator housing.
- This construction allows electrical connection between the steering wheel and the vehicle body by means of the flat cable and slip-ring mechanism, so that more electric circuits can be accommodated on the steering wheel and steering pad.
- the current supplied to the slip-ring mechanism does not flow through the flat cable.
- a device that consumes a relatively large amount of current can be mounted on the steering wheel.
- the rotary connector has the flat cable and the cord, and the cord has one end thereof connected to a device mounted on the steering wheel and the other end thereof connected to the slip-ring mechanism through a shaft sleeve.
- the cord can be routed out of the way of the rotating steering shaft so that the cord does not wrap around the steering shaft and steering wheel.
- the rotary connector has the flange of the attachment supporting the movable contact plates of the slip-ring mechanism thereon; and the bottom of the stator housing has a non-movable contact plate thereon on which the movable contact plate slides.
- the movable contact plate of the rotary connector is provided on the flange of the attachment and connected to the cord, and the non-movable contact plate is insert-molded in the bottom of the stator housing.
Abstract
A rotary connector is provided for an electric apparatus in a steering wheel that consumes a relatively large amount of current. The rotary connector has a stator housing mounted on a vehicle body of an automobile, a rotor housing rotatably mounted to the stator housing and coupled to the steering wheel, an attachment that couples the rotor housing to the stator housing so that the rotor housing is rotatable relative to the stator housing, and a flat cable accommodated in a space defined by the rotor housing and the stator housing. The attachment has an annular flange formed at an outer periphery thereof, and a slip-ring mechanism provided between the flange and a bottom of the stator housing. The slip-ring mechanism has movable contact plates supported by the flange and a non-movable contact plate on the stator housing. The contact plates are in sliding contact with each other to provide current flow therebetween, thereby providing an additional electrical connection between the steering wheel and the vehicle body for an electrical apparatus that consumes a large amount of current.
Description
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates to a rotary connector that electrically connects between a steering wheel and a body of an automobile, and more particularly to a rotary connector that incorporates a slip-ring mechanism.
- 2. Description of the Related Art
- A conventional rotary connector is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent No. 3-55955. This conventional connector includes a rotor housing and a stator housing assembled to each other into a complete housing assembly in which a flat cable in the shape of a spiral is housed and electrically connects the vehicle body and the steering wheel.
- The conventional rotary connector is used for an air bag system or an alarm device mounted to the steering wheel. Thus, the current that flows through the connector is small. Accordingly, the flat cable includes thin wires covered with a thin film.
- However, the aforementioned conventional rotary connector can be used only for low current applications. Thus, the conventional rotary connector cannot be applied to a heater that heats a steering wheel, because the heater requires a large current. If the heater current flows through a conventional flat cable, the conductors in the flat cable generate heat sufficient to melt the film covering the conductors.
- An object of the present invention is to solve the problems associated with the aforementioned conventional rotary connector. More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide a rotary connector suitable for an electric apparatus that is assembled into a steering wheel and consumes a relatively large current.
- Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
- The present invention comprises a rotary connector having: a stator housing mounted on a vehicle body of an automobile; a rotor housing rotatably mounted to the stator housing and coupled to a steering wheel; an attachment that couples the rotor housing to the stator housing so that the rotor housing is rotatable relative to the stator housing; and a flat cable accommodated in a space defined by the rotor housing and the stator housing. The attachment has an annular flange formed at an outer periphery thereof, and a slip-ring mechanism provided between the flange and a bottom section of the stator housing.
- According to another feature of the invention, the rotary connector has the flat cable and a cord, and the cord has one end thereof connected to a device mounted on the steering wheel and the other end thereof connected to the slip-ring mechanism through a shaft sleeve.
- According to another feature of the invention, the flange of the attachment supports movable contact plates of the slip-ring mechanism thereon; and the bottom of the stator housing has a non-movable contact plate thereon on which the movable contact plate slides.
- According to another feature of the invention, the movable contact plate is provided on the flange of the attachment and connected to the cord, and the non-movable contact plate is insert-molded in the bottom section of the stator housing.
- The present invention will become more clearly appreciated as the disclosure of the invention is made with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:
- FIG. 1 is a top view of a rotary connector according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the rotary connector when it is mounted to a combination switch.
- FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the rotary connector shown in FIG. 1.
- A
rotary connector 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings. - The
rotary connector 1 electrically connects the vehicle body of an automobile to asteering wheel 11 of the automobile. Therotary connector 1 includes astator housing 2, arotor housing 3, anattachment 4, and aflat cable 5. Thestator housing 2 is mounted to acombination switch 9 that is fixed to the steering column (not shown). Therotor housing 3 engages the underside of thesteering wheel 11 and rotates together with thesteering wheel 11. Theattachment 4 rotatably engages therotor housing 3. Theflat cable 5 is in the shape of a spiral accommodated in a space defined between thestator housing 2 and therotor housing 3. - The
stator housing 2 is a stationary part that is fixed on abase 10 of thecombination switch 9 by means of a screw or afastening portion 2 c. Thestator housing 2 includes abottom section 2 a and aside section 2 b that are assembled together. Specifically, theside section 2 b has engagement holes (not shown), while thebottom section 2 a has claws (not shown). Thebottom section 2 a andside section 2 b are assembled together with the claws fitted into the engagement holes. - Alternatively, the
bottom section 2 a andside section 2 b may be formed in a one piece construction, thereby providing thestator housing 2 in a single piece. - The upper surface of the
bottom section 2 a holds one end of theflat cable 5, as shown in FIG. 2, and has a guide (not shown) in a space A defined by thestator housing 2 and therotor housing 3. The guide guides theflat cable 5 accommodated in the space A. The space A has aslide sheet 13 placed on the inner bottom floor of thebottom section 2 a. Disposed below the guide is aconnector 2 d provided on theside section 2 b of therotor housing 2. - As shown in FIG. 1, the
bottom section 2 a has a plurality of ring-shaped non-movable contact-plates 7 that are exposed. The non-movable contact-plates 7 are, for example, insert-molded in the bottom surface of thestator housing 2. As shown in FIG. 2, first ends of the non-movable contact-plates 7 are exposed within thebottom section 2 a and second ends are exposed asterminals 7 a in theconnector 2 d. - The
connector 2 d has terminals (not shown) that are connected via theflat cable 5 to awire harness 12 disposed on therotor housing 3. The terminals (not shown) connected to theflat cable 5 and theterminals 7 a of the non-movable contact-plate 7 may be disposed in theconnector 2 d or may be disposed in separate connectors (not shown). - The
side section 2 b has a substantially ring-shapedcylindrical portion 2 e and aframe section 2 f formed on an outer periphery around the lower end of thecylindrical portion 2 e. Theframe section 2 f and thecylindrical portion 2 e having a one-piece construction. Theframe section 2 f has theconnector 2 d and thefastening portion 2 c for fixing therotary connector 1 to thebase 10 of thecombination switch 9. - The
attachment 4 has a fitting portion 4 b and a projection 4 c shown in FIG. 2 that couples the stator housing 2 to therotor housing 3. Theattachment 4 also has anannular flange 4 a around the outer surface of theattachment 4, and a through-hole 4 d formed below theflange 4 a. Acord 8 passes through the through-hole 4 d. In other words, theattachment 4 couples the stator housing 2 to arotor housing 3 by using such a means as disclosed in Laid-Open Japanese Patent No. 10-22029. - The
flange 4 a supports a plurality ofmovable contact plates 6 that are formed of an electrically conductive, resilient material as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. For example, twomovable contact plates 6 are used, but more movable-contact plates may be used as required. Themovable contact plate 6 is crimped to securely attach to theflange 4 a, and a crimped portion projects downwardly of theflange 4 a. The projecting portion of themovable contact plate 6 is soldered to acord 8. - The
cord 8 inserted through the through-hole 4 d near theflange 4 a passes through ashaft sleeve 1 a, and is connected to a device, such as a steering wheel heater, mounted to thesteering wheel 11. Thecord 8 has a large diameter such that a relatively large current can flow through thecord 8. - The
flat cable 5 has a plurality of, for example, belt-shaped wires that are arranged at predetermined intervals and sandwiched between two sheets of resin films made of insulation resin pressed together with heat applied thereto. Theflat cable 5 has one end connected to the terminals in theconnector 2 d of thestator housing 2 and the other end connected to thewire harness 12 of therotor housing 3. - The
flat cable 5 is accommodated in a doughnut-shaped space defined by thestator housing 2 androtor housing 3 such that theflat cable 5 is rotated clockwise and counterclockwise through more than two complete rotations from a neutral position at which the vehicle runs straight. - The rotary connector according to the present invention has the construction described above. The
rotary connector apparatus 1 andmovable contact plate 6 are such that when thesteering wheel 11 is rotated, thecord 8 rotates together with thesteering wheel 11,attachment 4, androtor housing 3. Thus, there is no chance of the cord being twisted. Themovable contact plate 6 slides while also being in pressure contact with thenon-movable contact plate 7 at all times. Thecord 8,movable contact plate 6, andnon-movable contact plate 7 are thicker than the conductors of theflat cable 5, so that a larger current can flow therethrough. - The present invention that is of the aforementioned construction and operates as described above provides the following advantages.
- A rotary connector is provided having: a stator housing mounted on a vehicle body of an automobile; a rotor housing rotatably mounted to the stator housing and coupled to a steering wheel; an attachment that couples the rotor housing to the stator housing so that the rotor housing is rotatably relative to the stator housing; and a flat cable accommodated in a space defined by the rotor housing and the stator housing; wherein the attachment has an annular flange formed at an outer periphery thereof, and a slip-ring mechanism provided between the flange and a bottom of the stator housing. This construction allows electrical connection between the steering wheel and the vehicle body by means of the flat cable and slip-ring mechanism, so that more electric circuits can be accommodated on the steering wheel and steering pad. The current supplied to the slip-ring mechanism does not flow through the flat cable. Thus, a device that consumes a relatively large amount of current can be mounted on the steering wheel.
- The rotary connector has the flat cable and the cord, and the cord has one end thereof connected to a device mounted on the steering wheel and the other end thereof connected to the slip-ring mechanism through a shaft sleeve. Thus, the cord can be routed out of the way of the rotating steering shaft so that the cord does not wrap around the steering shaft and steering wheel.
- The rotary connector has the flange of the attachment supporting the movable contact plates of the slip-ring mechanism thereon; and the bottom of the stator housing has a non-movable contact plate thereon on which the movable contact plate slides. This structure allows the movable contact plate and the non-movable contact plate to be mounted without increasing the number of parts, thereby reducing cost.
- The movable contact plate of the rotary connector is provided on the flange of the attachment and connected to the cord, and the non-movable contact plate is insert-molded in the bottom of the stator housing. Thus, the structure reduces the number of parts and assembly time, thereby contributing to cost reduction.
- It will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to the exact constructions that have been described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. It is intended that the scope of the invention only be limited by the appended claims.
Claims (12)
1. A rotary connector comprising:
a stator housing (2) adapted to be mounted on a vehicle body of an automobile;
a rotor housing (3) rotatably mounted to said stator housing (2) and adapted to be coupled to a steering wheel (11);
an attachment (4) that couples said rotor housing (3) to said stator housing (2) so that the rotor housing (3) is rotatable relative to the stator housing (2); and
a flat cable (5) accommodated in a space (A) defined by said rotor housing (3) and said stator housing (2);
wherein said attachment (4) has an annular flange (4 a) formed at an outer periphery thereof, and a slip-ring mechanism is provided between the flange (4 a) and a bottom surface section (2 a) of the stator housing (2).
2. The rotary connector according to , wherein the rotary connector (1) has a cord (8) with one end thereof adapted to be connected to a device mounted on the steering wheel (11) and another end thereof connected to the slip-ring mechanism through a shaft sleeve (1 a).
claim 1
3. The rotary connector according to , wherein the flange (4 a) of the attachment (4) supports a movable contact plate (6) of the slip-ring mechanism thereon; and wherein the bottom surface section (2 a) of the stator housing (2) has a non-movable contact plate (7) thereon on which the movable contact plate (6) slides.
claim 2
4. The rotary connector according to , wherein the movable contact plate (6) is connected to the cord (8), and the non-movable contact plate (7) is insert-molded in the bottom surface section (2 a) of the stator housing (2).
claim 3
5. The rotary connector according to , wherein the flange (4 a) of the attachment (4) supports a movable contact plate (6) of the slip-ring mechanism thereon; and wherein the bottom surface section (2 a) of the stator housing (2) has a non-movable contact plate (7) thereon on which the movable contact plate (6) slides.
claim 1
6. The rotary connector according to , wherein the movable contact plate (6) is connected to a cord (8), and the non-movable contact plate (7) is insert-molded in the bottom surface section (2 a) of the stator housing (2).
claim 5
7. The rotary connector according to , wherein said slip-ring mechanism has a plurality of movable contact plates supported by the flange and a non-movable contact plate on the stator housing, said movable contact plates being in sliding contact with said non-movable contact plate to provide current flow therebetween.
claim 1
8. A rotary connector comprising:
a stator housing;
a rotor housing rotatably mounted to said stator housing;
an attachment that couples said rotor housing to said stator housing so that the rotor housing is rotatable relative to the stator housing, said attachment having an annular flange formed at an outer periphery thereof;
a flat cable accommodated in a space defined by said rotor housing and said stator housing, said flat cable having a first end connected electrically to a terminal of the stator housing and a second end connected electrically to a wire harness of the rotor housing; and
a slip-ring mechanism provided between the flange and a bottom surface section of the stator housing, the slip-ring mechanism having at least one movable contact plate supported by the flange and a non-movable contact plate on the stator housing, said contact plates being in sliding contact with each other to provide current flow therebetween.
9. The rotary connector according to , further comprising a cord having one end thereof connected electrically to the movable contact plate of the slip-ring mechanism.
claim 8
10. The rotary connector according to , wherein the slip-ring mechanism has a plurality of movable contact plates supported by the flange of the attachment, and wherein said non-movable contact plate is provided in a bottom of the stator housing.
claim 8
11. The rotary connector according to , wherein said movable contact plates are formed of an electrically conductive, resilient material.
claim 10
12. The rotary connector according to , wherein the non-movable contact plate is insert-molded in the bottom surface section of the stator housing.
claim 10
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JPP2000-1097 | 2000-01-06 | ||
JPP2000-001097 | 2000-01-06 | ||
JP2000001097A JP3633413B2 (en) | 2000-01-06 | 2000-01-06 | Rotating connector device |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20010007799A1 true US20010007799A1 (en) | 2001-07-12 |
US6371779B2 US6371779B2 (en) | 2002-04-16 |
Family
ID=18530357
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US09/752,778 Expired - Fee Related US6371779B2 (en) | 2000-01-06 | 2001-01-03 | Rotary connector |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US6371779B2 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1117161B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP3633413B2 (en) |
DE (1) | DE60001710T2 (en) |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6712618B2 (en) | 2002-01-10 | 2004-03-30 | Welch Leroy | Electrical brushless rotary connector assembly |
US20070004236A1 (en) * | 2005-07-01 | 2007-01-04 | Yazaki Corporation | Rotary connector device |
CN102823081A (en) * | 2010-03-30 | 2012-12-12 | 古河电气工业株式会社 | Rotary connector device |
US20160016524A1 (en) * | 2014-05-23 | 2016-01-21 | Symtec, Inc. | System for providing electrical conductor pathway to a vehicle steering wheel |
CN113765045A (en) * | 2021-08-31 | 2021-12-07 | 上海卫星装备研究所 | Satellite-borne turntable movable cable wiring system and method |
Families Citing this family (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE60237410D1 (en) * | 2001-02-21 | 2010-10-07 | Alps Electric Co Ltd | Rotary connector with multiple flexible cables |
JP4024025B2 (en) * | 2001-10-11 | 2007-12-19 | ナイルス株式会社 | Rotating connector device |
US20050284689A1 (en) * | 2004-06-23 | 2005-12-29 | Michael Simpson | Clockspring with sound dampener |
KR101506742B1 (en) | 2008-12-22 | 2015-03-27 | 대성전기공업 주식회사 | Roll Connector for Vehicle |
KR101322593B1 (en) * | 2011-03-14 | 2013-10-28 | 알프스 덴키 가부시키가이샤 | Rotary connector |
PL2540959T3 (en) | 2011-06-28 | 2014-01-31 | Sandvik Intellectual Property | Cutting tip and cutting bit having increased strength and penetration capability |
GB2582640B (en) * | 2019-03-29 | 2021-10-27 | Protean Electric Ltd | A drive arrangement for a vehicle |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4417775A (en) * | 1980-11-26 | 1983-11-29 | Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Electrical connector device |
JPH0681208B2 (en) | 1989-07-25 | 1994-10-12 | 株式会社田村電機製作所 | Power control circuit for telephone |
JP3437199B2 (en) * | 1992-10-28 | 2003-08-18 | アシスト シンコー株式会社 | Automatic guided vehicle for clean room |
JP3543881B2 (en) * | 1995-11-08 | 2004-07-21 | 株式会社デンソー | Alternator |
DE19754809C1 (en) * | 1997-12-10 | 1999-02-18 | Kostal Leopold Gmbh & Co Kg | Energy transfer arrangement for transferring electrical energy into a motor vehicle steering wheel |
-
2000
- 2000-01-06 JP JP2000001097A patent/JP3633413B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2000-12-30 DE DE60001710T patent/DE60001710T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2000-12-30 EP EP00128749A patent/EP1117161B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
2001
- 2001-01-03 US US09/752,778 patent/US6371779B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6712618B2 (en) | 2002-01-10 | 2004-03-30 | Welch Leroy | Electrical brushless rotary connector assembly |
US20070004236A1 (en) * | 2005-07-01 | 2007-01-04 | Yazaki Corporation | Rotary connector device |
US7223104B2 (en) * | 2005-07-01 | 2007-05-29 | Yazaki Corporation | Rotary connector device |
CN102823081A (en) * | 2010-03-30 | 2012-12-12 | 古河电气工业株式会社 | Rotary connector device |
EP2555344A1 (en) * | 2010-03-30 | 2013-02-06 | Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. | Rotary connector device |
EP2555344A4 (en) * | 2010-03-30 | 2013-10-16 | Furukawa Electric Co Ltd | Rotary connector device |
US20160016524A1 (en) * | 2014-05-23 | 2016-01-21 | Symtec, Inc. | System for providing electrical conductor pathway to a vehicle steering wheel |
CN113765045A (en) * | 2021-08-31 | 2021-12-07 | 上海卫星装备研究所 | Satellite-borne turntable movable cable wiring system and method |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP1117161A3 (en) | 2001-08-01 |
EP1117161A2 (en) | 2001-07-18 |
US6371779B2 (en) | 2002-04-16 |
DE60001710D1 (en) | 2003-04-24 |
EP1117161B1 (en) | 2003-03-19 |
DE60001710T2 (en) | 2003-10-16 |
JP2001196145A (en) | 2001-07-19 |
JP3633413B2 (en) | 2005-03-30 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
JP4602176B2 (en) | Rotating connector device | |
US6371779B2 (en) | Rotary connector | |
US6764326B2 (en) | Rotary connector having slip ring mechanism | |
US5683259A (en) | Rotary connector | |
US6299454B1 (en) | Steering column interconnector having conductive elastic rolling contacts | |
EP0884750A3 (en) | Fuse assembly | |
EP0924815B1 (en) | Rotary connection unit | |
US4157854A (en) | Steering column electrical connector arrangement | |
US6843672B2 (en) | Rotary connector that prevents excessive temperature increase generated in a flexible cable | |
US5951311A (en) | Rotary connector | |
US5775920A (en) | Rolling elastomer contact clockspring | |
US6343946B1 (en) | Rotary connector | |
EP3771047B1 (en) | Rotary connector | |
US20090142937A1 (en) | Connection Apparatus For Transmitting Electric Current, In Particular For A Steering Wheel Heater Of A Vehicle | |
EP1052743B1 (en) | Vehicle-mounted rotary connector | |
US6770991B2 (en) | Roll connector structure for a vehicle | |
US6579103B2 (en) | Roller connector mounted on steering device | |
US6663404B2 (en) | Device for transmitting current between two terminals | |
US6958558B2 (en) | Electric motor in particular for a steering system in a vehicle | |
JP3709998B2 (en) | Rotating connector | |
JP2001076802A (en) | Rotary connector | |
JP2008251194A (en) | Switch device | |
JP2003141972A (en) | Combination switch | |
JP2003243119A (en) | Clock spring | |
JPH028346Y2 (en) |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: NILES PARTS CO., LTD., JAPAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:MATSUMOTO, TSUYOSHI;REEL/FRAME:011594/0055 Effective date: 20010108 |
|
FEPP | Fee payment procedure |
Free format text: PAYOR NUMBER ASSIGNED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: ASPN); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY |
|
FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 4 |
|
REMI | Maintenance fee reminder mailed | ||
LAPS | Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees | ||
STCH | Information on status: patent discontinuation |
Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362 |
|
FP | Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee |
Effective date: 20100416 |