CN1241795A

CN1241795A - Attachment assembly for steering wheel of vehicle

Info

Publication number: CN1241795A
Application number: CN 99107189
Authority: CN
Inventors: 菅田正一
Original assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd
Current assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd
Priority date: 1998-06-15
Filing date: 1999-06-09
Publication date: 2000-01-19

Abstract

An attachment assembly for use in connection with the steering wheel of a vehicle. It consists of a fixed body, attached to the steering column, and a movable body, rotatable with respect to the fixed body and affixed to the steering wheel. The movable body and fixed body together define a toroidal space in which a coiled flat cable is contained. The ends of the cable carry connectors from the electrical system of the vehicle to (for example) an air bag actuating mechanism. A cable reel, made up of the fixed and movable bodies and the flat cable, is inserted into a hollow space in the switch body and is affixed thereto. As a result, the switch body and its operating lever can be maintained close to the underside of the steering wheel, even if the height of the flat cable is substantially increased.

Description

The coupling assembling of vehicle steering

The present invention relates to a kind of coupling assembling that is used for cable drum and unit switch, it is installed near automobile steering wheel.Specifically, the operating side that the present invention relates to a kind of joystick is installed to the structure near the downside of steering wheel.Therefore, the driver do not need hand is moved away from steering wheel just can mobile joystick.

The inflation mechanism that automobile steering wheel comprises air bag and air bag is expanded.Cable drum is used for inflation mechanism is linked to each other with automobile circuit.

With reference to Fig. 7 to 9, movable body 5 is installed in rotation in the fixed body 2, is cylindrical space between the two.Comprise in the space of cable drum 1 between fixed body 2 and movable body 5 of flat cable 6 of coiling.Space between movable body and the fixed body has enough big radius, thereby makes the rotation that flat cable 6 can corresponding movable body 5 and reel or launch.Fixed body is installed on the unit switch body 3, and unit switch body 3 is positioned near on the direction post 4 of steering wheel 10, and movable body 5 rotates with steering wheel 10.

Unit switch body 3 has rotation indication piece 7 in a side, has lamp switch spare 8 at opposite side.They are controlled by the joystick 7b that stretches out from switch enclosure 7a with by the joystick 8b that switch enclosure 8a stretches out respectively.

Said apparatus is by installing movable body 5, cable drum 1 is installed on the direction post 4 under the steering wheel 10 and fits together.Fixed body 2 with the movable body 5 that is rotatably mounted is connected on the upper surface of switch body 3 and is positioned under the steering wheel 10.When the device of assembling the above-mentioned type, between the upper surface of cable drum 1 direction of insertion dish 10 and switch body 3, switch body 3 is installed on the direction post 4.Joystick 7b and 8b stretch out from the side outside switch enclosure 7a and the 8a.

When cable drum 1 was between steering wheel 10 and switch body 3,

joystick

7b and 8b stretched out from switch body 3, and height H is very big, so joystick and steering wheel 10 is at a distance of more greatly apart from S.Because recent innovation requires flat cable 6 to have more circuit, the problems referred to above are particularly important.The result is that cable drum 1 increases to 1.5 to 2 times of original height.When yet accordingly increasing between steering wheel 10 and joystick 7b and the 8b,, the driver just can not control joystick if not unclamping steering wheel 10 apart from S.Because security reason, this is undesirable.

A way that addresses the above problem is

suggestion joystick

7b and 8b bending shown in Fig. 7 chain-dotted line and Figure 10 solid line.Make the end of joystick near steering wheel 10 like this, thereby reduce apart from S.Yet the shortcoming of this scheme is to require joystick to have special curved shape, has improved cost.In addition, Wan Qu joystick brings problem also can for the circuit that is contained in wherein.

Needing a kind of additional mechanism automatically to make turns to indicating arm and switch to get back to the centre position.Owing to cancel cam 9 is to finish the element of above-mentioned functions when steering wheel 10 rotates, so cancel the link position that cam 9 must be arranged on joystick 7b.The result is, apart from the distance increase of steering wheel 10.Therefore, comprise that the various elements of cancelling cam 9 must be installed separately with the remainder of this device.The number of assembling required part and step all will increase.

Another program is based on Japan Patent OPI 9-129092 proposition.As shown in figure 11, fixed body 2 ' is directly formed by unit switch body 3 '.Movable body 5 ' rotates with respect to switch body 3 ' and forms annular space with switch body 3 '.Flat cable 6 ' is located in wherein.

Such scheme is the improvement of another kind of prior art, and makes joystick 7b and 8b near steering wheel 10.Yet owing to switch body 3 ' for cable drum doubles as fixed body, and cable drum and unit switch form, and just produced problem.Specifically, if in switch body or the fixed body one is damaged (as split, broken or distortion), cable drum and unit switch just must all be changed.

In addition, cancelling cam 9 ' is arranged under the fixed body 2 '.This requires cam parts to be separated from each other installation.In addition, turn to the joystick of indicator cock roughly under steering wheel 10.If the height of flat cable 6 such as present trend increase, this contradiction will be more sharp-pointed.Therefore, joystick than desirable optimum state further from steering wheel.

The objective of the invention is to overcome the problems referred to above.Cable drum separates with unit switch, thereby even the increase of cable height does not need to increase steering wheel and the middle distance of joystick yet.This makes the driver can control joystick when holding steering wheel.Because cancelling cam needn't be the parts that separate, the decreased number of part.

The invention provides a kind of coupling assembling of being connected with automobile steering wheel of being used for, the movable body that comprises fixed body and be installed on the fixed body and can rotate with respect to fixed body.Fixed body and movable body define the annular hollow part together betwixt.The flat cable of reeling is positioned at hollow space, has top connection and the other end has lower contact at the one end.Fixed body, movable body and flat cable have constituted cable drum.

Also be included in upper plate and have the unit switch body of central opening, have first joystick in a side of switch body, the opposite side that is preferably in switch body has second joystick.Cable drum is positioned at central opening at least in part and removably is fixed on the switch body.The depth size that enters central opening is not a key issue, as long as cable drum does not stretch out from opposite side, then inserts deeply more, and overall height is more little.

In normal circumstances, first joystick control running direction indicator.Joystick (and switch of control) has right turn signal position, left rotaring signal position and is positioned at above-mentioned both middle centre positions.Joystick can manually move to two other position from middle position.Yet, hope be: when steering wheel transforms to when wheel is kept straight on, joystick turns back to the centre position.This is finished by the cam of cancelling on the inner surface of outer surface that is positioned at movable body or fixed body.Cam comprise a pair of on circumference the curved cam surface of space.The position of cam face makes them can automobile be turned and compacting relieving mechanism during steering wheel rotation in required direction, and unclamps relieving mechanism after wheel is kept straight on.Have been found that ideal situation is to cancel that cam is positioned at hollow space as the part of movable body or near hollow space.Central opening is preferably circular.

In the accompanying drawings, similar label is represented similar parts:

Fig. 1 is the front elevational schematic of the broken section of assembly of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a decomposition diagram of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is the part exploded view with the cable drum that assembles;

Fig. 4 is the cutaway view of the cable drum that assembles;

Fig. 5 is the cutaway view that is assembled with cable drum among Fig. 4 of unit switch;

Fig. 6 is the plane graph of device shown in Figure 5;

Fig. 7 and Fig. 1 are similar, are the view of prior-art devices;

Fig. 8 is the exploded view of the device of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is the cross-sectional schematic of Fig. 7;

Figure 10 is the exploded view of another kind of well known device;

Figure 11 is the cutaway view of another kind of well known device.

Coupling assembling of the present invention comprises cable drum 11 and unit switch body 12.Cable drum 11 comprises movable body 13, flat cable 16 and fixed body 14.Switch body 12 has respectively by

joystick

20 and 22 switch enclosures of controlling 21 and 23.

As being shown specifically among Fig. 2, the fixed body 14 of cable drum 11 has the basal surface 14a of band opening 14b.Three bolt block 14c are provided for being connected with switch body 12.Drip ring 25 is inserted between flat cable 16 and the basal surface 14a.Flat cable 16 1 ends have last connector 16a, and the other end has lower connector 16b.Movable body 13 is positioned at top and the shape and fixed body 14 complementations of flat cable 16.

Upper end with cable drum 11 of linkage unit 26 and spring 27 is inserted among the circular open 12c of upper plate 12b and is comprised the hollow space 12a that is used to hold cable drum 11 remainders.Sidewall 12d has the bolt hole 12e of the bolt block 14c of corresponding fixed body 14.The bolt that passes bolt hole 12e and bolt block 14c tightens together each element of assembly.

Switch body 12 has respectively by joystick 20 and 22 switch enclosures of controlling 21 and 23.Switch in the switch enclosure 21 be used for when joystick end 20b from middle position on suitable direction mobile time control running direction indicator send and turn right or left rotaring signal.

Movable body 13 links to each other with steering wheel 10 and rotates with respect to fixed body 14 with it.The cable drum 11 that assembles is shown in Figure 3.Cam 17 controls of cancelling that comprise

cam face

17a and 17b remain on the release 20a of left-hand rotation or right-hand rotation position with joystick 20, thereby make joystick 20 can return the centre position.Release discharges when making wheel get back to in-line position by steering wheel rotation 10.

The cable drum that assembles 11 plane graphs shown in Figure 4 among Fig. 3.Movable body 13 has inner periphery 13a, annular section 13b, excircle 13c and shoulder 13d.The shoulder seating is on the installed part 13e as the bearing of movable body.Inner periphery 13a forms core 18.Between core 18 and fixed body 14, form annular space 15.Flat cable 16 is placed wherein.

Fig. 5 shows this device of finishing assembling.Cable drum 11 is installed in the hollow space of switch body 12.Whole assembly is fastened on the direction post 4.Because cable drum 11 is installed in the switch body 12, height H reduces.Therefore, as shown in Figure 1, switch enclosure 21 is near steering wheels 10, thus make the driver hold steering wheel the time can control joystick 20.In addition, joystick 20 can be straight, and this shape manufacturing cost is lower.

According to the present invention, cable drum and unit switch form independently, and the former is from the following insertion latter's hollow space, and therefore, cable drum is fastened on the upper plate of switch body.In this way, the position of joystick on switch body is not subjected to the influence of flat cable and/or cable drum height.In addition, because cable drum and switch body are unit independently, if one of them has damaged.Do not need two all to change.Cancel cam and be arranged on the external peripheral surface of movable body, thereby reduced the number of part and the number of number of assembling steps, thereby reduced manufacturing cost significantly.

Although only disclose limited embodiment of the present invention, the present invention can have various structures, and the present invention only is subjected to the restriction of feature in the claims.

Claims

1. one kind is used for the coupling assembling that is connected with automobile steering wheel, comprising fixed body and be installed in also can be with respect to the movable body of fixed body rotation on the fixed body, described movable body has core, described fixed body has circumference, described fixed body and movable body define annular space between described core and described circumference, the flat cable of reeling is positioned at annular space, has top connection and the other end has lower contact at described cable one end, and fixed body, movable body and flat cable have constituted cable drum;

Have the band upper plate of central opening and the unit switch body of hollow space, have first joystick in a side of switch body, cable drum is positioned at described hollow space at least in part and is fixed on the switch body.

2. assembly as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, has second joystick at the opposite side of switch body.

3. assembly as claimed in claim 1, it is characterized in that, comprise the cam of cancelling on the inner surface of the outer surface that is positioned at described movable body or described fixed body, described cam is used to control relieving mechanism and makes described first joystick move to off-position from the service position.

4. assembly as claimed in claim 3 is characterized in that, the described cam of cancelling is positioned at described hollow space or close described hollow space.

5. assembly as claimed in claim 3 is characterized in that, the described cam of cancelling is on described movable body.

6. assembly as claimed in claim 5 is characterized in that, the described cam of cancelling is positioned on the outer wall of described movable body.

7. assembly as claimed in claim 3 is characterized in that, the described cam of cancelling is positioned on the inwall of described fixed body.

8. assembly as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, described first joystick control running direction indicator.

9. assembly as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that described central opening is circular.

10. assembly as claimed in claim 3 is characterized in that, the described cam of cancelling comprises a pair of curved cam surface, and described cam face is spaced from each other on circumference.