JP3489781B2 - Wiring connection structure of steering roll connector - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wiring connection structure for a steering roll connector for connecting a power source to a squib of an airbag unit or an inflator built into a steering wheel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An airbag system stores at least an inflator and a bag in a folded state in a steering wheel. The inflator is provided with a squib filled with explosives around the power source heater wire. When electricity flows through the squib, the inflator heats the heater and ignites the explosive. This ignites the ignition charge, burns the gas generant, generates a large amount of gas, and inflates the bag.

Power is supplied to the inflator by a steering roll connector. The steering roll connector has a built-in cable that connects to the squib. The cable has a total length of about 0.7 m, and is housed in a spiral shape so that it can rotate 2.5 times each from the steering neutral position to the left and right. That is,
The inflator built into the rotating steering wheel is always connected by this steering roll connector.

As a method of connecting a power source to a rotating body, there is a sliding contact type. However, in airbag systems that require reliability, the momentary interruption of sliding contacts can be fatal. Therefore, for the wiring to the steering wheel, a cable type steering roll connector that does not cause a momentary interruption is used to ensure high reliability.

[0005]

The airbag system is classified into a "collective type" and a "floor type". In the collective type, all components such as an inflator, a bag, and an airbag ECU are built in the steering wheel. In the floor-standing type, an inflator and a bag are built in the steering wheel and an airbag ECU is mounted on the floor panel.

In the floor-standing type, the airbag ECU and the squib are directly connected via a steering roll connector. Therefore, if static electricity is applied between the power terminals of the squib-side connector released by removing the cable, the heater may generate heat, and the squib may erroneously explode. From this, in the floor-standing type, a connector with a short bar is used for the squib side connector. When the connector is disconnected, the + and-power terminals are short-circuited with a short bar to form a closed circuit.
Prevents potential difference due to static electricity between terminals.
The short bar is elastically deformed at the time of fitting by a protrusion or the like provided on the mating connector so that the short circuit is released.

Therefore, in the case of the floor-standing type, the connector provided on the steering roll connector must have a short bar releasing protrusion. On the other hand, in the case of the batch type, since the power supply wiring is not directly connected to the squib, it is not necessary to use the connector with the short bar.

Under these circumstances, the steering roll connector needs to have different connector structures for the floor-standing type and the collective type. As a result, since there are two types of steering roll connectors, there are disadvantages that parts management becomes complicated and cost increases.

The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and a steering roll connector capable of connecting a batch type or a floor-standing type airbag system with high reliability by using one type of steering roll connector. It is an object of the present invention to provide a wiring connection structure of.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wiring connection structure for a steering roll connector according to the present invention, wherein one type of steering roll is provided in an airbag unit or a squib incorporated in a steering wheel. A wiring connection structure of a steering roll connector for connecting a power source through a connector, wherein a connector provided in a power input wiring of the airbag unit is used for connecting the airbag unit and the steering roll connector. A connector with a short bar provided on the squib power input wiring of the squib is used to connect the squib to the steering roll connector by fitting the connector directly on the steering side of the connector through the steering side adapter cord. Roll connector The steering side adapter cord has a short-circuit release connector that fits with the connector with the short bar at one end, and the other end is a lock that cannot be detached from the steering side directly-attached connector. It is characterized by comprising a type connector.

In the wiring connection structure of the steering roll connector, the connector provided in the power supply input wiring of the airbag unit is fitted to the steering side direct connector of the steering roll connector for connecting the airbag unit and the steering roll connector. Are combined. For connection between the squib and the steering roll connector, a connector with a short bar provided on the squib power input wiring of the squib is connected to the steering side direct connector of the steering roll connector via the steering side adapter cord. Therefore, the airbag unit or the squib can be connected to the steering roll connector having the same structure.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wiring connection structure for a steering roll connector, wherein the steering roll connector connected to the airbag unit and a power source are connected by a connector provided on a power supply wiring from the power source. To connect the steering roll connector fitted to the column side direct-attachment connector of the steering roll connector and connected to the squib and the airbag ECU,
A short circuit release connector provided in the squib power supply wiring of the airbag ECU is connected to a column side direct connector of the steering roll connector via a column side adapter cord, and the column side adapter cord has one end on the column side. The present invention is characterized in that a lock-type connector that cannot be detached from the direct-attached connector is provided, and a connector with a short bar that fits with the short-circuit release connector is provided at the other end.

In this wiring structure for the steering roll connector, the steering roll connector connected to the airbag unit is connected to the power supply by connecting the connector provided on the power supply wiring from the power supply to the column side of the steering roll connector. It is fitted to the direct connector. To connect the steering roll connector connected to the squib and the airbag ECU, the short-circuit release connector provided on the squib power supply wiring of the airbag ECU is directly attached to the column side of the steering roll connector via the column adapter cord. Connected to the connector. Therefore, the power supply or the airbag ECU can be connected to the steering roll connector having the same structure.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of a wiring connection structure for a steering roll connector according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a wiring system diagram for explaining a wiring connection structure of a steering roll connector according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a connector with a short bar of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a lock type connector of FIG. Four
6 is a rear view of the lock plate of FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the lock-type connector with the lock plate fitted, and FIG.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the steering roll connector of FIG. 1, and FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of built-in parts of the steering roll connector of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the airbag system includes a package type A and a floor-standing type B. In the collective type A, an airbag unit 3 including an inflator, a bag, an airbag ECU, etc. is built in the steering wheel 1. In the floor-standing type B, an inflator having a squib 5 and a bag are built in the steering 1. This floor-mounted type B is an airbag ECU
Attach 7 separately on the floor panel.

In the case of the package type A, a general connector 11 is attached to the power input wiring 9 of the airbag unit 3. On the other hand, in the case of the floor-standing type B, a connector 15 with a short bar is attached to the squib power input wiring 13 of the squib 5.

As shown in FIG. 2, the connector 15 with a short bar has a pair of + and-power supply terminals 15b and 15b built in a housing 15a. In addition, a short bar 15c, which is a short-circuit member, is provided in the housing 15a. The short bar 15c normally makes contact with the power supply terminals 15b, 15b by elastic force (when the mating connector is not in a fitted state). That is, in the unfitted connector 15 with a short bar, the power supply terminals 15b and 15b are short-circuited by the short bar 15c.

The connector 15 with the short bar is adapted to be fitted with the short circuit release connector 19 attached to one end of the steering side adapter cord 17 shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the short circuit release connector 19
Has power supply terminals 19b and 19b fitted in the power supply terminals 15b and 15b in the housing 19a. Also,
An insulating plate 19c is provided in a protruding manner in the housing 19a of the short circuit release connector 19. The insulating plate 19c is adapted to enter between the power supply terminals 15b and 15b and the short bar 15c when the short circuit release connector 19 is fitted to the short bar connector 15.

That is, the connector 15 with the short bar
By being fitted with the short circuit release connector 19, the short circuit of the power supply terminals 15b, 15b by the short bar 15c is released.

A lock type connector 21 is connected to the other end of the steering side adapter cord 17 shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, the lock-type connector 21
Has a housing 21a and a lock plate 21b. The housing 21a is provided with elastic pieces 21c supported at both ends. A locking protrusion 21d is provided at the center of the elastic piece 21c. Locking protrusion 21d
The elastic piece 21c is elastically deformed to be locked in a locking recess (not shown) of the mating connector.

Therefore, in the lock-type connector 21, the elastic piece 21c is elastically deformed to retract the locking projection 21d from the locking recess and release the locking. Lock plate 2
In 1b, the insertion piece 21f can be inserted into the insertion hole 21e formed in the housing 21a. The insertion piece 21f inserted into the insertion hole 21e is arranged in the elastic deformation space of the elastic piece 21c. Therefore, when the insertion piece 21f is inserted,
The elastic deformation of the elastic piece 21c is disabled so that the locking projection 21d cannot be unlocked. The lock plate 21b is shown in FIG.
The pair of lock parts 21g shown in FIG. That is, the lock-type connector 21 cannot be detached from the mating connector by inserting the lock plate 21b after being fitted to the mating connector as shown in FIG.

The steering roll connector 23 shown in FIG. 1 is provided with a steering side direct connector 25. The steering side direct attachment connector 25 can be fitted to both the collective type A connector 11 and the lock type connector 21 of the steering side adapter cord 17 used for the floor-standing type B.

That is, in the collective type A, the airbag unit 3 can be connected to the steering roll connector 23 by directly fitting the connector 11 to the steering side direct-attaching connector 25. Further, the floor-standing type B is a lock type connector 21 of the steering side adapter cord 17 connected to the connector 15 with a short bar.
The squib 5 can be connected to the steering roll connector 23 by fitting the squib 5 to the steering side direct attachment connector 25.

As shown in FIG. 6, the steering roll connector 23 includes an under cover 23a and a cover 23b.
And the upper cover 23c form an outer shell. The steering side direct-attaching connector 25 is fixed on the upper cover 23c. Upper cover 23c
Are rotatable with respect to the under cover 23a. A column-side direct-attaching connector 27 is provided on the under cover 23a.

A rotator 23d shown in FIG. 7 and a carrier 23e are provided between the under cover 23a and the cover 23b.
And a cable 23f. Cable 23f
One end of is connected to the steering side direct connector 25, and the other end is connected to the column side direct connector 27.

The rotator 23d is non-rotatably attached to the outer periphery of a steering shaft (not shown), and is rotatable inside the under cover 23a. Cable 23
f is housed in a spiral shape between the under cover 23a and the rotator 23d. The carrier 23e is a cable 23
Surrounding the outer circumference of f, the slack generated in the cable 23f when the rotator 23d rotates is removed, and the cable 23f can be wound and fed out smoothly.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the case of the batch type A,
A power supply 29 is connected to the column-side directly attached connector 27 of the steering roll connector 23. A general connector 33 is attached to the power supply wiring 31 from the power supply 29. The connector 33 can be fitted to the column-side directly-mounted connector 27 of the steering roll connector 23.

On the other hand, in the case of the floor type B, the steering roll connector 23 is directly attached to the column side connector 2
7, a squib power supply wiring 3 of the airbag ECU 7
Connect 5. The squib power supply wiring 35 is connected directly to the column side connector 2 via the column side adapter cord 37.
Connect to 7.

At one end of the column side adapter cord 37,
A lock type connector 21 similar to the above is attached. The lock-type connector 21 can be fitted with the column-side directly-attached connector 27. To the other end of the column side adapter cord 37, the connector 15 with a short bar similar to the above is connected. The connector 15 with a short bar can be fitted to the short-circuit release connector 19 similar to the above, which is attached to the squib power supply wiring 35. In addition, 39 in FIG. 1 shows a squib power supply wiring to the passenger seat. A power supply 29 is connected to the airbag ECU 7.

Next, the operation of the wiring connection structure of the steering roll connector thus constructed will be described. Figure 8
Is a wiring system diagram showing a collective type connection wiring, and FIG. 9 is a wiring system diagram showing a floor-standing type connection wiring.

In the wiring connection structure of this steering roll connector, when wiring the collective type A airbag system, as shown in FIG. 8, the connector 11 attached to the power input wiring 9 of the airbag unit 3 is connected to the steering wheel. The roll connector 23 is fitted and connected to the steering-side directly-attached connector 25.

A connector 33 attached to a power supply wiring 31 from a power supply 29 is fitted and connected to the column-side directly-mounted connector 27 of the steering roll connector 23.

As a result, the power supply 29 is connected to the airbag unit 3 built in the steering wheel 1 through the steering roll connector 23.

On the other hand, when wiring the floor-standing type B airbag system by wiring, first, as shown in FIG.
The lock-type connector 21 of the steering-side adapter cord 17 is fitted and connected to the steering-side directly attached connector 25 of the steering roll connector 23.

Further, the lock connector 21 of the column side adapter cord 37 is replaced with the steering roll connector 23.
It is fitted and connected to the column side directly attached connector 27. That is, first, the steering side adapter cord 17 and the column side adapter cord 37 are connected to the steering roll connector 23.

Then, the connector 15 with a short bar attached to the squib power input wiring 13 of the squib 5,
It is fitted and connected to the short circuit release connector 19 of the steering side adapter cord 17.

Further, the short-circuit release connector 19 attached to the squib power supply wiring 35 of the airbag ECU 7 is fitted and connected to the connector 15 with the short bar of the column side adapter cord 37. As a result, the squib 5 built into the steering wheel 1 is
7, the steering roll connector 23, and the column-side adapter cord 37 are connected to the airbag ECU 7.

Since the steering side adapter cord 17 and the column side adapter cord 37 are first connected to the steering roll connector 23, the terminal end connected to the squib power input wiring 13 is always short-circuited during the wiring connection work. And it is not released. The steering side adapter cord 17 and the column side adapter cord 37
Is preferably fitted and connected to the steering roll connector 23 in advance on the assembly line before factory shipment.

In the case of the floor-standing type B, since the connector 15 with a short bar is attached to the squib power input wiring 13, static electricity is not applied to the squib 5 when the connector is detached. Similarly, since the connector 15 with a short bar is attached to the column side adapter cord 37, static electricity is not applied to the squib 5 when the connector is detached.

Further, the steering side adapter cord 17
Since the lock type connector 21 is attached to the lock type connector 21 and the steering side direct-attaching connector 25
And become inseparable, and static electricity is not applied to the squib 5 due to the separation. Similarly, by attaching the lock-type connector 21 to the column-side adapter cord 37,
The lock-type connector 21 and the column-side directly-attached connector 27 cannot be separated, and static electricity is not applied to the squib 5 due to the separation.

Therefore, in this wiring connection structure for the steering roll connector, wiring between the batch type A and the floor-standing type B is possible with one type of steering roll connector 23. In the case of floor type B,
Since the connector 15 with the short bar is used for the detachable connector fitting portion, static electricity is prevented from being applied thereto, and the other connector fitting portions are prevented from being detached, so that static electricity is prevented from being applied thereto. become.

The lock type connector 21 is detached from the steering roll connector 23 by breaking the lock plate 21b. Therefore, it is possible to disconnect the short bar connector 15 and the short circuit release connector 19 between the steering side adapter cord 17 and the squib power supply input wiring 13 or between the column side adapter cord 37 and the squib power supply wiring 35. Attention is paid to the careless disconnection operation of the lock-type connector 21, which is performed in advance, and the erroneous explosion of the squib due to the generation of static electricity can be prevented.
That is, first, the short-bar connector 15 and the short-circuit release connector 19 are disengaged, and then the lock-type connector 21 is disengaged from the steering roll connector 23, whereby accidental explosion of the squib is prevented.

[0045]

As described in detail above, according to the wiring connection structure of the steering roll connector of claim 1 of the present invention, the power supply input wiring of the airbag unit is used for connecting the airbag unit and the steering roll connector. Connector on the steering side of the steering roll connector, and to connect the squib to the steering roll connector, the short bar connector provided on the squib power input wiring of the squib,
Since the steering roll connector is directly connected to the steering side connector of the steering roll connector via the steering side adapter cord, the airbag unit or the squib can be connected to the steering roll connector having the same structure. As a result, one type of steering roll connector can be used, parts management can be facilitated, and cost can be reduced.

When the squib and the steering roll connector are connected, a connector with a short bar is used for the connector fitting portion that can be detached, and a lock-type connector that cannot be detached is used for the other connector fitting portions. It is.
As a result, it is possible to prevent static electricity from being applied to the connector detached portion, prevent accidental explosion of the squib, and provide a highly reliable wiring connection structure.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the steering roll connector wiring connection structure, the steering roll connector connected to the airbag unit is connected to the power source by using the connector provided in the power supply wiring from the power source. To connect the steering roll connector that is fitted to the column-side direct-attached connector and is connected to the squib and the airbag ECU, use the short-circuit release connector provided on the squib power supply wiring of the airbag ECU, and the column-side adapter cord. Since it is connected to the column side direct connector of the steering roll connector via, the power supply or the airbag ECU can be connected to the steering roll connector of the same structure. As a result, even in the wiring connection structure on the column side, one type of steering roll connector can be used, component management can be facilitated, and cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a wiring system diagram illustrating a wiring connection structure of a steering roll connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the connector with a short bar of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the lock-type connector of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the lock plate of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the lock-type connector with a lock plate fitted thereto.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the steering roll connector of FIG.

7 is an exploded perspective view of built-in parts of the steering roll connector of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a wiring system diagram showing a collective type connection wiring.

FIG. 9 is a wiring system diagram showing floor-standing type connection wiring.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 steering 3 airbag unit 5 squibs 7 Airbag ECU 9 Power input wiring 11 connector 13 Squib power input wiring 15 Connector with short bar 17 Steering side adapter code 19 Short circuit release connector 21 Lock type connector 23 Steering roll connector 25 Steering side direct connector 27 Column side direct connector 29 power supply 31 Power supply wiring 33 connector 35 Squib power supply wiring 37 Column side adapter code

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Yasutaka Nakamura               Fuji Heavy Industries 10-1 Higashihonmachi, Ota City, Gunma Prefecture               Within the corporation                (56) Reference JP-A-8-34308 (JP, A)                 JP-A-8-96914 (JP, A)                 Actual Kaihei 5-6758 (JP, U)

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A wiring connection structure of a steering roll connector for connecting a power source to an airbag unit or a squib built into a steering via one type of steering roll connector, wherein the airbag unit and the steering roll connector are connected to each other. The connector provided in the power input wiring of the airbag unit is fitted to the steering side direct connector of the steering roll connector, and the squib is connected to the steering roll connector. The connector with a short bar provided on the squib power input wiring is connected to the steering side direct connector of the steering roll connector via the steering side adapter cord, and the steering side adapter cord has the short bar connector at one end. Provided with a short-circuit release connector to Kuta mating, wiring connection structure of a steering roll connector, characterized in that it comprises a locking-type connector to be irremovably from said steering-side direct mounting connector at the other end. 2. The connection between the steering roll connector connected to the airbag unit and a power source,
The connector provided on the power supply wiring from the power supply is fitted to the column side direct connector of the steering roll connector, and the steering roll connector connected to the squib and the airbag ECU are connected to each other. The short circuit release connector provided on the squib power supply wiring of the airbag ECU is connected to the column side direct connector of the steering roll connector via the column side adapter cord, and the column side adapter cord is connected at one end to the column side direct cord. 2. The wiring connection structure for a steering roll connector according to claim 1, further comprising a lock-type connector that cannot be detached from the attachment connector, and a connector with a short bar that fits with the short-circuit release connector at the other end.