JPH09167668A - Rotating connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To hold a neutral position of a housed belt-like transmission line by releasing rotational regulation by installing it in a fixing member. SOLUTION: In this rotary connector 1, a flexible belt-like transmission line 5 is housed in the interior of a rotator 2 and stators 3 and 4, and is installed in a fixing member to connect the fixing member and a rotary member to each other. In this case, a synthetic resin-made lock member 10 which is energized in the locking direction with a stopper arranged in the stator 4 and has an engaging piece to regulate rotation by engaging with the stopper and a driving part which is driven by the fixing member when it is installed and releases engagement of the engaging piece and the stopper, is arranged on the rotator 2 side.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrical signal between a fixed member and a rotary member such as between an electrical component provided on the steering wheel side of an automobile and an electrical component provided on the vehicle body side. , A rotary connector for transmitting an optical signal or electric power.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A rotary connector for transmitting electric signals and the like between a fixed member and a rotary member accommodates a flexible band-shaped transmission line inside a rotator and a stator, and tightens the band-shaped transmission line. Rotation of the rotator relative to the stator is allowed by loosening and winding.

At this time, the rotary connector is assembled by adjusting the band-shaped transmission line to a neutral position for tightening and loosening so that the band-shaped transmission line can be properly tightened and loosened. Therefore, the assembled rotary connector needs to hold the band-shaped transmission line in a neutral state until it is attached to the fixed member. In order to maintain the neutral state of the band-shaped transmission line, for example, a fixing pin is detachably attached across the attachment members provided on the rotator and the stator, and the relative rotation of the rotator and the stator is restricted. A rotary connector is known (Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 5-45977, etc.).

[0004]

By the way, since the rotary connector using the fixed pin is mounted over the rotator and the stator, the fixed pin is inevitably large, and the rotary connector itself requires a large installation space. I will have to take it. However, when the rotary connector is used as a connector for operating an air bag of an automobile, the rotary device is installed in a place where the arrangement space of the steering device is limited, so that the size increase must be avoided as much as possible.

In addition, the fixed pin type rotary connector has a problem that the manufacturing cost is increased due to its complicated structure. The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a small-sized rotary connector that can hold a neutral position of a housed band-shaped transmission line at low cost by removing rotation restriction by attaching the fixed member to a fixed member. To do.

[0006]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, a flexible band-shaped transmission line is housed inside a rotator and a stator, and is attached to a fixed member so as to be installed between a rotary member and the fixed member. In the rotary connector for connecting the rotator, an engaging piece that is biased toward the rotator in the engaging direction of the stopper provided on the stator and that restricts rotation by engaging with the stopper, and the fixing piece when attached. A lock member made of a synthetic resin, which is driven by a member and has a driving portion that releases the engagement between the engagement piece and the stopper, is provided.

[0007] Preferably, the engaging member is formed with a taper surface on the fixing member side so that the engaging member makes surface contact on the fixing member side when the engagement with the stopper is released by the fixing member. .

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6 by taking an example of a rotary connector for an airbag used in a steering device of an automobile. As shown in FIG. 1, the rotary connector 1 includes a rotator 2, a sub-stator 3 and a stator 4 formed of synthetic resin.
Is used as a housing, the flat cable 5 is wound and housed in an annular space formed inside by combining these, and the external electric wires 6 and 7 are connected to each end of the flat cable 5 via a mold member (not shown). Can be assembled. Each of the mold members is a bus bar molded with resin and has a mold cover (not shown). Here, the rotary connector 1 shown in FIG. 1 is drawn in the same vertical direction as in the case of being attached to the steering device.

The rotator 2 has an insertion shaft portion 2a formed in the center thereof, and on the back surface thereof, as shown in FIG. 2, a recess 2b for mounting a lock member 10 described later and a fitting groove into which one mold member 8 is fitted. 2c are formed. Sub-stator 3
The rotator 2 is rotatably held by integrally assembling the rotator 2 so as to be sandwiched between the rotator 2 and the stator 4. The rotator 2 protrudes outward in the radial direction on the side portion and extends downward. 3a is formed. Also,
The sub-stator 3 has a label (not shown) indicating cautions for use and the like attached on its upper surface.

The stator 4 is a disk-shaped member having an opening 4a for arranging the rotator 2 formed in the center, and the insertion portion 3
An engaging plate 4b is integrally formed at a position corresponding to a. The engagement plate 4b engages with the insertion portion 3a when the housing is assembled with the rotator 2 and the sub-stator 3,
An insertion groove for inserting the other mold member (not shown) that connects the end of the external electric wire 6 to one end of the flat cable 5 is formed. Further, the stator 4 is provided with a plurality of stoppers 4c (see FIG. 2) projecting downward in the circumferential direction at positions facing the openings 4a on the lower surface.

The flat cable 5 is a flexible band-shaped transmission line in which a plurality of flat conductors are insulation-coated, and the conductor and the optical fiber may be insulation-coated. The flat cable 5 is wound in a spiral shape by making a U-turn in the middle, and is wound together with three dummy cables CD similarly made of a plastic film and having a U-turn in order to maintain this U-turn shape. Flat cable 5
Allows rotation of the rotator 2 by tightening or loosening the winding in an inner annular space formed by combining the rotator 2, the sub-stator 3 and the stator 4.

The external electric wires 6 and 7 are formed by attaching connectors 6a and 7a to the ends of a plurality of electric wires, and the outer peripheries thereof are covered with tubes made of synthetic resin. As shown in FIG.
The external electric wire 6 is connected to the other molding member at the insertion portion 3a of the sub-stator 3, and the external electric wire 7 is connected to the one molding member 8. The lock member 10 restricts the rotation of the rotator 2 and releases the restriction when it is attached to a fixed member (steering column) on the vehicle body side, and is formed of a synthetic resin such as POM (polyacetal), As shown in FIG. 3, the engaging piece 10a, the driving piece 10b, and the locking pieces 10c, 10c are provided.

The engaging piece 10a has a thickness substantially equal to the height of the stopper 4c, the tip extends to the outside in the radial direction of the stopper 4c of the stator 4, and is bent at an obtuse angle in plan view.
The engaging piece 10a has a tapered surface FST formed at the tip end side portion which engages with the stopper 4c when the rotator 2 is rotated in the direction of the arrow in FIG. The drive piece 10b is
An oval-shaped drive portion 10d protruding obliquely from the engaging piece 10a and projecting from the upper surface is provided on the upper end side, and a projection 10e is provided on the lower surface. The drive unit 10d is
When the rotary connector 1 is attached to the fixed member, it is pressed by the fixed member, and the engaging piece 10a and the stopper 4c are pressed.
To disengage from. The projection 10e presses the lock member 10 together with the spring 11 (see FIG. 1) and the recess 2b of the rotator 2.
The push spring 11 is positioned when it is mounted on.

The locking piece 10c is provided obliquely downward from both sides of the driving piece 10b in parallel with the driving piece 10b, and a locking projection 10f protruding outward in the width direction is provided at the tip.
The locking projections 10f are fitted into the locking holes formed on both sides of the recess 2b when the lock member 10 is mounted in the recess 2b of the rotator 2. As a result, the lock member 10 mounted in the recess 2b can rotate about the locking protrusion 10f.

Therefore, the rotary connector 1 of the present invention is smaller than the conventional rotary connector in which the rotation of the rotator is restricted by the fixed pin, and the structure of the lock member 10 is simple, so that the rotary connector 1 can be provided at low cost. And, in the state before the rotary connector 1 is attached to the fixed member,
The driving piece 10b is pressed by the pressing spring 11, and the engaging piece 10a is pressed against the plate surface of the stator 4.

Therefore, when the rotator 2 is rotated, it is shown in FIG.
, The engaging piece 10a engages with the stopper 4c in the vicinity to prevent further rotation, and the flat cable 5
The neutral state of is not displaced. Then, the engagement piece 10a
When the rotator 2 is further rotated after engaging with the stopper 4c in the vicinity, the locking member 10 is made of synthetic resin, so that the engaging piece 10a bends and the wall adjacent to the recess 2b of the rotator 2 is rotated. Contact 2d. As a result, since the engagement piece 10a is sandwiched between the stopper 4c and the wall 2d, the lock member 10 is more firmly regulated in rotation.

At this time, the lock member 10 is shown in FIG.
As shown in, when the wall 2d side of the engaging piece 10a is also formed into a tapered surface, and the wall 2d with which this tapered surface engages is also formed into a tapered surface that presses the engaging piece 10a against the plate surface of the stator 4,
The rotation regulating force of the rotator 2 is further increased. On the other hand, when the rotary connector 1 is attached to the fixed member (steering column), as shown in FIG. 5, the lock member 10 has the drive portion 10d pressed by the fixed member MF, and the locking projection 10f serves as the center of the lock protrusion. Rotate as shown.
As a result, in the lock member 10, the engagement piece 10a at the other end is lifted from the plate surface of the stator 4, the engagement with the stopper 4c is released, and the rotator 2 is moved with respect to the sub-stator 3 and the stator 4 by operating the steering wheel. It can be rotated.

Here, FIG. 5, like FIG. 4, is drawn based on the bottom view shown in FIG. Therefore, the upward direction in the figure is the downward direction in FIG. 1, and the downward direction in the figure is the upward direction in FIG. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6A, the fixing member MF
The lock member 10 whose drive portion 10d is pressed by
A clearance CS is formed between the lifted engagement piece 10a and the stopper 4c so as not to interfere with the stopper 4c.

However, since the lock member 10 is molded of synthetic resin, the engagement piece 10a needs to have a certain thickness. Therefore, if the clearance C1 becomes too small due to the thickening of the engaging piece 10a, the engaging piece 10a may interfere with the stopper 4c and break when the rotator 2 rotates. In order to avoid such an accident, when the engagement between the engagement piece 10a and the stopper 4c is released, the lock member 10 has the engagement piece 10a fixed as shown in FIG. 6B. Engagement piece 10 so as to make surface contact with MF
The fixed member MF side of a is formed into a tapered surface FT. As a result, as is apparent from FIG. 6B, the clearance CL between the engagement piece 10a and the stopper 4c can be made larger than the clearance CS (<CL) shown in FIG. 6A, Engaging piece 10
It is possible to prevent unnecessary interference between a and the stopper 4c.

[0020]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the rotation restriction is released by attaching the fixing member to the fixing member, and the small rotary connector that can hold the neutral position of the accommodated band-shaped transmission line is inexpensive. Can be provided. At this time, the engagement piece may be in surface contact with the fixing member when the engagement with the stopper is released by the fixing member.
Since the fixed member side is formed into a tapered surface, it is possible to prevent unnecessary interference between the engaging piece and the stopper when the rotary connector is attached to the fixed member and used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a rotary connector of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the rotary connector.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a lock member of the rotary connector.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the rotary connector seen from the direction of arrow IV in FIG. 2 showing the shapes of the engagement piece and the stopper of the lock member.

5 is a view for explaining the movement of the lock member when the rotary connector is attached to the fixed member, as seen from the direction of arrow V in FIG.

6 is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the stopper and the stopper based on the shape of the engagement piece of the lock member in FIG. 5, as viewed in the direction of arrow IV in FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Rotating Connector 2 Rotator 3 Substator 4 Stator 4c Stopper 5 Flat Cable 6,7 External Wire 10 Locking Member 10a Engaging Piece 10d Drive Part 11 Push Spring FT Tapered Surface MF Fixing Member

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A rotary connector for accommodating a flexible band-shaped transmission line inside a rotator and a stator, and attaching the flexible band to a fixed member to connect the rotary member, wherein the rotator is provided on the stator. And an engagement piece that is biased in the engagement direction with the stopper and that engages with the stopper to regulate rotation, and is driven by the fixing member when attached, and engages the engagement piece with the stopper. A rotary connector provided with a lock member made of a synthetic resin having a drive unit for releasing the lock. 2. The engaging member is formed with a tapered surface on the fixing member side so that when the engaging member is disengaged from the stopper, the engaging member is in surface contact with the fixing member side. The rotary connector according to claim 1.