JP2007253701A - Harness spool and current feeder for door - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a harness spool to perform absorption of the surplus length of a wire harness effectively and provide a current feeder for door which uses the harness spool. <P>SOLUTION: The harness spool 1 is composed of a surplus length absorption unit 2, a terminal unit 3, and a flat cable 4 laid between the two units 2 and 3. The length of the flat cable 4 taken up to the surplus length absorption unit 2 is made minimum, and to the flat cable 4 a prescribed tensile force is given in order to avoid dangling by its own weight. The surplus length of the wire harness can be absorbed effectively by applying this harness spool 1 to the current feeder for vehicle door. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a harness spool and a door power supply apparatus.

  Devices such as power window motors, switches, and speakers are incorporated in doors used in one-box cars and wagon cars. In order to supply power to these devices from the vehicle body side, it is necessary to route an electric wire (wire harness) from the vehicle body side to the door side and to allow the electric wire to follow the opening and closing of the door. Conventionally, a highly flexible round wire is used as the wire harness.

    In addition to doors that open and close in the direction of rotation, there are sliding doors, and recently, electric sliding doors have also appeared. In the case of a vehicle adopting a sliding door, when wiring an electric wire from the vehicle body side to the door side, it is necessary to devise measures such as absorbing excess length compared to a vehicle employing a door that opens and closes in the rotation direction. .

  By the way, conventionally, as this type of sliding door power supply device, a method of installing an electric wire winding unit on the vehicle body side and absorbing the extra length of the electric wire accompanying opening and closing of the sliding door by winding the electric wire is known. Yes (see Patent Document 1).

  As another type of power supply device for a sliding door, a corrugated tube containing a wire harness is routed between a predetermined position on the vehicle body side and the sliding door with a bending margin, and one end of the corrugated tube is arranged. A device is known in which a portion is fixed to a slide door and the vicinity of the other end is supported by a metal fitting attached to a vehicle body so as to be able to swing in the lateral direction (see Patent Document 2).

As another type of sliding door power supply device, an extra length storage unit is provided on the vehicle body side to store the extra length of the electric wire necessary for moving the slide door, and the electric wire is laterally moved in the extra length storage unit. Also known is one that can follow the movement of the sliding door while it is bent into two (see Patent Document 3).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-93514 JP 2002-79892 A US Pat. No. 6,174,020

  However, since the power supply device for a sliding door described in Patent Document 1 has a structure in which the electric wire is fed out from the winding unit while being bare, the electric wire is likely to be damaged by rubbing against other members (such as a slide rail). Moreover, since the winding unit needs to draw out or wind up an electric wire having the same length as the opening / closing stroke of the slide door, there is a problem that the apparatus becomes large.

  Further, the power supply device for sliding door described in Patent Document 2 is less likely to be damaged because the wire harness is accommodated in the corrugated tube, but the corrugated tube with the wire harness is long enough to absorb the opening / closing stroke of the sliding door. is required. In particular, since a round wire is used as the wiring harness, the corrugated tube cannot be bent greatly, and not only a large space is required for wiring with a sufficient bending margin, but also the corrugated tube is loosened. There is a risk of contact with other members and generating abnormal noise or damage.

Furthermore, in the sliding door power supply device described in Patent Document 3, the configuration of the extra length storage section provided on the vehicle body side is complicated and the number of parts increases, and a large space is required for installation of the extra length storage section. However, there is a problem that not only does it not meet the needs for small size and light weight, but also increases the cost.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve these problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a harness spool that effectively absorbs the excess length of the wire harness and a door power supply device using the harness spool. And

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a flat harness having connectors attached to both ends of a flat cable, a surplus length absorption unit that is attached to one end of the flat harness and takes up and adjusts the surplus length of the flat harness. A terminal unit attached to the other end of the flat harness, and the surplus length absorbing unit is configured to always wind up the surplus length of the flat cable regardless of the position of the terminal unit. It is a harness spool characterized by this.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the extra length absorbing unit is a harness spool characterized in that a predetermined tensile force is constantly applied to the flat cable.

A third aspect of the present invention is the harness spool characterized in that the predetermined pulling force is a size necessary to avoid the flat cable from hanging down due to its own weight.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the length of the flat cable that can be wound by the surplus length absorption unit is the maximum value and the minimum value of the length from the exit of the surplus length absorption unit to the terminal unit. A harness spool having a length corresponding to a difference.

In a fifth aspect of the present invention, the length of the flat cable that can be wound by the surplus length absorption unit is a length obtained by adding a predetermined margin length to the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value. It is a harness spool characterized by this.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is the harness spool characterized in that the flat cable is housed in an electric wire protection member.

A seventh aspect of the present invention is the harness spool, wherein the extra length absorption unit winds up a part of the wire protection member.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the terminal unit includes a swinging portion and a fixing portion, and the swinging portion grips the connector provided on the other end side of the flat harness and The flat cable is wired in a straight line between the outlet of the long absorption unit and the terminal unit, and the fixing portion is wired between the terminal unit and the extra length absorption unit. It is a harness spool characterized by having a mechanism which makes the said swinging part rotatable so that can be arranged linearly.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a door power feeding device that transmits an electric signal or electric power between a vehicle body and a door, and any one of the first to eighth embodiments is provided between the vehicle body and the door. A harness power supply device according to claim 1, wherein the harness spool is connected.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the door power supply apparatus, wherein the extra length absorbing unit is provided on one of the vehicle body and the door.

As described above, according to the present invention, as a wire harness, a flat harness in which connectors are attached to both ends of a flat cable is used, one end of the flat harness is attached to an extra length absorption unit, and the other end of the flat harness Is attached to the terminal unit, and regardless of the position of the terminal unit, the surplus length absorption unit is configured to always wind up the surplus length of the flat cable, thereby effectively winding the surplus length of the flat cable. A harness spool can be provided.

The surplus length absorption unit constantly applies a tensile force to the flat cable, so that the flat cable hangs down under its own weight and comes into contact with other structures and is damaged or generates abnormal noise. It can be avoided.

Further, the power supply device for a sliding door according to the present invention includes a flat harness having connectors attached to both ends, the extra length absorbing unit provided on one end side thereof, and the terminal unit provided on the other end side. Because of the limited configuration, it is possible to provide a harness spool that has a small number of parts and can be easily reduced in size and weight.

According to the present invention, only the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of the length of the flat cable between the surplus length absorption unit and the terminal unit is wound on the surplus length absorption unit. The winding length by the surplus length absorption unit can be minimized, and the surplus length absorption unit can be miniaturized.

Furthermore, by setting the length of the flat cable to be wound around the extra length absorption unit to a length obtained by adding a predetermined margin length to the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of the length of the flat cable, Even when the flat cable is further pulled due to an external force applied to the flat cable, the flat cable can be prevented from being damaged.

Further, by applying the harness spool to the door power supply device, for example, the harness spool can be suitably used for a slide door power supply device that requires extra length absorption.

A configuration of a harness spool and a door power supply device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, about each structural part which has the same function, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and shown for simplification of illustration and description.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a harness spool according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The harness spool 1 of the present embodiment includes a surplus length absorption unit 2, a terminal unit 3, and a flat cable 4 routed between the surplus length absorption unit 2 and the terminal unit 3. The flat cable 4 is a part of a flat harness having connectors attached to both ends. The connector on one end side is attached to the surplus length absorption unit 2 and the connector on the other end side is attached to the terminal unit 3.

The surplus length absorption unit 2 has a mechanism for winding up the surplus length of the flat cable 4. That is, the flat cable 4 is wound from one side and functions to absorb the extra length of the flat cable 4. The terminal unit 3 is generally fixed to some structure.

The flat cable 4 has both ends connected to the connector, one side is routed inside the extra length absorption unit 2, and the other is held by the terminal unit 3. For example, when the terminal unit 3 is attached to a slide door, the distance between the surplus length absorption unit 2 and the terminal unit 3 changes as the terminal unit 3 is opened and closed, and the flat cable 4 is pulled out from the surplus length absorption unit 2. Or rolled up.

The flat cable 4 is routed between the surplus length absorption unit 2 and the terminal unit 3 so that the cross section is vertically long. As a specific example, when the harness spool 1 is attached to the slide door, the long axis direction of the cross section of the flat cable 4 is routed so as to coincide with the vehicle height direction of the vehicle body. By arranging in this way, the flat cable 4 can support its own weight by itself.

A more detailed structure of the harness spool 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, the surplus length absorption unit 2 installed on the vehicle side includes an upper cover 11, a sub-upper cover 12, a rotor 13, a torsion spring 14, and a lower case 15.

The upper cover 11 protects internal parts and forms a routing route for the flat cable 4. Further, the sub-upper cover 12 forms a wiring route for the flat cable 4 with the upper cover 11 and also protects a part of the flat cable 4 and the flat cable 4 that are routed in the vicinity. 21 to prevent contact. In the present embodiment, a case where a corrugated tube is used as the wire protection member 21 is described. However, the wire protection member 21 may be a flexible tubular member, for example, and is limited to the corrugated tube. is not.

When the flat cables 4 or between the flat cables 4 and the corrugated tube 21 come into contact with each other, there is a risk that the conductor built in the flat cable 4 will be exposed due to wear, and the sub-upper cover 12 may damage the flat cable 4. Plays a role in preventing.

The rotor 13 has a function of winding up and storing the flat cable 4. When the corrugated tube 21 that protects the flat cable 4 is provided, a part of the corrugated tube is wound together with the flat cable 4.

The torsion spring 14 functions to apply a rotational force to the rotor 13 and apply a tensile force to the flat cable 4. In the sliding door power supply device 1 shown in FIG. 2, the torsion spring 14 is used for winding the flat cable 4, but the winding method for the flat cable 4 is not limited to this, and other winding methods are used. It is also possible to use.

The lower case 15 protects internal components and forms a housing portion for the torsion spring 14 and a rotation main shaft of the rotor 13. Moreover, the fixing | fixed part for installing the surplus length absorption unit 2 to a vehicle body is also provided.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment in which the corrugated tube 21 is provided to protect the flat cable 4, but when the corrugated tube 21 is not provided, the terminal unit 3 grips only the flat cable 4. Consists of components that

Further, the corrugated tube 21 shown in FIG. 2 has a vertically long cross section, but the shape of the corrugated tube 21 is not limited to this, and the cross section may have a circular shape, for example. According to the present invention, the flat cable 4 between the surplus length absorption unit 2 and the terminal unit 3 is maintained so as not to hang down by itself, and is not supported by the corrugated tube 21.

The flat cable 4 has a portion 24 shown in FIG. 2 accommodated in the rotor 13, and a bent portion 25 is held by the corrugated bracket base 22 and the corrugated bracket cover 23. A tensile force is applied to the broken line portion 26 of the flat cable 4 by the rotational force applied to the rotor 13 by the torsion spring 14. The flat cable 4 is provided with connectors 27 and 28 at both ends, and functions as a flat harness.

In FIG. 2, the pulling force applied to the broken line portion 26 of the flat cable 4 routed between the surplus length absorption unit 2 and the terminal unit 3 is added to avoid the flat cable 4 from sagging under its own weight. It is what The pulling force is sufficient to prevent the flat cable 4 from drooping. If the pulling force is excessively large, an excessive force may be applied to the flat cable 4, which is not preferable.

Further, the length of the flat cable 4 that can be wound up by the surplus length absorption unit 2 corresponds to the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of the length of the flat cable 4 from the surplus length absorption unit 2 to the terminal unit 3. It should be a length. Alternatively, it is more preferable to set a length obtained by adding a predetermined margin length to the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value.

The predetermined margin length described above is for avoiding a situation where the flat cable 4 is damaged such as disconnection even when the flat cable 4 is further stepped on when the slide door is fully opened. The length should be as long as necessary.

Next, the movement of the flat cable 4 at the time of opening and closing the door when the harness spool is attached to the slide door will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, the open / closed state of the slide door is indicated by the position of the door inner panel 31 to which the terminal unit 3 is fixed. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the flat cable 4 is stored in the corrugated tube 21.

The terminal unit 3 includes a corrugated bracket base 22 and a corrugated bracket cover 23. The flat cable 4 and the corrugated tube 21 are held by a corrugated bracket base 22 and a corrugated bracket cover 23. The corrugated bracket base 22 also includes a fixing portion for installing the terminal unit 3 on the slide door.

In FIG. 3, the terminal unit 3a and the flat cable 4a indicate the positions of the terminal unit 3 and the flat cable 4 when the sliding door is fully closed. The terminal unit 3g and the flat cable 4g indicate the positions of the terminal unit 3 and the flat cable 4 when the slide door is fully opened. And the terminal units 3b-3f and the flat cables 4b-4f have shown the position of the terminal unit 3 and the flat cable 4 when the said sliding door is in the middle of opening / closing.

Here, a predetermined tensile force is constantly applied to the flat cable 4a. Details will be described below.

When the sliding door is fully closed, a predetermined pulling force is applied to the flat cable 4a in order to prevent the flat cable 4a from swinging due to the vibration of the automobile.

Further, in order to avoid the flat cable 4 from entering the lower part of the lower roller bracket that supports the sliding door and damaging the flat cable 4 during the opening and closing of the sliding door, the flat cable 4 is always left with a surplus. A predetermined tensile force is applied from the long absorption unit 2.

When the sliding door is moved to the fully open position and when the slide door is in the fully open position, at least the flat cable 4 is bulged so that the flat cable 4 does not come into contact with the Rr fender 32 provided on the vehicle body to generate noise. A predetermined tensile force that does not occur is applied.

Furthermore, even when the user accidentally steps on the flat cable 4 with the slide door fully opened, a winding length is provided so that the flat cable 4 can be further pulled out from the surplus length absorption unit 2. Thus, the flat cable 4 can be prevented from being damaged.

The pull-out length of the flat cable 4 accompanying the opening / closing operation of the slide door described above can be set to, for example, a maximum of 70 mm to a minimum of 40 mm. Thus, since it is possible to shorten the pull-out length from the surplus length absorption unit 2, the surplus length absorption unit 2 can be reduced in size.

An example of the second embodiment of the harness spool and door power supply device of the present invention is shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a harness spool 41 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Similarly to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the harness spool 41 of this embodiment is also arranged between the surplus length absorption unit 42 and the terminal unit 43, and between the surplus length absorption unit 42 and the terminal unit 43. A flat cable 4. The present embodiment is characterized in that the flat cable 4 is wired in a straight line between the surplus length absorption unit 42 and the terminal unit 43.

The surplus length absorption unit 42 has a mechanism for winding up the surplus length of the flat cable 4 as in the first embodiment. However, the surplus length absorption unit 42 of the present embodiment allows the flat cable 4 to be pulled out along the cylindrical portion of the upper cover in order to route the flat cable 4 straight to the terminal unit 43.

The terminal unit 43 includes a swinging portion 44 and a fixing portion 45 in order to route the flat cable 4 linearly with the surplus length absorption unit 42. The swinging portion 44 is connected to the fixed portion 45 by a pin 46. For example, when the harness spool 41 is attached to a structure, the swinging portion 44 is directed to the surplus length absorbing unit 44 along with the movement. It can be rotated. The fixed portion 45 is fixed to a structure (for example, a slide door) by connecting the swinging portion 44.

The flat cable 4 is routed in a straight line between the surplus length absorption unit 2 and the terminal unit 3. As a result, the length of the flat cable 4 during this period becomes the shortest, and the length of the flat cable 4 wound around the surplus length absorption unit 2 can also be shortened. Therefore, the extra length absorption unit 2 can be further downsized.

Here, operation | movement of the flat cable 4 when opening and closing a sliding door when the harness spool 41 of this embodiment is attached to a sliding door is demonstrated below using FIG. Also in this embodiment, the flat cable 4 is stored in the corrugated tube 21 as in FIG.

In FIG. 5, the state of the terminal unit 43 and the flat cable 4 in the process from the fully closed to fully opened state of the slide door is indicated by 43a to 43g and 4a to 4g, respectively, as in FIG.

In the present embodiment, since the swinging portion 44 of the terminal unit 43 can move (rotate) in the wide surface direction of the flat cable, the swinging portion 44 is unnecessary in each state 43a to 43g of the terminal unit 43. It will face in the direction of the long absorption unit 42. The extra length absorbing unit 42 is also formed so that the outlet of the flat cable 4 is as wide as possible.

As a result, in any of the states 4 a to 4 g of the flat cable 4, the flat cable 4 is substantially linear between the outlet of the surplus length absorption unit 42 and the terminal unit 43. By making the flat cable 4 straight, the tensile force applied to the flat cable 4 by the extra length absorption unit 42 can be made more uniform. As a result, the sliding door can be moved from the fully closed position to the fully opened position with a substantially constant force, and the user does not feel uncomfortable.

Here, it is desirable to provide a movable portion on the outlet side of the surplus length absorption unit 42 because there is no bending at the exit of the surplus length absorption unit 42 in the states 4f and 4g of the flat cable 4.

Further, by making the flat cable 4 between the extra length absorbing unit 42 and the terminal unit 43 substantially linear, the length of the flat cable 4 between them becomes shorter and the weight is reduced. Combined with the flat cable 4 being straight and reducing its own weight, the flat cable 4 is less likely to hang down. As a result, the tensile force applied to the flat cable 4 can be reduced.

Here, in order to prevent the flat cable 4 from swinging due to the vibration of the automobile when the sliding door is fully closed, or to prevent the flat cable 4 from coming into contact with the fender 32 and generating noise when the sliding door is fully open. As in the first embodiment, it is desirable to always apply an appropriate tensile force to the flat cable 4. The fender 32 is shown on the right side of the rear part of the vehicle body.

Further, during the opening and closing of the sliding door, an appropriate tensile force is always applied to the flat cable 4 in order to prevent the flat cable 4 from entering the lower part of the lower roller bracket and damaging the flat cable 4. This is the same as in the first embodiment.

Also in this embodiment, even when the user accidentally steps on the flat cable 4 when the slide door is fully opened, the winding length is such that the flat cable 4 can be further pulled out from the surplus length absorption unit 2. It is the same as in the first embodiment that the flat cable 4 is not damaged by the holding.

Also in the second embodiment described above, the pull-out length of the flat cable 4 accompanying the opening / closing operation of the slide door can be set to, for example, a maximum of 70 mm to a minimum of 40 mm. Thus, since it is possible to shorten the drawing length from the surplus length absorption unit 2, the surplus length absorption unit 2 can be reduced in size.

In addition, the description in this Embodiment shows an example of the electric power feeder for doors which attached the harness spool which concerns on this invention to the slide door, and is not limited to this. The detailed configuration and detailed operation of the harness spool and the door power supply device in the present embodiment can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of a harness spool according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a detailed structure of the harness spool of the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the flat cable 4 according to the first embodiment when the sliding door is opened and closed. FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a harness spool according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the flat cable 4 according to the second embodiment when the sliding door is opened and closed.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 41 ... Harness spool 2, 42 ... Extra length absorption unit 3, 43 ... Terminal unit 4 ... Flat cable 11 ... Upper cover 12 ... Sub upper cover 13 ... Rotor 14 ... Torsion spring 15 ... Lower case 21 ... Corrugated tube 22 ... Corrugated bracket base 23 ... Corrugated bracket cover 24 ... Flat cable (in the rotor)
25 ... Flat cable (in the terminal unit)
26 ... Flat cable (crossover)
31 ... Door inner panel 32 ... Fender (Right rear)
44 ... Swing part 45 ... Fixed part 46 ... Pin

Claims (10)

A flat harness with connectors attached to both ends of the flat cable;
An extra length absorbing unit that is attached to one end of the flat harness and winds up and adjusts the extra length of the flat harness;
A terminal unit attached to the other end of the flat harness;
The harness spool is characterized in that the surplus length absorbing unit is configured to always wind up the surplus length of the flat cable regardless of the position of the terminal unit. The harness spool according to claim 1, wherein the extra length absorbing unit constantly applies a tensile force to the flat cable. The harness spool according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined pulling force has a size necessary to avoid the flat cable from sagging under its own weight. The length of the flat cable that the extra length absorbing unit can wind up is a length corresponding to the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of the length from the outlet of the extra length absorbing unit to the terminal unit. The harness spool according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The length of the flat cable that can be wound up by the surplus length absorption unit is a length obtained by adding a predetermined margin to the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value. The harness spool according to claim 3. The harness spool according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the flat cable is accommodated in an electric wire protection member. The harness spool according to claim 6, wherein the extra length absorbing unit winds up a part of the wire protection member. The terminal unit includes a swing part and a fixing part,
The swinging portion grips the connector provided on the other end side of the flat harness and routes the flat cable in a straight line between the outlet of the extra length absorption unit and the terminal unit,
The fixing portion has a mechanism that allows the swinging portion to rotate so that the flat cable routed between the terminal unit and the extra length absorbing unit is routed linearly. The harness spool according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: A power supply device for a door that transmits an electric signal or electric power between a vehicle body and a door, wherein the harness spool according to any one of claims 1 to 8 is provided between the vehicle body and the door. A power supply device for a door, which is connected. 10. The door power feeding device according to claim 9, wherein the surplus length absorbing unit is provided on one of the vehicle body and the door.

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