JPH08180951A - Electrical connection device between wheel and steering column - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To reduce the sliding sound and the violent sound of a flat cable at low costs by disposing the flat cable contained in the fixed body on a steering column side on a flexible and high slippery sheet at the bottom of the fixed body. CONSTITUTION: One end of FFC 31 wound and contained into the space 29 of a fixed body 25 fixed on a steering column side is connected to the fixed body 25 and the other end thereof is connected to a rotary body 27 fixed on a steering wheel side. In the electrical connection device 23 between the steering wheel and the steering column, a high slippery sheet 35 is applied to the wall part 33 of the under cover 43 of the fixed body 25 and a gap 37 is provided between it and a bottom wall 41. Therefore, when the rotary body 27 is rotated forward and backward by the operation of the steering wheel, the FFC 31 is slid on the sheet 35 within the space 29 in response to it to reduce a sliding sound. Also, the shock of the movement of the FFC 31 is relaxed since the sheet 35 is bent downward, so that the generation of a violent sound may be reduced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric connection device between a steering wheel and a steering column in a vehicle steering system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as electronic control of automobiles has progressed, steering wheels (steering wheels) of automobile steering devices have also been provided with various switches for electronic control. Must be connected to the column side. Since the steering wheel of a car can be rotated left and right multiple times, in order to electrically connect the rotating shaft of the steering wheel to the steering column, a flexible, flexible flat board that generally has multiple conductors is used.・ Cable (hereinafter “FFC”)
Is a spiral structure between the rotating body fixed to the steering wheel shaft and the housing (fixed body) fixed to the steering column side, or in an inverted spiral state folded back halfway. A connecting device is used.

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show an example of the electrical connecting device 1 described above (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-36040). 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the inside of the electrical connection device 1 in the assembled state, and FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the fixed body 3 of the electrical connection device 1.

As shown in FIG. 4, the electrical connecting device 1 is
The fixed body 3, the rotary body 5, one end is fixed to the fixed body 3 and the other end is fixed to the rotary body 5, and a plurality of intermediate portions are provided in the accommodation space 7 between the rotary body 5 and the fixed body 3. It is composed of the FFC 9 which is wound and stored. The fixed body 3 has a tubular shape and includes an outer ring wall 11 and a bottom wall 13, and a center hole 15 is formed in the center of the bottom wall 13. A rotary cylinder 17 into which a steering shaft is inserted is formed in the rotary body 5,
The end of the rotary cylinder 17 is rotatably snapped into the center hole 15 of the fixed body 3.

A highly slippery sheet 21 is attached to the inner surface 19a of the top plate portion 19 of the rotating body 5 and the bottom wall 13 of the fixed body 3 which are opposed to each other in the width direction of the FFC 9. .

When the steering shaft is rotated in one direction by operating the steering wheel, the rotating body 5 is rotated and the FF is rotated.
C9 is caught in the rotary cylinder 17 side, and when the steering shaft is rotated to the other side, the FFC 9 moves to the outer ring wall 11
It is rewound to the side, and in any state, the electrical connection between the rotating body 5 and the fixed body 3 is maintained via the FFC 9.

[0007]

In this case, both side portions of the FFC 9 in the width direction are formed on the inner surface 19a of the top plate portion 19 of the rotating body 5.
And the bottom wall 13 of the fixed body 3 move in the space 7. Then, both side portions of the FFC 9 in the width direction slide on the inner surface 19a and the bottom wall 13 to generate a sliding sound, or
C9 violates in the space 7 and hits the inner surface 19a and the bottom wall 13 to generate a so-called violent noise.

Therefore, in this electrical connection device 1, since the highly slippery sheet 21 is attached on the inner surface 19a and the bottom wall 13, the FFC 9 can move smoothly and the sliding noise is reduced. Has been done. An elastic body (foam material or rubber) is provided between the highly slippery sheet 21 and the inner surface and between the bottom wall 13 and the highly slippery sheet 21 to reduce the violent noise of the FFC 9.

However, the highly slippery sheet 21 for improving the slipperiness of the FFC 9 is relatively inexpensive because it is generally widely used, but an elastic body for reducing the violent noise of the FFC 9 is generally used. It is expensive because it is not used. This increases the manufacturing cost of the device.

If an elastic body is provided between the inner surface 19a and the bottom wall 13 and the highly slippery sheet 21, the space formed between the rotating body 5 and the fixed body 3 becomes narrower, and the design margin is increased. Becomes smaller.

Therefore, in consideration of the above circumstances, the present invention is capable of reducing the sliding noise and the violent noise by a low-cost structure, and at the same time, the design margin between the steering wheel and the steering column does not decrease. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an electrical connection device.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is such that a fixed body fixed to the steering column side and a fixed body fixed to the steering wheel side are rotated with respect to the fixed body by rotation of the handle. The rotating body, one end of which is fixed to the fixed body and the other end of which is fixed to the rotating body, and the intermediate portion is wound around the rotating body a plurality of times to form a space between the fixed body and the rotating body. A long flexible flat cable to be accommodated,
The flat cable is provided with a highly slippery sheet adhered to at least one of the sliding wall portions on both sides in the widthwise direction of the middle portion of the flat cable, and the flat cable follows the rotation of the rotating body in the forward and reverse directions. In the electrical connection device between the steering wheel and the steering column for electrically connecting the steering wheel side and the steering column side while moving in the space, a gap is provided between the wall portion and the highly slippery sheet. Is characterized by.

A second aspect of the invention is the invention according to the first aspect, characterized in that the gap is formed in the entire region along the circumferential direction of the rotating body.

The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a highly slippery sheet is attached to the wall portion on the inside and outside in the radial direction of the wound flat cable. However, it is characterized in that the gap is provided at an intermediate portion in the radial direction.

The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein one opening is closed by a bottom wall having a hole at the center of the fixed body. And a rotator, which is made of a cylindrical undercover and is inserted into the undercover from the hole,
It is attached to this rotator and rotates with the rotator,
It is characterized by comprising an upper cover that closes the other opening of the under cover.

The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the gap is an air layer.

[0017]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the rotating body rotates with respect to the fixed body, the flat cable housed in the space between the rotating body and the fixed body is wound or unwound. As a result, both side portions in the width direction of the flat cable slide on the highly slippery sheet attached to the wall portion. In addition, the flat cable runs wild in the space, and both widthwise side portions come into contact with the highly slippery sheet. In this case, since a gap is provided between the highly slippery sheet and the wall portion, when both sides of the flat cable come into contact with the highly slippery sheet, the highly slippery sheet bends toward the gap side, Soften the hits.

According to the second aspect of the invention, since the gap between the highly slippery sheet and the wall portion is formed along the circumferential direction of the rotating body, the flat cable has a high height over the entire area in the winding direction. Even if it comes into contact with the slippery sheet, the highly slippery sheet bends toward the gap side and softens the contact.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, a highly slippery sheet is attached to the wall portion on the inner side and the outer side in the radial direction of the wound flat cable. Further, since a gap is provided between the high-slipping sheet and the wall portion in the radial middle portion of the flat cable, the flat cable violates and both sides in the width direction contact the high-slipping sheet. However, the highly slippery sheet bends to the gap side and softens the contact.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, when the rotator and the upper cover rotate with respect to the under cover, the flat cable housed in the space between the under cover and the upper cover is wound or unwound. . At this time, the flat cable slides on both sides in the width direction on the highly slippery sheet adhered to the wall portion. Further, the flat cable that moves in the space violates in the space and both sides in the width direction come into contact with the highly slippery sheet. In this case, since a gap is provided between the highly slippery sheet and the wall portion, when both sides of the flat cable come into contact with the highly slippery sheet, the highly slippery sheet bends toward the gap side, Soften the hits.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an electrical connection device between a steering wheel and a steering column according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 shows the fixed body 25 of the electrical connection device 23, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is aa of (a).
It is sectional drawing cut | disconnected along the line. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the electric body connecting device 23. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the electrical connection device 23.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the electrical connecting device 23 is a fixed body 2 fixed to the steering column side.
5, a rotating body 27 fixed to the handle side and rotating with respect to the fixed body 25 by rotation of the handle, and one end of the fixed body 25.
And the other end is fixed to the rotating body 27, and the intermediate portion is wound around the rotating body 27 a plurality of times to fix the fixed body 25.
And a long flexible FFC 31 housed in a space 29 between the rotating body 27 and the rotating body 27. The electrical connection device 23 also includes a highly slippery sheet 35 attached to at least one of the wall portions 33 on which both sides in the width direction of the middle portion of the FFC 31 slide. Further, in the electrical connecting device 23 of this embodiment, a gap 37 is provided between the wall portion 33 and the highly slippery sheet 35. Then, the FFC 31 moves in the space 29 following the rotation of the rotating body 27 in the forward and reverse directions, and electrically connects the handle side and the steering column side.

As shown in FIG. 1 (a), the fixed body 25 is composed of a cylindrical under cover 43 having an outer ring wall 39 and a bottom wall 41 and having a low height. A center hole 45 is formed in the center of the bottom wall 41, and the inside is the wall 33. Further, a concave portion 47 is formed in the middle portion of the bottom wall 41 in the radial direction over the entire circumference. Both sides of the recess 47 in the radial direction, that is, the inner and outer portions of the bottom wall 41 are the attachment portions 49, 49 of the highly slippery sheet 35 attached to the bottom wall 41. And the highly slippery sheet 3
5 in the radial middle part and over the entire circumference,
A gap 37 is formed between the wall portion 33 and the wall portion 33. Due to this gap 37, the FF accommodated on the highly slippery sheet 35
Even if both side portions in the width direction of C31 come into contact with each other due to the sway of the FFC 31, the sheet 35 can bend. In addition, the fixed body 2
A connector part 51 is formed on the outer side of the outer ring wall 39 of No. 5. A connector 53 (see FIG. 2) connected to one end of the FFC 31 is fitted into the connector portion 51. FF
The intermediate portion of C31 is housed in a housing space 29 formed between the fixed body 25 and the rotating body 27.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rotating body 27 is a rotator 55 which is inserted into the under cover 43 from the central hole portion 45 of the under cover 43 so as to be rotatably assembled, and the rotator 55. Is integrally assembled with a screw 57 of the book, and the under cover 43
And an upper cover 59 for closing the opening 43a. In the rotator 55, a flange portion 63 is formed at one opening edge portion of the tubular portion 61 through which the steering shaft is inserted, and the flange portion 63 has a stepped portion 6 between the tubular portion 61 and the flange portion 63.
5 is formed. The step portion 65 is rotatably fitted in the central hole portion 45 of the under cover 43. The outer diameter of the other opening edge portion of the tubular portion 61 is reduced, and the hole portion 6 provided in the central portion of the upper cover 59 is provided.
7 is fitted. Three screw holes 69 are formed on the upper surface of the tubular portion 61. The screw 57 inserted through the upper cover 59 is screwed into the screw hole 69. As a result, the upper cover 59 is assembled to the rotator 55.

The upper cover 59 is disk-shaped and has a hole 67 formed in the center thereof. A rectangular cutout 73 is formed on the inner wall of the hole 67. This notch 73
Connector retaining walls 75, 75 are provided upright along the outer side in the radial direction at predetermined intervals. Around the hole 67,
Three screw insertion holes 68, 68, 68 are formed. The screw 5 is inserted into the screw insertion holes 68, 68, 68.
7 is inserted. A connector 71 connected to the other end of the FFC 31 is pulled out from the hole 67, and is fitted / fixed between the connector stopper walls 75.

As described above, one end of the FFC 31 is fixed to the under cover 43 via the connector 53, and the other end is pulled out from the hole 67 of the upper cover 59 and fixed to the upper cover 59. Also, the middle part is
The housing space 29 is housed by being wound a plurality of times.

According to the electrical connection device 23 between the steering wheel and the steering column having the above-described structure, when the rotator 55 and the upper cover 59 rotate with respect to the under cover 43 as the steering wheel rotates, the inside of the space 29 is reduced. When the FFC 31 housed in is tightly wound or unwound, both widthwise sides of the FFC 31 slide on the highly slippery sheet 35. In this case, since the FFC 31 smoothly moves on the highly slippery sheet 35, sliding noise can be reduced.

Further, the FFC 31 in the space 29 swells in the space 29 when it is tightened or unwound, and both sides in the width direction come into contact with the highly slippery sheet 35. In this case, when both side portions of the FFC 31 come into contact with the highly slippery sheet 35, the highly slippery sheet 35 bends toward the gap 37 side, the impact with the both side portions of the FFC 31 is reduced, and the ramp noise is reduced. You can do it. Since the highly slippery sheet 35 has flexibility, even if it bends toward the gap 37 side, it immediately returns to its original shape, and the gap 37 is again formed between the recess 33 and the wall 33. Form. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 77 is a positioning protrusion in the turning direction of the steering wheel,
Reference numeral 79 is a silicon cap attached to the protrusion 77.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the relatively slippery sheet 35, which is relatively inexpensive, is attached to the bottom wall 41 of the under cover 43, and the highly slippery sheet 35 and the wall portion 33 are provided.
By forming a gap 37 between the FFC 31 and the FFC 31, the FFC 31 can be smoothly moved in the space 29.
Even if the space is violent in the space 29, the highly slippery sheet 35 has a gap 37.
Bend to the side and soften. Therefore, it is possible to reduce sliding noise and rampage noise with a low-cost configuration. Also,
Since the elastic body is not provided between the highly slippery sheet 35 and the wall portion 33, the space 29 can be designed wide and the design margin can be improved.

Further, since the gap 37 is formed in the entire area of the under cover 43 in the circumferential direction, it is possible to reduce the violent noise over a wide area.

Further, in this embodiment, the under cover 43 is used.
Highly slippery seat 3 on the outer and inner circumferences in the radial direction
Since 5 is attached, the gap 37 can be effectively formed. That is, since the FFC 31 is fixed at the outer peripheral portion and the inner peripheral portion of the bottom wall 41, the FFC 31 does not violently move, and is prone to violent in the radial middle portion of the bottom wall 41. Therefore, by providing the gap 37 in the most violent portion of the FFC 31, the gap 37 is not formed in the useless portion.

Further, since the highly slippery sheet 35 is attached at the attachment portions 49, 49 on the outer and inner circumferences of the bottom wall 41, the attachment area is reduced and the amount of adhesive used is reduced. Can be done.

Further, by forming the gap 37 as an air layer, the elastic body which has been conventionally required becomes unnecessary, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

In the above embodiment, the under cover 4
Although the concave portion 47 is formed in the bottom wall 41 of No. 3 to form the gap 37, the concave portion 47 is formed in the wall surface of the upper cover 59 and the gap is provided between the upper cover 59 and the highly slippery sheet 35.
It is possible to further reduce the rampant sound of C31.

[0035]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, since the gap is provided between the highly slippery sheet and the wall portion, both sides of the flat cable have the highly slippery sheet. When it comes into contact with, the highly slippery sheet bends toward the gap side, and the relatively inexpensive high slippery sheet is provided on the wall portion, so that the flat cable can be smoothly moved in the space.
Therefore, it is possible to reduce sliding noise and rampage noise with a low-cost configuration.

According to the second aspect of the invention, since the gap between the highly slippery sheet and the wall is formed along the circumferential direction of the rotating body, the flat cable is elevated over the entire area in the winding direction. The sliding noise can be reduced even when the flat cable slides on the slippery sheet, and the generation of the rampage noise can be reduced even if the flat cable comes into contact with any portion in the entire winding direction. Therefore, it is possible to reduce sliding noise and violent noise over a wide area.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since a gap is provided between the highly slippery sheet and the wall portion in the radial middle portion of the flat cable, the flat cable has both sides in the ramp width direction. Even if the portion comes into contact with the highly slippery sheet, the highly slippery sheet bends toward the gap side and softens the contact, so that it is possible to reduce the occurrence of rampage noise.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the gap is provided between the highly slippery sheet and the wall portion, even if both sides of the flat cable come into contact with the highly slippery sheet, the high smoothness sheet is provided with high clearance. Since the slippery sheet softens the flexure contact to the gap side, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of rampage noise.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, since the gap is formed as an air layer, an elastic body for cushioning the impact of the flat cable abutting against the highly slippery sheet is not required, and the manufacturing cost is reduced. In addition, the space for accommodating the flat cable is not narrowed, and the design margin can be increased.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a fixed body of an electrical connection device between a steering wheel and a steering column according to the present invention, FIG.
(B) is sectional drawing cut | disconnected along the aa line.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing an electrical connection device between a steering wheel and a steering column according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an electrical connection device between a steering wheel and a steering column according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional electrical connection device.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a fixed body of a conventional electrical connection device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 23 Electrical Connection Device 25 Fixed Body 27 Rotating Body 29 Space 31 FFC (Flat Cable) 33 Wall 35 Highly Sliding Sheet 37 Gap

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A fixed body fixed to the steering column side, a rotary body fixed to the handle side and rotating with respect to the fixed body by rotation of the handle, one end fixed to the fixed body and the other end fixed to the rotary body. A long flexible flat cable that is fixed and is housed in a space between the fixed body and the rotating body by winding the intermediate portion around the rotating body a plurality of times, and an intermediate portion of the flat cable. And a high-slip sheet adhered to at least one of the sliding wall portions on both sides in the width direction, and the flat cable moves in the space following the rotation of the rotating body in the forward and reverse directions. Meanwhile, in the electrical connection device between the steering wheel and the steering column that electrically connects the steering wheel side and the steering column side, a gap is provided between the wall portion and the highly slippery sheet. And steering column Electrical connection device between. 2. The electrical connection device between the steering wheel and the steering column according to claim 1, wherein the gap is formed in the entire area along the circumferential direction of the rotating body. 3. The invention according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a highly slippery sheet is attached to a wall portion between a radially inner side and an outer side of a wound flat cable, and an intermediate portion in the radial direction. An electric connection device between a steering wheel and a steering column, characterized in that the gap is provided in a portion. 4. The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fixed body is a cylindrical underbody in which one opening is closed by a bottom wall having a hole in the center thereof. The rotator comprises a cover and the rotator is inserted into the under cover through the hole, and an upper cover that is assembled to the rotator and rotates together with the rotator to close the other opening of the under cover. An electrical connection device between the steering wheel and the steering column. 5. The electrical connection device between the steering wheel and the steering column according to claim 1, wherein the gap is an air layer.