JP3209904B2 - Rotating connector mounting structure - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rotating connector mounting structure for electrically connecting a pair of housings which are relatively rotatably connected to each other via a flexible cable, and more particularly to a handle. The present invention relates to a mounting structure of a rotary connector suitable for use as an electrical connection means for a mounted airbag inflator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A rotary connector is generally constituted by a pair of housings which are relatively rotatably connected to each other, and a flexible cable wound in an annular storage section defined between the two housings. Both ends of the flexible cable are electrically led to the outside while being fixed to both housings. One of the two housings is used as a movable body, and the other is used as a fixed body. When the movable housing is rotated in either the forward or reverse direction, the flexible cable is wound or wound in the accommodating portion according to the rotation direction. It is to be returned.

The rotary connector thus constructed is incorporated in a steering device of an automobile, and the movable housing is mounted on a steering wheel, and the fixed housing is mounted on a stator member such as a combination switch. Used as an electrical connection means such as a bag inflator. When attaching the rotary connector, first, a combination switch is screwed to an appropriate stator member provided in the steering device, and the fixed-side housing of the rotary connector is fixed on the combination switch by screwing or snapping. After that, insert the combination switch and rotary connector into the upper end of the protruding steering shaft and tighten the bolt while passing the locking part of the rotary connector and the direct connector through the insertion hole of the handle, and attach it to the movable housing of the rotary connector. Lock the handle. On the other hand, the pad, the airbag folded inside the pad and the inflator for inflating the airbag in a separate process are integrated, and this is assembled inside from the front of the handle, and finally the screw is screwed from the side of the handle. By inserting and tightening to the inflator,
The pad, the airbag, and the inflator are fixed to the handle.

[0004]

In the prior art described above, since the airbag or the inflator is mounted on the steering wheel so as to cover the bolt, the steering wheel is bolted to the steering shaft, and then the steering wheel is mounted on the steering shaft. Pads, airbags and inflators must be fixed. However, after bolting the steering wheel to the steering shaft, the work space around the steering wheel is greatly reduced, which makes it difficult to screw the inflator to the steering wheel, and also increases the workability of attaching the rotary connector to the steering device. There was a problem of bad.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a mounting structure of a rotary connector in which an assembling operation is easy.

[0006]

In the present invention, through holes are provided coaxially in the air bag, the inflator, and the rotary connector, and before the handle is fixed to the steering shaft, the air bag and the inflator are attached to the handle in advance. And a rotary switch, or even a combination switch, is unitized, and after inserting this unit body into the steering shaft, the steering wheel is fastened to the steering shaft using the through hole of the airbag and the inflator. It is. For this reason, the work of uniting the inflator and the rotary connector on the handle can be easily performed without being limited by the space, and furthermore, it is only necessary to bolt the previously unitized handle to the steering shaft, so that Assembly time can be shortened.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The rotary connector mounting structure of the present invention is characterized in that the rotary connector is interposed between at least an air bag and a handle provided with an inflator for inflating the air bag and a stator member of a steering device. The rotary connector includes a fixed side and a movable side housing rotatably connected to each other, and a flexible cable wound around a housing between the two housings, and the handle and the movable side housing of the rotary connector are provided. The airbag, the inflator, and the rotary connector each have a through-hole provided coaxially, and the steering shaft projects from the through-hole of the rotary connector. Are fixed, and the fixed side housing of the rotary connector is fixed to the stator. It is engaged in a state of being restricted rotation movement to wood.

The above-mentioned stator member may be any member as long as it is a member fixed to the steering device, but a combination switch is preferable.

[0009] Further, in the mounting structure of the rotary connector according to the present invention, the rotary connector is interposed between a combination switch and a handle on which at least an airbag and an inflator for inflating the airbag are mounted. A fixed side and a movable side housing movably connected to each other, and a flexible cable wound around a housing between the two housings, the handle and the combination switch being mounted on both housings of the rotary connector. The airbag, the inflator, and the rotary connector each have a through-hole coaxially provided therewith, and a steering unit protrudes from the through-hole of the rotary connector. The handle is fastened to the shaft, Is engaged in a state of bi destination switch is restricted rotation movement in the stator member of a steering device.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, a rotary connector 1 is schematically constituted by a fixed housing 2, a movable housing 3 and a flexible cable 4. The movable housing 3 is rotatably connected to the fixed housing 2, and a through hole 5 is formed in the center of the movable housing 3. The flexible cable 4 is spirally wound in an annular storage section defined between the housings 2 and 3. One end of the flexible cable 4 is connected to a direct connector provided on the fixed side housing 2. 2a, and the outside through the direct connector 2a. The other end of the flexible cable 4 is connected to a direct connector 3 provided on the movable housing 3.
a through the direct connector 3a.

A steering shaft 6 of the steering device projects upward through the through hole 5 of the rotary connector 1, and a handle 7 is fixed to an upper end of the steering shaft 6 by using a bolt 8. Rotary connector 1
Drive pins 3b provided on the movable side housing 3
Are snap-fixed to the bottom surface of the handle 7 so that the movable housing 3 rotates in conjunction with the rotation operation of the handle 7. An inflator 10 having an air bag 9 is screwed from above into the handle 7, and the air bag 9 is stored in a folded state in a pad 11 attached to the front surface of the handle 7. In the center between the airbag 9 and the inflator 10, through holes 9a, 10a located coaxially with the through hole 5 of the rotary connector 1.
Are respectively opened, and these through holes 9a, 10a
Has a larger diameter than the bolt 8. The direct connector 3 a provided on the movable housing 3 is connected to the inflator 10.

The steering shaft 6 is surrounded by a shaft cover 12 attached to a steering device, and a combination switch 1 is mounted on a locking plate 13 integrated with the shaft cover 12.
4 is screwed. The combination switch 14 has a built-in turn signal switch, a wiper switch, and the like. ing. The rotary connector 1 and the combination switch 14 are covered by a column cover 15, and
Direct connector 2 provided on fixed side housing 2
a is connected to a drive circuit (not shown).

Next, the assembling process of the above embodiment will be described. First, the combination switch 14 is inserted into the shaft cover 12 and the combination switch 1 is inserted.
4 is screwed onto the locking plate 13. on the other hand,
In a separate process, the inflator 10 with the air bag 9 is screwed to the handle 7 and the drive pin 3b of the movable housing 3 is snap-fixed to the bottom surface of the handle 7, and the air bag 9 and the inflator are previously attached to the handle 7. 10 and the rotary connector 1 are unitized. Such uniting work can be easily performed without being limited by space. Thereafter, the unit body is inserted into the steering shaft 6 protruding from the combination switch 14, and the projection 2 b of the fixed side housing 2 is engaged with the locking hole 14 a of the combination switch 14.
, The handle 7 is fixed to the upper end of the steering shaft 6 protruding from the rotary connector 1. This work is performed by the through holes 9 of the airbag 9 and the inflator 10.
a, 10a by inserting a bolt 8 or a jig (not shown).
Since the three are unitized in advance, it is only necessary to bolt the steering wheel 7 to the steering shaft 6,
Work time can be reduced. Finally, the pad 11 is snap-fixed to the front surface of the handle 7 to complete the assembly.

In use, when the handle 7 is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise, the rotational force is applied to the drive pin 3b.
Is transmitted to the movable-side housing 3 via the first side, and the movable-side housing 3 rotates in the same direction. For example, when the handle 7 is rotated counterclockwise from its neutral position, the movable housing 3 also rotates counterclockwise in conjunction therewith, and the flexible cable 4 is wound around the inner cylinder. Conversely, when the handle 7 is rotated clockwise from the neutral position, the movable housing 3 is also rotated clockwise in conjunction with the rotation, and the flexible cable 4 is rewound toward the outer cylinder portion. In this case, the electrical connection between the two housings 2 and 3 is maintained via the flexible cable 4. In this case, since the movement in the rotation direction of the fixed housing 2 is regulated by the projection 2b inserted into the locking hole 14a, the fixed housing 2 does not rotate with the combination switch 14 as the stator member.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the fixed housing 2 of the rotary connector 1 is screwed to a combination switch 14, and a projection 14b hanging from the combination switch 14 is provided on a locking plate 13 which is a stator member of the steering device. Lock hole 13
a. In the assembling process in this case, before the handle 7 is bolted to the steering shaft 6, not only the airbag 9, the inflator 10 and the rotary connector 1 but also the combination switch 14 are unitized in the handle 7 in advance. Then, this unit body is inserted into the steering shaft 6, and the projection 14b of the combination switch 14 is
After being inserted into the locking holes 13a, the through holes 9a of the airbag 9 and the inflator 10, as in the embodiment shown in FIG.
10a to the steering shaft 6
Then, the pad 11 is snap-fixed to the front surface of the handle 7 to complete the assembly.

[0016]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The unit body can be bolted to the steering shaft using the through holes of the airbag and the inflator, with the handlebar and the inflator and the rotary connector being unitized in advance, or the combination switch as a unit. In addition, the rotary connector can be easily and quickly incorporated into the steering device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a mounting structure of a rotary connector according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a mounting structure of the rotary connector according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 rotating connector 2 fixed housing 2b projection 3 movable housing 3b drive pin 4 flexible cable 5 through hole 6 steering shaft 7 handle 8 bolt 9 air bag 9a through hole 10 inflator 10a through hole 11 pad 13 locking plate 13a lock Hole 14 Combination switch 14a Lock hole 14b Projection

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-8-64326 (JP, A) JP-A-8-34352 (JP, A) JP-A-5-116591 (JP, A) 43053 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Showa 62-162141 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Showa 56-95967 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01R 35/04 B60R 16 / 02 675

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] A rotating connector is interposed at least between a handle provided with an airbag and an inflator for inflating the airbag and a stator member of a steering device, wherein the rotating connector is rotatably connected to a fixed member. Side and a movable side housing, and a flexible cable wound around a housing portion between the two housings, and coupling means for previously unitizing the handle and the movable side housing of the rotary connector, A through hole is provided coaxially in each of the airbag, the inflator, and the rotary connector. The handle is fastened to a steering shaft protruding from the through hole of the rotary connector, and a fixed housing of the rotary connector is provided. The stator member is engaged with the movement in the rotation direction restricted. Mounting structure of the rotary connector, characterized in that it is. 2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the stator member is a combination switch. 3. A rotary connector is interposed between a combination switch and a handle provided with at least an airbag and an inflator for inflating the airbag, wherein the rotary connector is rotatably connected to a fixed side and a movable side. A side housing and a flexible cable wound around a housing between the two housings. The handle and the combination switch are respectively fixed to both housings of the rotary connector, and these are unitized in advance. The airbag, the inflator, and the rotary connector each have a through hole provided coaxially, and the handle is fastened to a steering shaft protruding from the through hole of the rotary connector, and the combination is provided. Switch is steering Mounting structure of the rotary connector, characterized by being locked in a state in which the stator member is restricted to rotational movement.