JPH0427066B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Industrial Application Field> The present invention provides a combination switch which is interposed between a steering wheel and a combination switch fixed to the vehicle body, and which connects the output of switches attached to the steering wheel to the vehicle body. The present invention relates to an improvement of a slip ring for transmitting power to the side, and particularly to a slip ring that can absorb misalignment between a steering wheel and a combination switch and can be attached to the vehicle body side with simple work.

<Prior Art> Conventionally, a slip ring is known as a means for providing various steering switches on a steering wheel and transmitting each output of the switch to the vehicle body.

This slip ring has two housings arranged vertically opposite each other to form a donut-shaped space.The upper housing is attached to the steering wheel, and the lower housing is attached to a combination switch fixed to the vehicle body. Furthermore, a signal transmission mechanism is provided between the upper and lower housings that allows signal transmission while allowing mutual rotation.

This signal transmission mechanism includes, for example, one consisting of a slider and a contact ring, or one consisting of a light guiding ring and a light receiving element. In either case, the output of each steering switch is reliably transmitted to the vehicle body while the steering wheel is rotating. It is configured such that it can be transmitted to the electric circuit of.

FIG. 1 shows an example of the slip ring. In the figure, the slip ring 1 has two housings 2 and 3 that are arranged vertically opposite each other to form a donut-shaped space. A signal transmission mechanism capable of transmitting signals while allowing mutual rotation is provided between the three.

When fixing this slip ring 1 to the vehicle body, first attach the combination switch 4 to the steering column (not shown) fixed to the vehicle body.
The bosses 5 protruding at 90 degree intervals along the periphery of the lower housing 3 are fitted into the through holes 7 of the bracket 6 formed on the outer periphery of the lower housing 3 at 90 degree intervals, and then the screws 8 The lower housing 3 and the combination switch 4 are connected by.

On the other hand, regarding the upper housing 2, a boss 9 formed protrudingly formed on the upper surface thereof is inserted into a fitting hole formed on the lower surface of the steering wheel (not shown).
It was designed to be locked so that it could be moved freely.

This is because when attaching the slip ring 1 to the vehicle body, there is a misalignment between the steering wheel fixed to the steering shaft and the combination switch fixed to the vehicle body, so this error must be resolved. Based on this request, for example, the lower housing 3 and the upper housing 2
cannot be screwed together.

Therefore, for example, the lower housing 3 is fixed with screws, and the upper housing 2 is movably locked to adjust for installation errors in the steering wheel and combination switch.

<Problem to be Solved by the Invention> However, in the case of such a conventional slip ring, while visually recognizing the boss 5 protruding from the combination switch 4 on the lower housing 3, it is difficult to attach the boss 5 to the bracket 6. By fitting into the formed through hole 7, it can be relatively easily attached to the combination switch 4 side, but since the upper housing 2 can be attached to the back side of the steering wheel, the boss 9 can be attached to the steering side. There was a problem in that it was not possible to perform the insertion work into the fitting hole while visually checking the work, and the workability was extremely poor.

Furthermore, since the steering wheel and the upper housing 2 are positioned and fixed by the boss 9 so as to be adjustable only in the axial direction, for example, the steering wheel may be misaligned with respect to the combination switch 4 and mounted slightly eccentrically or tilted. In such a case, there is a problem in that it is not possible to absorb this deviation between the combination switch 4 and the steering wheel.

This invention was made by focusing on these conventional problems, and its purpose is to provide relatively good installation workability, and also to make the steering wheel slightly misaligned with respect to the combination switch. It is an object of the present invention to provide a slip ring that can sufficiently absorb the misalignment even when the slip ring is installed eccentrically or at an angle.

<Means for Solving the Problems> In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides the following features: a back side of a steering wheel attached to a steering shaft; and a steering column attached to a vehicle body through which the steering shaft is inserted. It is provided between the combination switches fixed to the tip part, and has two housings arranged vertically facing each other to form a donut-shaped space,
In the slip ring, the upper housing is fixed to the steering wheel, the lower housing is loosely fitted to the upper housing, and the slip ring has a signal transmission mechanism capable of transmitting signals while allowing rotation between the upper and lower housings. an insertion protrusion provided on the housing and protruding toward the combination switch; a pair of rotation regulating protrusions provided on the combination switch side for regulating the rotational direction of the insertion protrusion; and a pair of rotation regulating protrusions provided on the lower housing. an elastic piece provided on the rotational direction end surface of the insertion projection or the rotational direction restriction end surface of the rotation restriction projection provided on the combination switch; It is characterized in that it is freely movably held between the pair of rotation regulating protrusions.

<Function> In the present invention, even if the steering wheel is installed out of alignment with respect to the combination switch, the insertion protrusion is held freely between the pair of rotation regulating protrusions by the elastic force of the elastic piece. Therefore, the insertion projection is movable between the pair of rotation regulating projections, and the misalignment of the steering wheel relative to the combination switch can be sufficiently absorbed.

Furthermore, when installing the slip ring, the entire slip ring is fixed to the underside of the steering wheel, and then the slip ring fixed to the steering wheel is simply pressed in the direction of the combination switch. Since it is only necessary to visually check and insert the insertion protrusion between the pair of rotation regulating protrusions provided on the side, installation is a simple task.

<Embodiment> A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a slip ring according to the present invention, and in the same figure, the slip ring 12 is composed of two housings 13 and 14 arranged vertically opposite each other to form a donut-shaped space. A signal transmission mechanism (not shown) is provided between these housings 13 and 14, which allows signal transmission while allowing rotation of these housings.

Brackets 15 are formed protruding from the outer periphery of the upper housing 13 at 90 degree intervals, and through holes 16 are formed through the brackets 15 for attachment to a steering wheel (not shown) fixed to a steering shaft. There is.

On the other hand, an insertion protrusion 17 that protrudes in the axial direction of the steering shaft (i.e., toward the vehicle body) is integrally formed at a predetermined position on the outer peripheral edge of the lower surface of the lower housing 14, and both side surfaces of the insertion protrusion 17 ( An elastic piece 18 is formed in a wedge shape on the end face in the rotational direction (in the claims).

A combination switch 19 is fixed to a steering column (not shown) fixed to the vehicle body side, and has an insertion hole 20 in the center through which the steering shaft is inserted, and the lower part on the outer periphery thereof. Two rotation regulating protrusions 2 that engage with an insertion protrusion 17 provided on the housing 14
1 are formed protruding in parallel.

As shown in FIG. 3, the two rotation regulating protrusions 2
The insertion protrusions 17 on both sides of the elastic piece 18 are inserted between the elastic pieces 1 and 21, and the elastic force of the elastic pieces 18 holds the insertion protrusions 17 freely between the rotation regulating protrusions 21 and 21. As a result, the slip ring 12 and the elastic piece 18 can be tilted with respect to the combination switch 19, and can also be moved up and down and in the front and rear directions.
It is structured so that it can move slightly in the left and right direction by the amount of bending.

The upper and lower housings 13 and 14 constituting the slip ring 12 are as shown in cross section in FIG.
An engaging pawl 25 formed to protrude radially outward from the lower end of the cylindrical portion 24 forming the center hole 23 of the upper housing 13 and an inner peripheral end surface 26 of the center hole of the lower housing 14 are engaged with each other. It is concentrically fitted and freely rotatable.

Since the slip ring according to the present invention is constructed as described above, the installation procedure is as follows: First, the combination switch 19 is installed on the steering column fixed to the vehicle body.
The entire slip ring 12 is screwed and fixed to the lower surface of a steering wheel (not shown) using the through hole 16 of the bracket 15 of the upper housing 13.
Next, the slip ring 12 fixed to the steering wheel is connected to the combination switch 19.
By simply pressing in the direction of arrow A, the insertion protrusion 17 is inserted between the rotation regulating protrusions 21, 21 while visually checking, and the rotation regulating protrusions 21, 21 are inserted by the elastic force of the elastic piece 18. As a result, the rotation of the lower housing 14 is reliably regulated by the rotation regulating protrusion 21.

Furthermore, even if the steering wheel is installed with a misalignment with respect to the combination switch 19, the insertion protrusion 17 can be rotated by the rotation regulating protrusion 21, due to the elastic force of the elastic pieces 18 provided on both sides thereof.
21, the insertion protrusion 17 can move within the rotation regulating protrusion 21, 21, and can sufficiently absorb the misalignment of the steering wheel relative to the combination switch 19. It becomes possible.

Also, if the steering wheel is installed with a misalignment in the vertical and longitudinal directions with respect to the combination switch 19, the elastic piece 1
8 can slide on the inner surfaces of the rotation regulating protrusions 21, 21, so that the slip ring 12 can be held in position on the combination switch 19 while adjusting its position.

Further, when the driver turns the steering wheel, the upper housing 13 also turns. When the upper housing 13 rotates in the left-right direction, the lower housing 14 and the insertion protrusion 17 move due to friction between the upper housing 13 and the lower housing 14, etc.
Try to rotate in the same left and right direction. Then, the elastic piece 18 presses the inner surfaces of the rotation regulating protrusions 21, 21 and bends. The elastic piece 18 slightly moves in the left-right direction by the amount of bending, thereby alleviating the impact and vibration of the lower housing 14 and eliminating rattling.

In the above embodiment, the elastic pieces 18 were formed on both sides (end faces in the rotational direction) of the insertion protrusion 17 protruding from the lower housing 14, but instead of this, as shown in FIG. Of course, the same effect can be obtained even if the elastic piece 18a is provided on the inner surface (rotation direction regulating end surface in the claims) of the rotation regulating protrusion 21 formed on the 19 side.

Next, FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the slip ring according to the present invention.

The feature of this embodiment is that a protrusion 27 is integrally formed on the outer periphery of the lower plate 14a of the lower housing 14 and is designed to break when a certain force is applied in the circumferential direction. Insert protrusion 1 into
7a, and a fitting hole 28 is formed at its base to fit with the protrusion 27, and by press-fitting the protrusion 27 into the fitting hole 28, the insertion protrusion 17a and the lower part are connected. This is because the lower plate 14a of the side housing 14 is integrally connected.

According to the above configuration, for example, the upper and lower housings 1
Slider 2 that transmits signals within 3 and 14
2 is broken and gets caught between the upper and lower housings, locking the rotation between the upper and lower housings and causing the steering wheel to not rotate. If you force the steering wheel to rotate, the problem shown in Figure 6 will occur. By breaking the protrusion 27 shown in FIG. will be ensured.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the lower housing 14
The lower plate 14a and the insertion protrusion 17a are integrally formed, and the lower plate 14a and the insertion protrusion 17a are integrally formed.
A similar effect can be obtained when the rotation between the upper and lower housings is locked by appropriately forming a slit in the joint part a.

<Effects of the Invention> As explained above, in the slip ring according to the present invention, the lower housing constituting the slip ring is provided with an insertion protrusion that protrudes toward the combination switch side. is provided with a pair of rotation regulating protrusions that regulate the rotational direction of the insertion protrusion, and further provided with an elastic piece on the rotational direction end face of the insertion protrusion or the rotational direction regulating end face of the rotation regulating protrusion, and the insertion protrusion Since it is held freely between a pair of rotation regulating protrusions by force,
The slip ring can be installed with an extremely simple process while visually checking the car body, and it can also be used in cases where the steering wheel is slightly misaligned with the combination switch.
It has excellent effects such as being able to sufficiently absorb the deviation.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional slip ring mounting structure, Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a slip ring mounting structure according to the present invention, Fig. 3 is a front view of the slip ring, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a slip ring mounting structure according to the present invention. 5 is a sectional view of the ring, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a case where an elastic piece is provided on the combination switch side, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the present invention. 12... Slip ring, 13... Upper housing, 14... Lower housing, 17... Insertion projection, 18... Elastic piece, 19... Combination switch, 21... Rotation regulating projection.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A combination switch provided between the back side of a steering wheel attached to a steering shaft and a combination switch fixed to the tip of a steering column attached to the vehicle body and through which the steering shaft is inserted, The upper housing is fixed to the steering wheel, the lower housing is loosely fitted to the upper housing, and there is a rotating housing between the upper and lower housings. In the slip ring, the slip ring has a signal transmission mechanism capable of transmitting a signal while allowing the lower housing to have an insertion protrusion provided on the lower housing and protruding toward the combination switch; a pair of rotation regulating protrusions regulating the rotational direction of the protrusions; and an elastic piece provided on the rotational direction end face of the insertion protrusion provided on the lower housing or on the rotational direction regulating end face of the rotation regulating protrusion provided on the combination switch. A slip ring, characterized in that the insertion protrusion is freely movably held between the pair of rotation regulating protrusions by the elastic force of the elastic piece.