JPH0529582B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Object of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a steering wheel for an automobile, etc., and specifically relates to a relay mechanism for a steering wheel.

(Prior art and problems to be solved by the invention) The relay mechanism between the pad portion and the column portion of the steering wheel is generally of the slip-ring type that combines a slip ring and a slider. However, in this system, there is a limit to the number of slip rings that can be set, making it difficult to provide a large number of signal paths.

Therefore, when a large number of signal paths are required, it has been considered to employ an optical communication relay mechanism that uses light, and some of these have been put into practical use.

However, the relay mechanism for optical communication systems has a large number of components such as a light emitting element, a light receiving element, a light guide ring, a modulation circuit, and a demodulation circuit, making it considerably expensive, and the structure is complex and difficult to assemble. There was a problem that it became bothersome.

An object of the present invention is to provide a steering wheel incorporating a relay mechanism that can provide a large number of signal paths while taking advantage of the slip-ring type relay mechanism, which has a small number of parts and a simple structure.

Structure of the Invention (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a plurality of signal line slip rings disposed in the same track so as to be insulated from each other; The steering wheel is provided with a switching means that brings the common line of the relay mechanism into a non-conductive state when the steering wheel is rotated beyond a predetermined angle from a neutral position.

(Function) Since multiple signal line slip rings are arranged in the same track in the steering wheel in a mutually insulated state, a signal path is formed that can transmit signals equivalent to the number of signal line slip rings. be done.

Steering operations are performed with the switches on the signal path led to the pads, spokes, etc. turned on. At this time, the common wire remains conductive unless the vehicle approaches a curve or the like and the steering wheel is rotated beyond a predetermined angle from the neutral position, but when the steering wheel is rotated beyond a predetermined angle. When the common wire slider is switched by the switching means, the common wire becomes non-conductive, and it becomes impossible to operate the switch of the electrical equipment on the steering wheel side installed in the signal path.

(Example) Next, Examples 1 to 6 embodying the present invention will be described.
This will be explained based on the diagram.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a boss portion 6 is provided at the tip of the steering shaft 5 that extends upward through the column portion 4 of the steering wheel 19.
are spline-fitted and then fixed by a nut 7.

A boss plate 1 is provided on the upper outer circumferential side of the boss portion 6.
6 is fixed by welding, and a lower cover 9 is attached to the lower surface thereof. Furthermore, the lower cover 9
A slider substrate 20 having a substantially brim shape is attached to the lower surface side of the signal line slider 3.
and a common line slider 18 are provided. These sliders 3 and 18 themselves are composed of contact pins and the like having a known structure and shape, and are adapted to slide into contact with the slip ring, which will be described later, at a position corresponding to the slip ring to perform a relaying action. .

Below the slider substrate 20, the same substrate 20
A slip ring board 1 having a substantially brim shape is provided at a position facing the slider board 20, and the slip ring board 1 is guided by the lower cover 9 and moves in synchronization with the column part 4 during steering operation. It is designed to rotate relative to the

This slip ring board 1 is made of glass fiber-reinforced epoxy resin, and as shown in FIG. 1, an arcuate first signal line slip ring 2a is located on the circular orbit R shown by the two-dot chain line near the outer periphery on the top surface of the board 1. 5 pieces are printed and arranged in a mutually insulated state, and the first signal line slip ring 2
Inside a, two ring-shaped second signal line slip rings 2b are printed and wired concentrically.

Furthermore, the two types of signal line slip rings 2
An arcuate common line slip ring 25 having a central angle substantially the same as that of the first signal line slip ring 2a is disposed as a switching means between two adjacent first signal line slip rings 2a and 2b. When the steering wheel 19 is in the neutral state, the common line slider 18 is located at the center of the common line slip ring 25. In other words, the common wire slip ring 25 is attached to the slip ring board 1 such that the central portion thereof coincides with the straight-ahead direction A of the vehicle.
It is located in

Each of the slip rings 2a, 2b, 25 is electrically connected through a through hole 35 to a group of through holes 37 dotted approximately in a straight line by a copper film 36 formed on the back surface as shown in FIG. (Note that the through holes 35 and 37 of the second signal line slip ring 2b on the innermost side are common).

A green mask (not shown) is provided on the copper film 36.
is applied, and the latter through hole 3
A connector 38 can be attached to 7.
A first signal line 1 extending from a first electrical device (described later) such as an air conditioner, audio, telephone, etc. installed on the car body side is connected to this connector 38.
4. Second signal line 15 extending from the horn (a second signal line also extends from the first electrical device, but not shown)
and a connector 3 to which each terminal of the common wire 21 is connected.
4 is fitted.

Two spokes 8 are joined to the peripheral edge of the boss plate 16, and a horn switch 26 as a second signal line switch is attached to the base end of the spokes 8.
is attached thereto, and a ring portion 10 is also supported at the tip (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

The horn switch 26 is connected to the second signal line slip ring 2 of the signal line slider 3.
It is electrically connected by one second signal line 15 to the signal line slider in sliding contact with the steering shaft 5, and is also connected to the steering shaft 5 by another second signal line 15. It is conducting.

A pad portion 11 is fixed on the lower cover 9, and a switch box 12 attached to the pad portion 11 is provided with a first signal line switch 13 and a microphone 32. Then, the first signal line switch 13 is connected to the slider board 20.
Signal line slider 3 and common line slider 1 on the bottom surface
8, a first signal line 14, and a common line 21.

Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the first power supply 23 - the first electric device 22 - the first signal line slip ring 2a - the signal line slider 3 - the first signal line switch 13 - Five first signal paths M are formed, each consisting of a common line slider 18 - a common line slip ring 25 - a common line 21 - a first power supply 23, and a second power supply 24 - a horn 31 - a second signal line. The second signal path N consisting of the slip ring 2b - the signal line slider (however, the slider is different from the slider for the first signal path M) 3 - the horn switch 26 - the steering shaft 5 - the second power supply 24 is One route is formed without sharing the common line 21.

The first electrical equipment 2 installed on the vehicle body 27 side is connected to the first signal line switch 13 by the first signal line switch 13.
2 is turned ON and OFF, and the horn 31 is turned ON and OFF by the horn switch 26.

Further, the signal line slider 3 and the common line slider 18 installed on the lower surface side of the lower cover 9 and the signal line slip ring 2 and common line slip ring 25 with which they come into sliding contact are connected to the first signal path. It can be said that it functions as a relay mechanism 17 for the second signal path N.

Next, the functions and effects of this embodiment will be explained.
When the steering wheel 19 is in the neutral state, as shown in FIG. The contact position of the common line slider 18 is at the center of each brush.

However, when the vehicle approaches a curve, the steering wheel 19 is moved from the straight direction A of the vehicle to the common wire slip ring 2.
If the common line slip ring 25 is rotated to the right or left within the range below the center angle θ of 5.
The common wire slider 18 does not come off from the
Therefore, the common line 21 does not become non-conductive, and switching in the first signal path M is possible.

In addition, the steering wheel 19 on the expressway
When the rotation angle is less than 15 degrees, and less than 25 degrees in urban areas, the driver can operate the switch ergonomically, and when the rotation angle is greater than that, the driver can concentrate only on driving. Therefore, there is no time to operate the switch.

Therefore, steering wheel 1 on the highway
If the rotation angle of 9 is less than 15 degrees or the rotation angle in the city is less than 25 degrees, the first signal path M
It has become possible to switch without any support.

On the other hand, when a car is driving on a mountain road or the like, so-called off-road driving, the steering wheel 19 is operated with a large rotation angle of about 35 degrees or more, and the steering wheel 19 is rotated at a large rotation angle of approximately 35 degrees or more. Because of the frequent and sudden steering operations to the left, the driver does not have enough ergonomics to operate the switch. Furthermore, due to sudden steering operations and vibrations of the vehicle itself, there is a risk of accidentally pressing the switch with a hand or elbow.

When the rotation angle is large as described above, it is virtually impossible to operate the switch, and there is a risk that the switch may be operated by mistake with the hand, elbow, or the like.

Therefore, when the steering wheel 19 rotates at an angle of approximately 35 degrees or more during off-road driving, the common line slider 18 is removed from the common line slip ring 25 as shown in FIG. The common line 21 becomes non-conductive, and even if the first signal line switch 13 is pressed by mistake, the first electric device 22 does not operate. Therefore, even if there is an erroneous operation with the hand, elbow, etc. as described above, the switching operation will be invalidated and will not operate. Note that the second signal line slip ring 2b is ring-shaped, so
Unlike the first signal path N, it does not become non-conductive.

In this way, this embodiment can simultaneously form a large number of signal paths without sacrificing the advantages of the slip-ring type relay mechanism 17. malfunctions can be eliminated. Therefore, an automobile equipped with this relay mechanism 17 is capable of transmitting a large number of signals, is lightweight, has a simple structure, is easy to assemble, and becomes an inexpensive steering wheel.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can also be implemented in the following manner, for example.

(1) The second signal line slip ring 2b can be divided into arc shapes and the second signal line 15 can be made into a second signal path N that can transmit a plurality of signals.

(2) Signal line slider 3 and common line slider 18
Metal plate spring brushes and PCB plate spring brushes, which have the same function as contact pins, can also be used.

(3) The common line slip ring 25 may be provided outside the first signal line slip ring 2a.

(4) Switch 1 for the first signal line as shown in Figure 7.
A resistor 28 is provided in the first signal path M in which a resistor 28 is provided.
and two switches 13a, 1 are provided in the circuit.
3b in parallel and further providing a resistor 29 in one of the parallel circuits, it is possible to output voltages at two levels using one path and transmit more data. This transmission method can be similarly adopted in the second signal path N, and a circuit that functions similarly can also be formed by using a Zener diode or the like instead of a resistor.

(5) The number of first signal line slip rings 2a in one circular orbit R is determined in consideration of various factors. For example, steering wheel 1
It is determined by the range within which the rotation angle of 9 should be in order to prevent malfunctions of the electrical equipment. In the present invention, the number is usually 2 to 10, and the central angle of the common line slip ring 25 is preferably in the range of about 30 to 60 degrees. When the center angle is less than 30 degrees, the switching means 25 is activated immediately, and when it exceeds 60 degrees, the number of first signal paths is limited.

Effects of the Invention As detailed above, the present invention can provide a relay mechanism with a simple structure that can transmit a large number of signals to the steering wheel, and
The relay mechanism is connected to electrical equipment only when necessary, and when operating the steering wheel with a large rotation angle, even if the switch installed on the steering wheel is operated incorrectly, the operation will be invalidated, so the operation will be invalidated. This has the excellent effect of preventing careless movements based on

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a top view showing the arrangement of various slip rings on the slip ring board, Fig. 2 is a bottom view, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the steering wheel, and Fig. 4 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the steering wheel. FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram, FIG. 6 is a top view of the slip ring board with the steering wheel in a rotating state, and FIG. 7 is a partial circuit diagram showing another embodiment of the switch. 2... Slip ring for signal line, 17... Relay mechanism, 19... Steering wheel, 21... Common line, 25... Switching means (slip ring for common line), R... Track, θ... Angle.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of signal line slip rings 2a disposed in the same orbit R so as to be insulated from each other and a steering wheel 19 are rotated by a predetermined angle θ or more from a neutral position. A steering wheel characterized in that it is equipped with a switching means 25 that makes a common wire 21 of a relay mechanism 17 non-conductive when the steering wheel is turned on. 2. The steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the switching means 25 is a common line slip ring provided separately from the signal line slip ring 2a. 3. Claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of tracks R, and the plurality of signal line slip rings 2a are provided in at least one of the tracks.
Steering wheel as described in section.