阅读说明：本技术 旋转连接器装置以及旋转连接器装置的组装结构 (Rotary connector device and assembling structure of rotary connector device ) 是由 宇都宫博文 于 2019-03-18 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供旋转连接器装置,即使在转向轴的旋转轴与旋转连接器装置的中心轴偏心的情况下,作为所述固定体的一部分的转动部也能够顺畅地旋转。旋转连接器装置(1)在定子(30)侧的转向轴(200)的贯穿插入方向侧具有可动部件(40),可动部件(40)由在与定子(30)的中心轴(Cx)方向垂直的第1方向(X)上沿着贯穿插入方向凹陷的第1凹部(42)以及在第2方向(Y)上向与第1凹部(42)相反的方向凹陷的第2凹部(43)构成,在转子(10)上设置有与第1凹部(42)间隙嵌合而进行引导的第1引导部(23),在设置于定子(30)的以中心轴(Cx)为中心转动的转动部(70)上设置有与第2凹部(43)间隙嵌合而进行引导的第2引导部(74),第1凹部(42)和第2凹部(43)构成为分别能够在第1方向(X)和第2方向(Y)上移动。(The invention provides a rotary connector device, even under the condition that a rotating shaft of a steering shaft is eccentric to a central shaft of the rotary connector device, a rotating part as a part of a fixed body can smoothly rotate. The rotary connector device (1) has a movable member (40) on the side of the stator (30) in the direction of insertion of the steering shaft (200), the movable member (40) is composed of a 1 st recess (42) recessed along the insertion direction in a 1 st direction (X) perpendicular to the central axis (Cx) direction of the stator (30) and a 2 nd recess (43) recessed in a 2 nd direction (Y) in a direction opposite to the 1 st recess (42), the rotor (10) is provided with a 1 st guide part (23) which is in clearance fit with the 1 st concave part (42) for guiding, a2 nd guide part (74) which is fitted into the 2 nd recess part (43) with a gap therebetween and guides the same is provided on a rotating part (70) which is provided on the stator (30) and rotates about a central axis (Cx), and the 1 st recess part (42) and the 2 nd recess part (43) are configured to be movable in the 1 st direction (X) and the 2 nd direction (Y), respectively.)

1. A rotatable connector device, comprising:

a fixed body having an annular fixed-side ring plate and a cylindrical outer peripheral wall portion formed on an outer peripheral edge of the fixed-side ring plate, the fixed body being fixed to a vehicle body;

a rotating body having an annular rotating-side ring plate and a cylindrical inner peripheral wall portion formed on an inner peripheral edge of the rotating-side ring plate, the rotating body being assembled to be rotatable relative to the fixed body; and

a flexible flat cable having a conductor, which is received in a receiving space formed by the fixed body and the rotating body, one end portion of the flexible flat cable being fixed to the fixed body and the other end portion being fixed to the rotating body, wherein,

a rotation transmission mechanism that transmits rotation of the rotating body to the fixed body is provided on a side of the fixed body in a direction of insertion of the steering shaft inserted through the inner peripheral wall portion,

the rotation transmission mechanism is composed of the following parts:

a 1 st guided portion formed of a convex portion protruding in a direction of insertion of the steering shaft or a concave portion recessed in the direction of insertion of the steering shaft in a 1 st direction perpendicular to a direction of a rotation shaft in which the fixed body rotates; and

a 2 nd guided portion formed of a convex portion protruding in a direction opposite to the 1 st guided portion or a concave portion recessed in a direction opposite to the 1 st guided portion in a 2 nd direction perpendicular to the rotation axis direction and intersecting the 1 st direction,

the rotating body is provided with a 1 st guiding part which is in clearance fit with the 1 st guided part,

a rotating part rotating around a central axis is arranged on the fixed body, a 2 nd guiding part which is in clearance fit with the 2 nd guided part is arranged on the rotating part,

the 1 st guided portion that is fitted into the 1 st guide portion with a clearance is configured to be guided by the 1 st guide portion and movable in the 1 st direction, and the 2 nd guided portion that is fitted into the 2 nd guide portion with a clearance is configured to be guided by the 2 nd guide portion and movable in the 2 nd direction.

2. A rotatable connector arrangement according to claim 1,

the 1 st guided portion is constituted by a 1 st concave portion depressed toward the rotating portion side,

the 2 nd guided portion is configured by a 2 nd concave portion that is concave in a direction opposite to the concave direction of the 1 st guided portion.

3. A rotatable connector arrangement according to claim 1,

the 1 st guided portion is formed of a 1 st projection projecting toward the fixed-side ring plate,

the 2 nd guided portion is formed of a 2 nd convex portion that protrudes in a direction opposite to the protruding direction of the 1 st guided portion.

4. A rotatable connector device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the 1 st guided portion is provided at a position rotationally symmetrical about a rotation axis of the fixed body as a symmetry axis, and,

the 2 nd guided portion is provided at a position rotationally symmetrical about a rotation axis of the fixed body.

5. A rotatable connector device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,

the 1 st direction is perpendicular to the 2 nd direction.

6. A rotatable connector device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,

the rotation transmission mechanism is constituted by a ring plate as a rigid body.

7. A rotatable connector device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,

gaps are provided between the rotation transmission mechanism and the fixed body in the 1 st direction and the 2 nd direction.

8. A rotatable connector device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,

a support member for supporting the rotation transmission mechanism is provided between the rotation transmission mechanism and the fixed body.

9. A rotatable connector device according to any one of claims 1 to 8,

the fixing body is composed of the following parts:

a 1 st fixed body having the fixed-side ring plate and the outer peripheral wall portion; and

and a 2 nd fixed body fixed to the 1 st fixed body and having the rotating portion.

10. A rotatable connector arrangement according to claim 9,

the 2 nd fixed body has a steering angle sensor that detects a rotation angle of the steering shaft.

11. An assembling structure of a rotary connector device, which is assembled by a rotary connector device and a steering shaft,

the rotary connector device is composed of the following parts:

a fixed body having an annular fixed-side ring plate and a cylindrical outer peripheral wall portion formed on an outer peripheral edge of the fixed-side ring plate, the fixed body being fixed to a vehicle body;

a rotating body having an annular rotating-side ring plate and a cylindrical inner peripheral wall portion formed on an inner peripheral edge of the rotating-side ring plate, the rotating body being assembled to be rotatable relative to the stationary body; and

a flexible flat cable having a conductor, which is accommodated in an accommodation space formed by the fixed body and the rotating body, one end portion of the flexible flat cable being fixed to the fixed body and the other end portion being fixed to the rotating body,

the steering shaft is inserted through the inner peripheral wall portion and rotates integrally with the rotating body,

a rotation transmission mechanism that transmits rotation of the rotating body to the fixed body is provided on the side of the fixed body closer to the insertion direction of the steering shaft inserted into the inner peripheral wall portion,

the rotation transmission mechanism is composed of the following parts:

a 1 st guided portion formed of a convex portion protruding in a direction of insertion of the steering shaft or a concave portion recessed in the direction of insertion of the steering shaft in a 1 st direction perpendicular to a direction of a rotation shaft in which the fixed body rotates; and

a 2 nd guided portion formed of a convex portion protruding in a direction opposite to the 1 st guided portion or a concave portion recessed in a direction opposite to the 1 st guided portion in a 2 nd direction perpendicular to the rotation axis direction and intersecting the 1 st direction,

the rotating body is provided with a 1 st guiding part which is in clearance fit with the 1 st guided part,

a rotating part rotating around a central axis is arranged on the fixed body, a 2 nd guiding part which is in clearance fit with the 2 nd guided part is arranged on the rotating part,

the 1 st guided portion that is fitted into the 1 st guide portion with a clearance is configured to be guided by the 1 st guide portion and movable in the 1 st direction, and the 2 nd guided portion that is fitted into the 2 nd guide portion with a clearance is configured to be guided by the 2 nd guide portion and movable in the 2 nd direction.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a rotatable connector device to be mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile, and an assembly structure of the rotatable connector device to be assembled to a vehicle body.

Background

A rotatable connector device mounted on a vehicle body such as an automobile is configured by assembling a rotating body and a fixed body to each other so as to be rotatable, and a flexible flat cable that is wound up and rewound in accordance with rotation of the rotating body is housed in an annular housing space formed between the rotating body and the fixed body.

As one of such rotatable connector devices, for example, a rotatable connector device has been proposed in which a rotating body is composed of a 1 st rotating body and a 2 nd rotating body, and a relay elastic member having a long hole and a slit along a radial direction is interposed between the 1 st rotating body and the 2 nd rotating body, and the 2 nd rotating body is configured to be rotatable relative to the fixed body by sandwiching the fixed body together with the 1 st rotating body (see patent document 1).

In the rotatable connector device described in patent document 1, since the projection provided on the 1 st rotating body is fitted into the elongated hole provided on the relay elastic member and the projection provided on the 2 nd rotating body is locked in the notch, the relay elastic member can absorb the play caused by the rotation of the 1 st rotating body and can smoothly rotate the 2 nd rotating body which is sandwiched between the fixed body and the 1 st rotating body.

However, in a state where the rotatable connector device is mounted on the vehicle body, a rotating shaft of the steering shaft inserted into the rotatable connector device may be eccentric to a central axis of the rotatable connector device, and in this case, even in the rotatable connector device disclosed in patent document 1, there is a problem that the rotatable portion as a part of the fixed body cannot be smoothly rotated.

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a rotatable connector device that allows a rotatable portion, which is a part of the fixed body, to rotate smoothly even when a rotation shaft of a steering shaft is eccentric to a central axis of the rotatable connector device, and an assembly structure of the rotatable connector device.

Means for solving the problems

The invention is a rotary connector device, which is composed of the following parts: a fixed body having an annular fixed-side ring plate and a cylindrical outer peripheral wall portion formed on an outer peripheral edge of the fixed-side ring plate, the fixed body being fixed to a vehicle body; a rotating body having an annular rotating-side ring plate and a cylindrical inner peripheral wall portion formed on an inner peripheral edge of the rotating-side ring plate, the rotating body being assembled to be rotatable relative to the stationary body; and a flexible flat cable having a conductor, which is accommodated in an accommodation space formed by the fixed body and the rotating body, one end portion of the flexible flat cable being fixed to the fixed body, and the other end portion being fixed to the rotating body, wherein a rotation transmission mechanism that transmits rotation of the rotating body to the fixed body is provided on a side of the fixed body in a direction of insertion of a steering shaft inserted through the inner peripheral wall portion, the rotation transmission mechanism being configured by: a 1 st guided portion formed of a convex portion protruding in a direction of insertion of the steering shaft or a concave portion recessed in the direction of insertion of the steering shaft in a 1 st direction perpendicular to a direction of a rotation shaft in which the fixed body rotates; and a 2 nd guided portion formed of a convex portion protruding in a direction opposite to the 1 st guided portion or a concave portion recessed in a direction opposite to the 1 st guided portion in a 2 nd direction perpendicular to the rotation axis direction and intersecting the 1 st direction, the rotating body is provided with a 1 st guide part which is in clearance fit with the 1 st guided part, the fixed body is provided with a rotating part which rotates around a central shaft, and the rotating part is provided with a 2 nd guide part which is in clearance fit with the 2 nd guided part, the 1 st guided portion which is fitted into the 1 st guide portion with a clearance therebetween is configured to be movable in the 1 st direction while being guided by the 1 st guide portion, the 2 nd guided portion that is fitted into the 2 nd guide portion with a clearance is configured to be movable in the 2 nd direction while being guided by the 2 nd guide portion.

Further, the present invention is an assembling structure of a rotatable connector device, which is assembled by a rotatable connector device and a steering shaft, the rotatable connector device including: a fixed body having an annular fixed-side ring plate and a cylindrical outer peripheral wall portion formed on an outer peripheral edge of the fixed-side ring plate, the fixed body being fixed to a vehicle body; a rotating body having an annular rotating-side ring plate and a cylindrical inner peripheral wall portion formed on an inner peripheral edge of the rotating-side ring plate, the rotating body being assembled to be rotatable relative to the stationary body; and a flexible flat cable having a conductor, which is accommodated in an accommodation space formed by the fixed body and the rotating body, one end portion of the flexible flat cable being fixed to the fixed body, the other end portion of the flexible flat cable being fixed to the rotating body, the steering shaft being inserted through the inner peripheral wall portion and rotating integrally with the rotating body, wherein a rotation transmission mechanism for transmitting rotation of the rotating body to the fixed body is provided on a side of the fixed body side in a direction of insertion of the steering shaft inserted through the inner peripheral wall portion, the rotation transmission mechanism being configured by: a 1 st guided portion formed of a convex portion protruding in a direction of insertion of the steering shaft or a concave portion recessed in the direction of insertion of the steering shaft in a 1 st direction perpendicular to a direction of a rotation shaft in which the fixed body rotates; and a 2 nd guided portion formed of a convex portion protruding in a direction opposite to the 1 st guided portion or a concave portion recessed in a direction opposite to the 1 st guided portion in a 2 nd direction perpendicular to the rotation axis direction and intersecting the 1 st direction, the rotating body is provided with a 1 st guide part which is in clearance fit with the 1 st guided part, the fixed body is provided with a rotating part which rotates around a central shaft, and the rotating part is provided with a 2 nd guide part which is in clearance fit with the 2 nd guided part, the 1 st guided portion which is fitted into the 1 st guide portion with a clearance therebetween is configured to be movable in the 1 st direction while being guided by the 1 st guide portion, the 2 nd guided portion that is fitted into the 2 nd guide portion with a clearance is configured to be movable in the 2 nd direction while being guided by the 2 nd guide portion.

The rotating body includes a rotor constituted only by an annular rotating-side ring plate and a cylindrical rotating-side inner circumferential cylinder portion formed on an inner circumferential edge of the rotating-side ring plate, and a sleeve assembled with the rotor and integrally rotated is assembled to the rotor.

For example, when the rotating body is composed of a rotor and a sleeve, the inner peripheral wall portion includes not only the inner peripheral wall portion of the rotor but also the inner peripheral wall portion of the sleeve.

The fixing body comprises the following structures: a structure including a stator fixed to a vehicle body and a steering sensor assembled to the stator, the structure including the fixed-side ring plate and a cylindrical outer peripheral wall portion formed on an outer peripheral edge of the fixed-side ring plate; and a structure of one part of the vehicle body including a combination switch and the like.

The 1 st guided portion includes the following cases: for example, a projection projecting in a direction opposite to the insertion direction; and a recess portion recessed toward the insertion direction.

The rotation portion includes not only a case of rotating about the central axis as a rotation center but also a case of pivoting about the central axis.

The clearance fit is a state in which the 1 st guided portion and the 2 nd guided portion are guided by the 1 st guide portion and the 2 nd guide portion, respectively, and loosely fit to such an extent that they can move in the 1 st direction and the 2 nd direction, respectively.

According to the present invention, even when the rotation shaft of the steering shaft is eccentric to the central axis of the rotatable connector device, the rotatable portion as a part of the fixed body can be smoothly rotated.

Specifically, since the 1 st guided portion which is fitted into the 1 st guide portion provided in the rotating body with a clearance therebetween is movable in the 1 st direction, the eccentricity between the rotating body and the rotating portion in the 1 st direction constituting the rotatable connector device can be absorbed.

Similarly, since the 2 nd guided portion which is fitted into the 2 nd guide portion provided in the rotatable portion with a clearance therebetween is movable in the 2 nd direction, the eccentricity between the rotatable body and the rotatable portion in the 2 nd direction of the rotatable connector device can be absorbed.

In this way, the eccentricity between the rotating body and the fixed body constituting the rotatable connector device, that is, the eccentricity between the rotation axis of the steering shaft and the center axis of the rotatable portion can be absorbed by the 1 st guided portion and the 2 nd guided portion, and the rotation of the steering shaft can be transmitted to the rotatable portion as rotation about the center axis. Accordingly, even when the rotation axis of the steering shaft is eccentric to the center axis of the rotatable connector device, the rotatable portion as a part of the fixed body can be smoothly rotated, and thus the rotation of the steering shaft can be transmitted to the rotatable portion with high accuracy.

In an aspect of the present invention, the 1 st guided portion may be formed of a 1 st recessed portion recessed toward the rotating portion side, and the 2 nd guided portion may be formed of a 2 nd recessed portion recessed in a direction opposite to a direction in which the 1 st guided portion is recessed.

According to the present invention, the rotation of the steering shaft can be transmitted to the rotating portion with higher accuracy.

Specifically, the rotation body is in contact with the rotation transmission mechanism by the clearance fit between the 1 st recess and the 1 st guide. On the other hand, the 2 nd concave portion is fitted into the 2 nd guide portion with a gap, and the rotation portion is in contact with the rotation transmission mechanism.

Therefore, the rotating portion can be stably arranged without supporting the rotating portion by the 1 st guide portion and the 2 nd guide portion formed in the convex shapes, the movement in the 1 st direction by the clearance fit between the 1 st concave portion and the 1 st guide portion and the movement in the 2 nd direction by the clearance fit between the 2 nd concave portion and the 2 nd guide portion can be stabilized, and the rotation transmission mechanism can be prevented from being deformed by a load applied to the rotation transmission mechanism. Therefore, the rotation of the steering shaft can be transmitted to the turning portion with higher accuracy.

In addition, according to this configuration, since the thickness of the rotation transmission mechanism is increased, the rigidity of the rotation transmission mechanism can be increased, and sufficient strength can be provided for a load applied to the rotation transmission mechanism when the eccentricity between the rotation axis of the steering shaft and the center axis of the turning portion is absorbed.

In an aspect of the present invention, the 1 st guided portion may be formed of a 1 st convex portion that protrudes toward the fixed-side ring plate, and the 2 nd guided portion may be formed of a 2 nd convex portion that protrudes in a direction opposite to a protruding direction of the 1 st guided portion.

According to the present invention, the rotatable connector device can be made compact.

In detail, since the 1 st guided portion and the 2 nd guided portion are respectively constituted by the 1 st convex portion and the 2 nd convex portion, even if the rotation transmission mechanism is brought close to the rotating portion and the rotating body, the 1 st convex portion fixed to the rotating body can be prevented from interfering with the rotating body and the 2 nd convex portion fixed to the rotating body can be prevented from interfering with the rotating body, and therefore, the rotatable connector device can be made compact.

In addition, as an aspect of the present invention, the 1 st guided portion may be provided at a position rotationally symmetrical with respect to a rotation axis of the fixed body as a symmetry axis, and the 2 nd guided portion may be provided at a position rotationally symmetrical with respect to the rotation axis of the fixed body as a symmetry axis.

According to the present invention, since 2 of the 1 st guided portions and 2 nd guided portions are provided at positions facing each other, the rotation of the steering shaft can be transmitted to the fixed body more stably.

In an aspect of the present invention, the 1 st direction may be perpendicular to the 2 nd direction.

According to the present invention, since the load acting on the rotation transmission mechanism can be resolved into the 1 st direction and the 2 nd direction which are perpendicular to each other, the load acting in the 1 st direction or the 2 nd direction can be effectively dispersed. Therefore, the rotation of the steering shaft can be transmitted to the turning portion more stably, and the load can be prevented from concentrating on one side.

In an aspect of the present invention, the rotation transmission mechanism may be configured by a ring plate as a rigid body.

According to the present invention, the durability of the rotation transmission mechanism can be improved. The ring plate includes, for example, a metal such as stainless steel, iron, or aluminum, or a ceramic.

In addition, as an aspect of the present invention, gaps may be provided between the rotating body and the rotation transmission mechanism and between the fixed body and the rotation transmission mechanism in the 1 st direction and the 2 nd direction, respectively.

According to the present invention, since the 1 st guided portion and the 2 nd guided portion can be reliably moved in the 1 st direction and the 2 nd direction, respectively, the eccentricity between the steering shaft and the turning portion can be reliably absorbed.

In addition, as an aspect of the present invention, a support member that supports the rotation transmission mechanism may be provided between the rotation transmission mechanism and the fixed body.

According to the present invention, since the rotation of the steering shaft can be transmitted to the fixed body via the support member, the conventional fixed body can be used.

In an aspect of the present invention, the fixing body may include: a 1 st fixed body having the fixed-side ring plate and the outer peripheral wall portion; and a 2 nd fixed body fixed to the 1 st fixed body and having the rotating portion.

The 2 nd fixed body includes, for example, a release cam for returning a combination switch or a steering lever (turnlever) provided with the rotary connector device to a neutral position by turning, a steering sensor for detecting a rotation angle of the steering shaft, and the like.

According to the present invention, the rotation can be smoothly transmitted from the rotating portion, which smoothly rotates with the rotation of the rotating body, to the 2 nd fixed body. Therefore, for example, when the 2 nd fixed body is a release cam, the rotation of the steering shaft can be transmitted to the release cam with high accuracy, and the steering rod can be returned to the neutral position with high accuracy.

In an aspect of the present invention, the 2 nd fixed body may include a steering sensor that detects a rotation angle of the steering shaft.

According to the present invention, the rotation angle of the steering shaft can be accurately detected. Therefore, for example, in a vehicle type in which the irradiation direction of the headlight is changed in accordance with the rotation angle of the steering shaft, the headlight can be irradiated in the irradiation direction with high accuracy.

Effects of the invention

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a rotatable connector device in which a rotatable portion as a part of the fixed body can be smoothly rotated even when a rotation shaft of a steering shaft is eccentric to a central axis of the rotatable connector device, and an assembly structure of the rotatable connector device.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a rotatable connector device.

Fig. 2 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the rotatable connector device.

Fig. 3 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the sleeve, the movable member, and the steering device.

Fig. 4 is an explanatory view of the sleeve.

Fig. 5 is an explanatory view of the steering device.

Fig. 6 is an explanatory view of the movable member.

Fig. 7 is an explanatory view of an assembled state of the movable member with respect to the sleeve and the steering device.

Fig. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the movement of the movable member with respect to the sleeve and the steering device.

Fig. 9 is a schematic exploded perspective view of another embodiment of the movable member.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, the rotatable connector device 1 and the assembly structure 2 of the rotatable connector device 1 in which the steering shaft 200 is assembled to the rotatable connector device 1 will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 6.

Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of rotatable connector device 1 in a neutral state as viewed from above, and fig. 2 is a schematic exploded perspective view of rotatable connector device 1 in a neutral state as viewed from above. Here, the direction of the rotor 10 with respect to the stator 30 is set to be upward, and the direction of the sleeve 20 with respect to the stator 30 is set to be downward. In the drawing of fig. 2, the right rotational direction about the central axis Cx of the rotatable connector device 1 is referred to as the clockwise direction R, and the left rotational direction is referred to as the counterclockwise direction L.

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the sleeve 20, the movable member 40, and the rotatable portion 70 constituting the rotatable connector device 1, as viewed from below, fig. 4 is an explanatory view of the sleeve 20, fig. 5 is an explanatory view of the rotatable portion 70, and fig. 6 is an explanatory view of the movable member 40.

Fig. 4 to 6 are detailed, in which fig. 4 (a) shows a bottom view of the sleeve 20, fig. 4 (B) shows a cross-sectional view taken along a-a line in fig. 4 (a), fig. 5 (a) shows a top view of the rotating portion 70, and fig. 5 (B) shows a cross-sectional view taken along B-B line in fig. 5 (a). Fig. 6 (a) shows a plan view of the movable member 40, and fig. 6 (b) shows a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in fig. 6 (a).

As shown in fig. 1, the assembly structure 2 is configured by inserting the rotatable connector device 1 into the steering shaft 200, and the steering shaft 200 transmits rotation generated by operating the steering wheel 300 to the steering gear box (not shown).

The insertion direction of the steering shaft 200 is the vertical direction, and the insertion direction of the steering shaft 200 in the rotatable connector device 1 is the lower side.

The steering shaft 200 includes a screw portion 210 formed at an upper end, a shaft portion 220 connecting the screw portion 210 and a steering gear box, and a steering column 230 for protecting the shaft portion 220 by inserting the shaft portion 220 therethrough, and a front end of the shaft portion 220 on the vehicle body side is connected to the steering gear box.

The screw portion 210 is a screw portion for rotatably fixing the steering wheel 300 by penetrating through a through-insertion hole of the steering wheel 300, and the steering wheel 300 is assembled from above by screw-fitting, thereby integrating the steering wheel 300 and the steering shaft 200.

The shaft portion 220 is a hollow cylindrical body having a larger diameter than the screw portion 210, and is a shaft for transmitting the rotation operation of the steering wheel 300 to the steering gear box.

The steering column 230 is formed of a cylindrical body that rotatably supports and protects the shaft portion 220.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the rotatable connector device 1 is composed of a rotor 10, a sleeve 20 positioned below the rotor 10 and assembled with the rotor 10, a stator 30 inserted between the rotor 10 and the sleeve 20 and assembled to be relatively rotatable, a movable member 40 fixed to an inner peripheral side of the sleeve 20, and a flexible flat cable 100 wound and housed in a housing space S formed by the rotor 10 and the sleeve 20.

As shown in fig. 2, the rotor 10 is integrally formed of a substantially annular rotating-side ring plate 11 having a substantially circular through hole in a central portion in a plan view, and an inner peripheral wall portion 12 formed downward from an inner peripheral edge of the rotating-side ring plate 11, and a rotor-side connector housing portion 13 that protrudes upward and functions as a connector is provided on an upper surface of the rotating-side ring plate 11.

The inner peripheral wall portion 12 is a cylindrical body having a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the annular rotating-side ring plate 11, and has a rotor-side inner edge portion (not shown) formed on the lower end side so as to protrude outward in the outer diameter direction. An engaging portion (not shown) is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the inner peripheral wall portion 12, and the engaging portion is engageable with an engaged portion (not shown) provided on the sleeve 20, which will be described later.

The rotor-side connector housing portion 13 is a housing portion that houses a connector attached to one end of the flexible flat cable 100 housed in the housing space S, and the rotor-side connector housing portion 13 is externally connected to a connector of a cable (not shown) connected to a circuit of an external device such as a horn switch and an airbag unit disposed in the steering wheel 300.

As shown in fig. 2 to 4, the sleeve 20 assembled to the rotor 10 having such a structure is composed of a sleeve-side ring plate 21 and an inner wall portion 22, the sleeve-side ring plate 21 is composed of an annular ring plate having a central portion through hole, the inner wall portion 22 protrudes downward from the inner peripheral edge of the sleeve- side ring plate 21, and 21 st guide portions 23 extending radially outward are provided on the bottom surface side of the sleeve-side ring plate 21 (see fig. 3 and 4).

The sleeve-side ring plate 21 is a ring plate having a through hole at the center, and the through hole has an inner diameter equal to the inner diameter of the inner peripheral wall portion 12.

The inner wall portion 22 is a cylindrical body extending downward from the inner peripheral edge of the sleeve-side ring plate 21, and an engaged portion (not shown) engageable with an engaging portion (not shown) provided on the inner peripheral wall portion 12 is provided on the upper surface side of the outer peripheral surface of the inner wall portion 22, and the rotor 10 can be rotated relative to the stator 30 by sandwiching the stator 30, which will be described later, between the rotor 10 and the sleeve 20 in the vertical direction and engaging the engaging portion with the engaged portion.

As shown in fig. 4 (a) and 4 (b), the 1 st guide portion 23 is a projection projecting radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the inner wall portion 22 on the bottom surface side of the sleeve-side ring plate 21. In other words, the 1 st guide portion 23 protrudes downward from the inside of the bottom surface of the sleeve-side ring plate 21.

The 1 st guide portion 23 configured as described above is arranged in 2 positions rotationally symmetrical about the central axis of the sleeve 20 as a rotation axis. That is, the 1 st guide portions 23 are arranged on a straight line with each other.

As shown in fig. 2, the stator 30, which is rotatable relative to the rotor 10, includes a main stator 50 and a steering sensor 60 having a turning portion 70.

The main stator 50 is a bottomed substantially cylindrical body having an open upper surface, and is integrally configured by a fixed-side ring plate 51 constituting a lower surface, a substantially cylindrical outer peripheral wall portion 52 constituting an outer peripheral surface, and a stator-side connector housing portion 53 protruding outward from the stator 30.

The fixed-side ring plate 51 is a circular plate-like body having an outer diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the rotating-side ring plate 11 and an inner diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the inner peripheral wall 12. The inner peripheral edge of the fixed-side ring plate 51 is sandwiched between the rotor-side inner edge formed on the inner peripheral wall 12 and the inner peripheral edge of the sleeve-side ring plate 21 (not shown).

The outer peripheral wall portion 52 is a cylindrical outer peripheral wall that is provided to rise upward from the outer peripheral edge of the fixed-side ring plate 51.

The stator-side connector housing 53 is a vertically long rectangular parallelepiped housing extending radially outward from a predetermined position of the stator 30. The stator-side connector housing 53 is a housing capable of housing the other end side of the flexible flat cable 100, and is configured to be capable of connecting a connector connected to a cable drawn from an electric circuit on the vehicle body side to the other end of the flexible flat cable 100 in a column cover, not shown.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, in the neutral state, the rotor-side connector housing portion 13 and the stator-side connector housing portion 53 are disposed at positions facing each other.

The steering sensor 60 is a cylindrical body having an annular bottom surface with an open upper surface, and is configured by a sensor bottom surface portion 61 formed of an annular plate-like body and an outer circumferential protection wall 62 forming an outer circumferential wall, and the outer circumferential protection wall 62 is provided with a sensor portion 63 that detects an angle detection pin 75 that rotates with rotation of the rotor 10.

The sensor bottom surface portion 61 is an annular plate-like body, and the sensor bottom surface portion 61 has a through hole having an outer diameter larger than the outer diameter of the sleeve-side ring plate 21 and an inner diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the inner wall portion 22.

The outer periphery protective wall 62 is a cylindrical wall that is provided to rise upward from the outer periphery of the sensor bottom surface portion 61, and 2 sensor portions 63 are arranged to face each other on the inner peripheral surface. Further, on the upper surface of the outer peripheral protection wall 62, a locked portion (not shown) that is locked and fixed to a locking portion (not shown) provided on the bottom surface of the fixed-side ring plate 51 is provided.

The sensor portion 63 provided on the outer peripheral protection wall 62 is a concave-shaped detection sensor provided at a position facing the angle detection pin 75 in a state where the turning portion 70 is provided inside the steering sensor 60, and a concave portion is formed at the center so that the angle detection pin 75 can pass through the central portion in the vertical direction of the sensor portion 63. A detector, not shown, is incorporated inside the sensor portion 63.

A light emitting element (not shown) is provided on the 1 st wall portion 63a of the sensor portion 63 on the upper side of the recess, and a light receiving element (not shown) is provided on the 2 nd wall portion 63b on the lower side of the recess so as to face the light emitting element, and an optical signal emitted from the light emitting element can be read by a built-in detector.

The sensor units 63 configured as described above are arranged in 2 positions that are rotationally symmetrical about the central axis of the steering sensor 60 as a rotation axis. That is, the sensor portion 63 is disposed at a position facing the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral protection wall 62.

As shown in fig. 2, 3, and 5, the rotation portion 70 provided inside the steering sensor 60 is a bottomed cylindrical body including an annular rotation portion bottom surface 71 and a wall portion 72 provided to rise upward from the outer peripheral edge of the rotation portion bottom surface 71.

The rotation portion bottom surface 71 is an annular ring plate having an inner diameter one turn larger than the outer diameter of the inner wall portion 22 and an outer diameter one turn smaller than the outer diameter of the sleeve-side ring plate 21, and 2 protrusions 73 protruding to the inner diameter side are formed at positions facing each other on the inner peripheral edge. Further, 2 nd guide portions 74 are provided so as to face each other on the radially outer side of the upper surface of the rotating portion bottom surface 71.

The 2 nd guide portion 74 is a protruding portion that extends radially inward from the inner peripheral surface of the wall portion 72 on the bottom surface side of the rotating portion bottom surface 71. The width of the 2 nd guide 74 is equal to the width of the 1 st guide 23.

The 2 nd guide part 74 configured as described above is disposed at 2 positions rotationally symmetrical about the central axis of the rotating part 70 as a rotation axis. That is, the 2 nd guide parts 74 are arranged on a straight line with each other. Further, a straight line connecting the convex portions 73 disposed to face each other is perpendicular to a straight line connecting the 2 nd guide portions 74 disposed to correspond to each other.

The wall portion 72 is a cylindrical body having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the inner wall portion 22 and an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the outer circumference protection wall 62, and a plurality of angle detection pins 75 protruding radially outward are arranged at equal intervals in the center portion of the outer circumference surface.

The angle detection pin 75 is configured to have a shape that can pass through a recess provided in the sensor portion 63 in a state where the steering sensor 60 has the turning portion 70.

In a state where the steering sensor 60 has the turning portion 70 configured as described above, the angle detection pin 75 is disposed so as to be sandwiched between the 1 st wall portion 63a and the 2 nd wall portion 63b, and the rotation angle of the turning portion 70 that is turned can be detected by the steering sensor 60.

The movable member 40 is a metal ring plate disposed below the rotatable connector device 1, more specifically, between the sleeve 20 and the steering sensor 60 (above the steering sensor 60, i.e., on the insertion direction side in which the steering shaft 200 is inserted into the rotatable connector device 1), and has high rigidity.

The movable member 40 may be made of a resin such as ceramic or plastic, in addition to a metal such as stainless steel, iron, or aluminum.

As shown in fig. 2, 3, and 6, the movable member 40 includes an annular ring plate 41 having a predetermined plate thickness, 21 st recessed portions 42 each of which is formed by recessing a part of an upper surface of the ring plate 41 toward the rotating portion 70 (i.e., downward side), and 2 nd recessed portions 43 each of which is formed by recessing a part of a lower surface of the ring plate 41 toward the upward side.

The ring plate 41 is an annular cylinder having an inner diameter larger than the inner diameter of the inner wall portion 22 and an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the sensor bottom surface portion 61.

The 1 st recessed portion 42 is a recess formed by recessing a part of the upper surface of the ring plate 41 to the lower side, and the width of the 1 st recessed portion 42 in the circumferential direction is formed slightly larger than the width of the 1 st guide portion 23. The 1 st recessed portion 42 is provided at a position rotationally symmetrical about the central axis of the ring plate 41 as a rotation axis. That is, 2 ring plates 41 are provided at positions facing each other. The 1 st recessed portion 42 is formed such that the depth of the groove is slightly shorter than half of the plate thickness of the ring plate 41, and the bottom of the 1 st recessed portion 42 is formed flat.

The 2 nd recessed portion 43 is a recess formed by recessing a part of the lower surface of the ring plate 41 upward, and the width of the 1 st recessed portion 42 is formed slightly larger than the width of the 2 nd guide portion 74. The 2 nd recessed portion 43 and the 1 st recessed portion 42 are provided with 2 in positions facing each other, similarly.

The 1 st recessed portion 42 and the 2 nd recessed portion 43 configured as described above are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. That is, the 2 nd recessed portion 43 is provided at a position rotated by 90 degrees in the clockwise direction R and the counterclockwise direction L from the position of the 1 st recessed portion 42. Similarly to the 1 st recessed portion 42, the 2 nd recessed portion 43 is configured such that the depth of the groove is slightly shorter than half the plate thickness of the ring plate 41 and the bottom of the groove of the 2 nd recessed portion 43 is flat.

Hereinafter, a direction in which a straight line formed by connecting the 1 st recessed portions 42 provided in this manner extends is referred to as a 1 st direction X, and a direction in which a straight line formed by connecting the 2 nd recessed portions 43 extends is referred to as a 2 nd direction Y. That is, the 1 st direction X and the 2 nd direction Y are perpendicular to each other.

The 1 st direction X of the movable member 40 coincides with a linear direction connecting the rotor-side connector housing 13 and the stator-side connector housing 53, which face each other in a plan view, in a neutral state.

In the rotor 10 and the sleeve 20 and the stator 30 configured as described above, the inner peripheral edge of the fixed-side annular plate 51 is sandwiched between the inner peripheral edge of the inner peripheral wall portion 12 and the sleeve-side annular plate 21, and the engaging portion (not shown) provided in the sleeve 20 is engaged with the engaged portion (not shown) provided in the inner peripheral wall portion 12, whereby the rotor 10 and the sleeve 20 are configured as the rotatable connector device 1 rotatable with respect to the stator 30. The steering sensor 60 is fixed to the main stator 50 by engaging an engaging portion (not shown) with the engaged portion.

In the rotatable connector device 1, a housing space S (see fig. 2) for housing the flexible flat cable 100 is formed by the rotating-side ring plate 11 and the inner peripheral wall 12 of the rotor 10, and the fixed-side ring plate 51 and the outer peripheral wall 52 of the stator 30.

The flexible flat cable 100 is configured by overlapping 4 flat cables (the 1 st dummy flat cable, the shielding flat cable, the transmission path flat cable, and the 2 nd dummy flat cable) from the radially outer side toward the radially inner side in a wound state in the housing space S, and the flexible flat cable 100 is wound and housed in the housing space S in such a manner that the flexible flat cable 100 is wound up and rewound in the clockwise direction R and the counterclockwise direction L in accordance with the relative rotation of the rotor 10 with respect to the stator 30. In the present embodiment, the number of the flexible flat cables 100 is 4, but the number is not limited to 4, and the number and the configuration of the flexible flat cables 100 can be appropriately changed.

As shown in fig. 7 (a), the rotatable connector device 1 configured as above is assembled with the sleeve 20, the movable member 40, and the rotatable portion 70 included in the steering sensor 60 in this order from above. Next, an assembled state of the sleeve 20 and the movable member 40 and an assembled state of the sleeve 20 and the rotatable portion 70 in the rotatable connector device 1 configured as above will be described with reference to fig. 7.

Fig. 7 is an explanatory view showing an assembled state of the sleeve 20, the movable member 40, and the rotating portion 70 in a state where the central axes are aligned. Specifically, (a) of fig. 7 shows a cross-sectional view along the line a-a in a state where the sleeve 20, the movable member 40, and the rotating portion 70 are assembled, fig. 7 (b) shows a bottom view of the assembled state of the sleeve 20 and the movable member 40, and fig. 7 (c) shows a top view of the assembled state of the sleeve 20 and the rotating portion 70. In order to clarify the assembled state of the sleeve 20, the movable member 40, and the rotating portion 70, the steering sensor 60 having the rotating portion 70 is not shown.

In fig. 7, the 1 st recessed portion 42 and the 2 nd recessed portion 43 which are not visible are indicated by broken lines to clarify their positions.

The sleeve 20, the movable member 40, and the rotating portion 70 can be assembled as follows: the movable member 40 is disposed above the rotating portion 70 such that the 2 nd recessed portion 43 is disposed at a position corresponding to the 2 nd guide portion 74, the sleeve 20 is disposed above the movable member 40 such that the 1 st guide portion 23 is disposed at a position corresponding to the 1 st recessed portion 42 of the movable member 40, and then the sleeve 20 and the rotating portion 70 are relatively moved from the up-down direction with respect to the movable member 40.

As shown in fig. 7 (a), the sleeve 20, the movable member 40, and the rotating portion 70 assembled in this way are loosely fitted into the 1 st guide portion 23 in the 21 st recessed portions 42 formed in the 1 st direction X, and therefore the 1 st recessed portions 42 are guided by the 1 st guide portion 23, and the movable member 40 can be moved in the 1 st direction X. In addition, since the 2 nd concave portions 43 formed along the 2 nd direction Y are loosely fitted into the 2 nd guide portion 74, the 2 nd concave portions 43 are guided by the 2 nd guide portion 74, and the movable member 40 can be moved along the 2 nd direction Y.

Further, since the inner diameter of the ring plate 41 is larger than the inner diameter of the inner wall portion 22, the inner circumferential surface of the ring plate 41 is disposed at a predetermined interval from the inner wall portion 22 as shown in fig. 7 (b). That is, a predetermined 1 st gap G1 is provided between the inner diameter side of the 1 st concave portion 42 and the inner wall portion 22. This enables the movable member 40 to move relative to the sleeve 20 in the 1 st direction X.

Similarly, since the outer diameter of the wall portion 72 is larger than the outer diameter of the ring plate 41, the outer peripheral surface of the ring plate 41 is disposed at a predetermined interval from the inner peripheral surface of the wall portion 72 as shown in fig. 7 (c). That is, a predetermined 2 nd gap G2 is provided between the wall portion 72 and the radially outer side of the 2 nd recess 43 that is fitted in the 2 nd guide portion 74 with a gap. This allows the movable member 40 to move relative to the rotating portion 70 in the 2 nd direction Y.

Next, the movement of the movable member 40 when the rotation axis Rx of the steering shaft 200 is eccentric to the center axis Cx of the rotatable connector device 1 in the assembly structure 2 for assembling the rotatable connector device 1 to the steering shaft 200 will be briefly described with reference to fig. 8.

Fig. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the movement of the movable member 40 in the assembled structure 2 in which the rotatable connector device 1 in the neutral state is assembled to the steering shaft 200. Specifically, (a) of fig. 8 shows a plan view of the rotatable connector device 1 in a state where the steering shaft 200 is inserted therethrough, fig. 8 (B) shows a bottom view of the sleeve 20 to which the movable member 40 is assembled in the assembled structure 2 of (a) of fig. 8, fig. 8 (c) shows a cross-sectional view taken along a-a line in (B) of fig. 8, fig. 8 (d) shows a plan view of the rotatable portion 70 to which the movable member 40 is assembled in the assembled structure 2 of (a) of fig. 8, and fig. 8 (e) shows a cross-sectional view taken along B-B line in (d) of fig. 8.

In fig. 8 (b) to 8 (e), the 1 st recessed portion 42 and the 2 nd recessed portion 43 which are at the invisible positions are indicated by broken lines in order to clarify the positions thereof.

In fig. 8 a, the upper side (rotor-side connector housing 13 side) in the 1 st direction X is set to the + X side, the lower side (stator-side connector housing 53 side) in the 1 st direction X is set to the-X side, the left side in fig. 8 a is set to the-Y side, and the right side is set to the + Y side. Note that, in fig. 8 (b) to 8 (e), the steering shaft 200 is omitted for convenience of explanation.

As shown in fig. 8 (a), when the steering shaft 200 inserted into the rotatable connector device 1 is assembled to the rotatable connector device 1 in a state where the rotation axis Rx of the steering shaft 200 is eccentric to the upper left with respect to the center axis Cx of the rotatable connector device 1, the rotation axis Rx is eccentric to the + X side with respect to the 1 st direction X and eccentric to the-Y side with respect to the 2 nd direction Y.

Here, since the 1 st recessed portion 42 is guided by the 1 st guide portion 23 into which the 1 st recessed portion 42 is fitted with a clearance, the movable member 40 can move in the 1 st direction X, and therefore, as shown in fig. 8 (b) and 8 (c), the movable member 40 is disposed on the-X side with respect to the sleeve 20. However, since the 2 nd concave portion 43 fitted with the 2 nd guide portion 74 with a clearance cannot move in the 1 st direction X, the movable member 40 can absorb the eccentric state of the center axis (rotation axis Rx) of the sleeve 20 and the center axis Cx of the rotary portion 70 with respect to the 1 st direction X by arranging the rotary portion 70 at the center of the movable member 40 in the 1 st direction X.

Further, since the 2 nd recessed portion 43 is guided by the 2 nd guide portion 74 in which the 2 nd recessed portion 43 is fitted with a clearance, the movable member 40 can move in the 2 nd direction Y, and therefore, as shown in fig. 8 (d) and 8 (e), the movable member 40 is disposed on the-Y side with respect to the rotating portion 70. However, since the 1 st recess 42 fitted with the 1 st guide portion 23 with a clearance cannot move in the 2 nd direction Y, the sleeve 20 is disposed at the center of the movable member 40 in the 2 nd direction Y. That is, the eccentricity of the center axis (rotation axis Rx) of the sleeve 20 with respect to the 2 nd direction Y and the center axis Cx of the rotating portion 70 can be absorbed by the movable member 40.

In this way, since the movable member 40 can absorb the eccentricity between the central axis (rotation axis Rx) of the sleeve 20 and the central axis Cx of the rotating portion 70, the rotation of the sleeve 20 can be transmitted through the movable member 40, and the rotating portion 70 can be smoothly rotated. Therefore, the angle detection pin 75 passes between the sensor portions 63 with high accuracy, and the rotation angle of the turning portion 70, that is, the rotation angle of the steering shaft 200 can be accurately detected by the detector incorporated in the sensor portions 63.

Thus, the rotatable connector device 1 is constituted by: a stator 30 having an annular stationary-side ring plate 51 and a cylindrical outer peripheral wall portion 52 formed on an outer peripheral edge of the stationary-side ring plate 51, the stator 30 being fixed to a vehicle body; a rotor 10 having an annular rotating-side ring plate 11 and a cylindrical inner peripheral wall portion 12 formed on an inner peripheral edge of the rotating-side ring plate 11, the rotor 10 being assembled so as to be rotatable relative to the stator 30; and a flexible flat cable 100 accommodated in an accommodation space S formed by the stator 30 and the rotor 10 and having a conductor having one end fixed to the stator 30 and the other end fixed to the rotor 10, in the rotary connector device 1, a movable member 40 transmitting rotation of the rotor 10 to the stator 30 is provided on a side of a direction of insertion of the steering shaft 200 inserted through the inner circumferential wall portion 12 on the stator 30 side, and the movable member 40 is constituted by: a 1 st recess 42 recessed in a 1 st direction X perpendicular to a direction of a central axis Cx in which the stator 30 rotates, along a through insertion direction; and a 2 nd recessed portion 43 recessed in a direction opposite to the 1 st recessed portion 42 in a 2 nd direction Y perpendicular to the direction of the center axis Cx and intersecting the 1 st direction X, wherein a 1 st guide portion 23 fitted in a clearance with the 1 st recessed portion 42 is provided in the sleeve 20 rotating integrally with the rotor 10, a turning portion 70 turning around the center axis Cx is provided in the turn sensor 60 as a part of the stator 30, a 2 nd guide portion 74 fitted in a clearance with the 2 nd recessed portion 43 is provided in the turning portion 70, the 1 st recessed portion 42 fitted in a clearance with the 1 st guide portion 23 is configured to be movable in the 1 st direction X by being guided by the 1 st guide portion 23, and the 2 nd recessed portion 43 fitted in a clearance with the 2 nd guide portion 74 is configured to be movable in the 2 nd direction Y by being guided by the 2 nd guide portion 74, whereby even when the rotation axis Rx of the steering shaft 200 is eccentric to the center axis Cx of the rotatable connector device 1, the rotor 70, which is a part of the stator 30, can smoothly rotate.

Specifically, the 1 st recess 42 that is fitted in the gap with the 1 st guide portion 23 provided in the sleeve 20 is guided by the 1 st guide portion 23, and therefore, the movable member 40 moves in the 1 st direction X, and the sleeve 20 (rotor 10) and the rotatable portion 70 (stator 30) that constitute the rotatable connector device 1 can absorb the eccentricity in the 1 st direction X.

Similarly, since the 2 nd concave portion 43 which is fitted in the gap with the 2 nd guide portion 74 provided in the rotatable portion 70 is guided by the 2 nd guide portion 74, the movable member 40 moves in the 2 nd direction Y, and the eccentricity of the sleeve 20 and the rotatable portion 70 constituting the rotatable connector device 1 in the 2 nd direction Y can be absorbed.

Thus, the eccentricity between the sleeve 20 and the rotatable portion 70, which rotate together with the rotor 10 constituting the rotatable connector device 1, can be absorbed by the 1 st recessed portion 42 and the 2 nd recessed portion 43. That is, the eccentricity between the rotation axis Rx of the steering shaft 200 and the center axis Cx of the turning portion 70 can be absorbed, and the rotation of the steering shaft 200 can be transmitted to the turning portion 70 as rotation about the center axis Cx as the rotation center. Thus, even when the rotation axis Rx of the steering shaft 200 is eccentric to the center axis Cx of the rotatable connector device 1, the rotation of the steering shaft 200 can be transmitted to the turning portion 70 with high accuracy.

Further, the 1 st recessed portion 42 is recessed toward the turning portion 70 (lower side), and the 2 nd recessed portion 43 is recessed in a direction (upper side) opposite to the direction in which the 1 st recessed portion 42 is recessed, whereby the rotation of the steering shaft 200 can be transmitted to the movable member 40 with higher accuracy.

Specifically, the 1 st guide portion 23 is fitted into the 1 st recess 42 with a clearance, so that the bottom surface of the sleeve-side ring plate 21 of the sleeve 20 fixed to the rotor 10 is in contact with the upper surface of the ring plate 41 of the movable member 40 (see fig. 8 c and 8 e).

Further, the 1 st guide portion 23 and the 2 nd guide portion 74 are fitted to the 2 nd recess 43 with a clearance therebetween, and the lower surface of the ring plate 41 of the movable member 40 is in contact with the upper surface of the turning portion bottom surface 71 of the turning portion 70 (see fig. 8 c and 8 e). This enables the movable member 40 to be stably disposed.

Therefore, the movement in the 1 st direction X by the clearance fit of the 1 st recessed portion 42 and the 1 st guide portion 23 and the movement in the 2 nd direction Y by the clearance fit of the 2 nd recessed portion 43 and the 2 nd guide portion 74 can be stably moved without tilting about the 1 st guide portion 23 and the 2 nd guide portion 74 formed in a convex shape, and the movable member 40 (ring plate 41) can be prevented from being deformed by the load applied to the movable member 40. Therefore, the rotation of the steering shaft 200 can be transmitted to the turning portion 70 with higher accuracy.

Further, since the thickness of the movable member 40 is increased, the rigidity of the movable member 40 is increased, and therefore, when the eccentricity between the rotation axis Rx of the steering shaft 200 and the central axis Cx of the rotatable connector device 1 is absorbed, sufficient strength can be provided against the load applied during rotation.

Further, since the 1 st recess 42 is provided at a position rotationally symmetrical about the central axis Cx of the stator 30 and the 2 nd recess 43 is provided at a position rotationally symmetrical about the central axis Cx of the stator 30, the 1 st recess 42 and the 2 nd recess 43 are provided at positions facing each other by 2, respectively, and thus the rotation of the steering shaft 200 can be transmitted to the stator 30 more stably.

Further, by making the 1 st direction X perpendicular to the 2 nd direction Y, the load acting on the movable member 40 can be resolved into the 1 st direction X and the 2 nd direction Y perpendicular, and therefore the load is applied equally in the 1 st direction X or the 2 nd direction Y. Therefore, the rotation of the steering shaft 200 can be transmitted to the turning portion 70 more stably, and the load can be prevented from being biased to one side.

Further, by providing the 1 st gap G1 and the 2 nd gap G2 between the rotor 10 and the stator 30 and the movable member 40 in the 1 st direction X and the 2 nd direction Y, the 1 st recess 42 and the 2 nd recess 43 can be reliably moved in the 1 st direction X and the 2 nd direction Y, respectively, and therefore, the eccentricity between the steering shaft 200 and the rotating portion 70 can be reliably absorbed.

Further, by providing the turning portion 70 for supporting the movable member 40 between the movable member 40 and the stator 30, the rotation of the steering shaft 200 can be transmitted to the steering sensor 60 of the stator 30 via the turning portion 70, and therefore, the conventional stator 30 can be used.

The stator 30 is composed of a main stator 50 having a fixed-side ring plate 51 and an outer peripheral wall portion 52, and a steering sensor 60 fixed to the main stator 50 and having a rotating portion 70, and thus the rotating portion 70 can be smoothly rotated with the rotation of the sleeve 20. Therefore, for example, the rotation of the steering shaft 200 can be transmitted to the release cam with high accuracy, and thus the steering rod can be returned to the neutral position with high accuracy.

Further, since the steering sensor 60 is configured to detect the rotation angle of the steering shaft 200, the rotation angle of the steering shaft 200 can be accurately detected. Therefore, for example, in a vehicle type in which the irradiation direction of the headlight is changed in accordance with the rotation angle of the steering shaft 200, the headlight can be irradiated in the irradiation direction with high accuracy.

In the correspondence between the structure of the present invention and the above-described embodiments,

the fixed body corresponds to the stator 30,

the rotating body corresponds to the rotor 10 and,

the rotation transmitting mechanism corresponds to the movable member 40,

the 1 st direction corresponds to the 1 st direction X,

the 1 st guided portion corresponds to the 1 st concave portion 42,

the 2 nd direction corresponds to the 2 nd direction Y,

the 2 nd guided portion corresponds to the 2 nd concave portion 43,

the gaps correspond to the 1 st gap G1 and the 2 nd gap G2,

the support member corresponds to the rotating portion 70, but the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and a plurality of embodiments can be obtained.

For example, the rotor 10 in the rotatable connector device 1 is rotatably assembled to the stator 30 in cooperation with the sleeve 20, but may be configured only as a rotor including the annular rotating-side ring plate 11 and a cylindrical rotating-side inner circumferential cylindrical portion formed on the inner circumferential edge of the rotating-side ring plate 11.

The 1 st recess 42 is a recess recessed in the direction opposite to the insertion direction of the rotatable connector device 1 into the steering shaft 200, but this configuration is not necessarily required, and may be a projection projecting in the insertion direction.

Similarly, in accordance with the configuration of the 1 st recess 42, the 2 nd recess 43 may be configured not only as a recess recessed in the insertion direction of the rotatable connector device 1 with respect to the steering shaft 200 but also as a projection projecting in the direction opposite to the insertion direction.

Further, since the 1 st recess 42 is formed by the 1 st projection 42a projecting toward the fixed-side ring plate 51 and the 2 nd recess 43 is formed by the 2 nd projection 43a projecting in the direction opposite to the projecting direction of the 1 st projection 42a (see fig. 9), the rotatable connector device 1 can be made compact. In this case, the corresponding 1 st guide portion 23 and the corresponding 2 nd guide portion 74 are formed in a concave shape that can be fitted with the 1 st convex portion 42a and the 2 nd convex portion 43a with a gap therebetween, respectively.

Specifically, since the 1 st recessed portion 42 is formed by the 1 st projecting portion 42a projecting toward the fixed-side ring plate 51 and the 2 nd recessed portion 43 is formed by the 2 nd projecting portion 43a projecting in the direction opposite to the 1 st projecting portion 42a, even if the ring plate 41 is formed to be thin, when the movable member 40 approaches the rotatable portion 70 and the rotor 10, the 1 st projecting portion 42a does not interfere with the rotatable portion 70 and the 2 nd projecting portion 43a does not interfere with the sleeve 20, and therefore, the rotatable connector device 1 can be made compact.

In the present embodiment, the rotating portion 70 is configured to rotate about the central axis Cx as the rotation center, but may be configured to pivot about the central axis Cx as the center.

Instead of the steering sensor 60, a release cam that returns the combination switch or the steering lever provided with the rotatable connector device 1 to the neutral position by turning may be used.

Description of the reference symbols

1: a rotatable connector device; 10: a rotor; 11: rotating the side ring plate; 12: an inner peripheral wall portion; 23: 1 st guide part; 30: a stator; 40: a movable member; 42: 1 st recess; 43: a 2 nd recess; 50: a main stator; 51: fixing the side ring plate; 52: an outer peripheral wall portion; 60: a steering sensor; 70: a rotating part; 74: a 2 nd guide part; 100: a flexible flat cable; 200: a steering shaft; g1: 1 st gap; g2: the 2 nd gap; s: a storage space; x: the 1 st direction; y: and (2) a direction.