JP2006339108A - Coupling structure of rotating connector and steering angle sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a coupling structure of a rotating structure and a steering angle sensor aiming at reduction of noise. <P>SOLUTION: In the coupling structure of a first rotor member (a rotor housing) 4 of the rotating connector 1 and a second rotor member (a rotating member) 11 of the steering angle sensor 2, a cylindrical part 12a of a relay member 12 made of a metal elastic plate is fixed to an inner periphery face of the second rotor member 11, a flange part 12b of the relay member 12 is made to contact with a top face of a fixing member 13 in sliding, and a plurality of cut-up pieces 12c to 12e formed at the flange part 12b are made to elastically contact with a lower end part of the first rotor member 4. Further, by engaging protrusions 9d, 9e at a side of the first rotor member 4 with a long hole 12g and a flexible engagement hole 12h formed at the flange part 12b, the first and the second rotor members 4, 11 are positioned in a rotation direction, while a deviation of a center axis caused by a necessary play of the first rotor member 4 is allowed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a connection structure between a rotary connector incorporated in a steering apparatus of an automobile and used as an electrical connection means for an air bag system or the like and a rudder angle sensor which is a rotation information detection means of a steering wheel.

  The rotary connector is a member in which a rotor member is rotatably connected to a stator member, and a flexible cable is accommodated and wound in an annular space defined between the stator member and the rotor member. By rotating the rotor member in conjunction with the steering wheel, the flexible cable is wound or unwound in the annular space. Here, a relatively large play (clearance in the in-plane direction orthogonal to the rotation axis) is secured between the rotor member and the stator member of the rotary connector, and thus the rotor member is stably linked with the steering wheel. It can be rotated. On the other hand, the rudder angle sensor is configured such that a rotor member having a code plate is rotatably connected to a fixed member, and a photo interrupter or the like is housed in the fixed member. By rotating the code plate, a rotation amount detection signal is output from the photo interrupter. Here, the rotor member of the rudder angle sensor needs to be supported with little play with respect to the fixed member, whereby the axial direction (axial direction) and radial direction (radial direction) of the code plate integrated with the rotor member ) Is suppressed, a stable detection signal is output from the photo interrupter.

  Conventionally, such a rotary connector and a steering angle sensor are unitized in advance, and this unit body is incorporated into a steering device, so that the rotary connector is used as an electrical connection means such as an airbag system mounted on a steering wheel. A technique is known in which a steering angle sensor is used as rotation information detection means of a steering wheel while being used (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In such a conventional technique, a protrusion is provided on one of the rotor member (first rotor member) of the rotary connector and the rotor member (second rotor member) of the rudder angle sensor, and a long hole extending in the radial direction is provided on the other. When the rotation connector and the rudder angle sensor are unitized, the projection is engaged with the elongated hole with a coil spring interposed between the first and second rotor members. The first and second rotor members are connected on the same axis, and a fixing member that is a component of the steering angle sensor is fixed to a stator member that is a component of the rotary connector by screwing or the like. When this unit body is incorporated into the steering device, the steering wheel is connected to the first rotor member of the rotary connector located on the upper stage side after the first and second rotor members are inserted through the steering shaft. ing.

When the driver rotates the steering wheel during use, the first rotor member of the rotary connector and the second rotor member of the rudder angle sensor rotate together with the rotation of the steering wheel. The rotation information of the steering wheel can be detected from the steering angle sensor. In this case, the first rotor member of the rotary connector that requires relatively large play and the second rotor member of the rudder angle sensor that requires as little play as possible have protrusions provided on one rotor member on the other side. Even if they are connected in a state where their center axes are slightly displaced, this displacement is absorbed by the engagement between the protrusion and the elongated hole. Therefore, the first rotor member and the second rotor member can rotate smoothly. Further, since the first rotor member and the second rotor member are elastically biased in directions away from each other by a coil spring interposed therebetween, the code plate integrated with the second rotor member of the rudder angle sensor The backlash in the axial direction is suppressed, and a stable detection signal can be obtained from the rudder angle sensor.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-135221 (page 4-6, FIG. 8)

  As described above, in the conventional connecting structure of the rotary connector and the steering angle sensor, the coil spring is interposed between the rotor member of the rotary connector and the rotor member of the steering angle sensor. It is possible to obtain a stable detection signal while suppressing backlash in the axial direction. However, since it is necessary to connect both rotor members with the coil spring interposed, there is a problem that the assembly workability when the rotary connector and the rudder angle sensor are unitized is poor, and the coil is moved while the automobile is running. There is a problem that the spring itself vibrates and generates an abnormal noise called a spring squeal.

  Further, in the above-described prior art, the rotor member of the rudder angle sensor is configured by two divided bodies having flanges at both upper and lower ends, and the two divided bodies are integrated with a code plate to form a rotor member. Since the rotor member is rotatably supported in the guide holes of the upper cover and the lower cover, which are fixing members, at least three members (cord) are required to form an integrated product of the code plate and the rotor member. There is also a problem that the number of parts of the rudder angle sensor is increased and the cost is increased.

  The present invention has been made in view of the actual situation of the prior art, and an object thereof is to provide a connection structure of a rotary connector and a rudder angle sensor that can reduce noise.

  In order to achieve the above object, a connecting structure of a rotary connector and a steering angle sensor according to the present invention has a first rotor member having a hollow shaft structure that rotates in conjunction with a steering wheel, and the first rotor member is a stator. A rotary connector that is rotatably supported by the member, and a second rotor member that is provided with a code plate on the outer peripheral surface of the hollow shaft, and the rudder that is rotatably supported by the fixed member. An angle sensor and a relay member that transmits the rotation of the first rotor member to the second rotor member are provided, and the relay member is made of a metal elastic plate, and is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the hollow shaft portion by the relay member And a flange extending along the upper surface of the fixing member from the upper end of the cylinder, and a plurality of cut and raised pieces and a long hole extending in the radial direction are formed in the flange. , Each cut and raised piece is By elastically contacting the lower end portion of the rotor member, the first rotor member and the second rotor member are elastically biased in a direction away from each other, and the long hole is provided at the lower end portion of the first rotor member. By inserting the provided protrusion, the first rotor member and the second rotor member are positioned in the rotational direction.

  According to such a configuration, when the first rotor member of the rotary connector and the second rotor member of the rudder angle sensor are connected, the elastic force of the plurality of cut-and-raised pieces formed on the flange portion of the relay member. Both rotor members are urged away from each other, and the misalignment between the central axes of both rotor members is absorbed by the engagement of the elongated holes formed in the collar and the protrusions provided on the first rotor member. Therefore, it is possible not only to obtain a stable detection signal by suppressing backlash between the two rotor members, but also to reduce the noise by eliminating the vibration sound called spring noise. In addition, the flange portion of the relay member made of a metal elastic plate rotates with the upper surface of the fixing member as a sliding surface. However, since the relay member and the fixing member are slidable between different materials, the relay member is slidable. The smooth rotation of the second rotor member can be realized.

  In the above configuration, the number of cut and raised pieces is not limited. However, when at least three cut and raised pieces are formed at substantially equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the flange, the first and second rotor members are It is preferable that the elastic urging can be performed in a balanced manner in directions away from each other. In this case, each cut-and-raised piece and the long hole may be formed separately in the buttocks, but if the long hole is cut and raised in the piece, the cut-and-raised piece and the The long hole can be formed efficiently, and the engagement between the protrusion and the long hole is ensured by the cut and raised piece formed by cutting and raising the plate surface of the collar portion.

  In the above configuration, the long holes are formed at two positions facing each other by 180 degrees through the rotation center of the second rotor member, and any one of the long holes elasticates the protrusion from the circumferential direction of the collar portion. It is preferable that the flexible engagement hole be sandwiched between the first rotor member and the rotation of the first rotor member to be reliably transmitted to the second rotor member. In this case, if the long holes and the flexible engagement holes are respectively formed in the cut and raised pieces, the cut and raised pieces, the long holes, and the flexible engagement holes can be efficiently formed in the limited space of the collar portion. it can.

  In the above configuration, the second rotor member is preferably a synthetic resin molded product in which a code plate is integrally formed on the outer peripheral surface of the hollow shaft portion. In this case, the relay member has a cylindrical portion fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the hollow shaft portion of the second rotor member, and a flange provided at the upper end of the cylindrical portion extends along the upper surface of the fixing member. Since the position of the second rotor member is restricted in the axial direction with respect to the fixed member, the code plate and the second rotor member can be integrally formed of synthetic resin, and the number of components of the rudder angle sensor can be reduced and the cost can be reduced. Can be achieved.

  The connecting structure of the rotary connector and the rudder angle sensor according to the present invention has a plurality of cut-and-raised parts formed on the flange portion of the relay member when the first rotor member of the rotary connector and the second rotor member of the rudder angle sensor are connected. Both rotor members are urged away from each other by the elastic force of one piece, and the center axis of both rotor members is engaged by the engagement of the long hole formed in the flange and the protrusion provided in the first rotor member. Since the deviation is absorbed, it is possible to obtain a stable detection signal by suppressing the backlash between the two rotor members, and it is possible to reduce the noise by eliminating the vibration sound called spring noise. In addition, the flange portion of the relay member made of a metal elastic plate rotates with the upper surface of the fixing member as a sliding surface. However, since the relay member and the fixing member are slidable between different materials, the relay member is slidable. The smooth rotation of the second rotor member can be realized.

  DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, an embodiment of the invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a connecting unit of a rotary connector and a rudder angle sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the connecting unit, FIG. 4 is a plan view of a relay member provided in the connecting unit, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the relay member.

  The connecting unit according to this embodiment is composed of a rotary connector 1 and a rudder angle sensor 2, and as will be described later, the rotary connector 1 and the rudder angle sensor 2 are stacked and integrated in two upper and lower stages. It is designed to be incorporated into the steering system of automobiles.

  The rotary connector 1 is used as an electrical connection means such as an airbag system mounted on a steering wheel. The rotary connector 1 includes a stator housing 3 as a stator member and a hollow shaft structure as a first rotor member. And a flexible cable 5 housed and wound in an annular space 10 defined between the stator housing 3 and the rotor housing 4. The stator housing 3 includes a cylindrical outer cylinder case 6 and an annular bottom plate 7 fixed to the lower end of the outer cylinder case 6. The outer cylinder case 6 and the bottom plate 7 are formed of synthetic resin. Has been. The rotor housing 4 is snap-coupled to an upper rotor 8 in which an annular upper plate 8b is extended outward from the upper end of the cylindrical inner cylinder 8a, and to the inner cylinder 8a of the upper rotor 8. The upper rotor 8 and the lower rotor 9 are also formed of synthetic resin. The lower rotor 9 has a hollow cylindrical body 9b having a snap claw 9a formed at the upper end, and an annular lower plate portion 9c extending outward from the lower end of the hollow cylindrical body 9b. As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of protrusions 9d and 9e having different thicknesses are formed on the bottom surface of the lower plate portion 9c so as to protrude downward at two positions 180 degrees apart along the circumferential direction. Yes.

  In the rotor housing 4 of the rotary connector 1, the upper rotor 8 and the lower rotor 9 are integrated by snap-coupling the snap claw 9a of the hollow cylindrical body 9b to the inner peripheral wall of the inner cylindrical portion 8a. As shown in FIG. 4, the rotor housing 4 is in a state where the outer edge portion of the upper plate portion 8b is slidably contacted with the upper end portion of the outer cylinder case 6 and the outer edge portion of the lower plate portion 9c is slidably contacted with the lower surface of the bottom plate 7. Is rotatably supported by the stator housing 3. An annular space 10 is defined by the outer casing 6 on the stator housing 3 side, the upper rotor 8 on the rotor housing 4 side, and the like, and the flexible cable 5 is formed in, for example, a spiral shape (or in the annular space 10). In the middle, it is wound and stored in a reverse shape with the winding direction reversed. Both ends of the flexible cable 5 are fixed to the outer cylinder case 6 and the inner cylinder portion 8a of the upper rotor 8, and then electrically led out to the outside via a direct connector (not shown). Yes.

  The rudder angle sensor 2 is used as means for detecting rotation information of the steering wheel. The rudder angle sensor 2 has a rotating member 11 as a second rotor member and a metal elasticity such as stainless steel attached to the rotating member 11. A relay member 12 made of a plate, a fixing member 13 that rotatably supports the rotating member 11, and a circuit board 15 in which a photo interrupter 14 is mounted and incorporated in the fixing member 13 are provided. The rotating member 11 includes a cylindrical hollow shaft portion 11a and an annular code plate 11b that protrudes outward from the vicinity of the center of the outer peripheral surface of the hollow shaft portion 11a. The code plate 11b is integrally formed of synthetic resin. The relay member 12 includes a cylindrical portion 12a that is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the hollow shaft portion 11a, and an annular flange portion 12b that extends outward from the upper end of the cylindrical portion 12a. Three kinds of cut and raised pieces 12c to 12e are formed on the flange portion 12b. The fixing member 13 includes an upper cover 16 and a lower cover 17 joined and integrated with each other, and both the upper cover 16 and the lower cover 17 are formed of a synthetic resin. The photo interrupter 14 is an optical element having a light emitting element and a light receiving element (not shown), and the light emitting element and the light receiving element are opposed to each other through a recess 14a.

  A locking claw 11c protrudes from the inner peripheral surface of the hollow shaft portion 11a of the rotating member 11, and as shown in FIG. 2, the locking claw 11c is fitted into the locking hole 12f of the cylindrical portion 12a. Thus, the relay member 12 is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the hollow shaft portion 11a. Further, the flange portion 12b of the relay member 12 extends along the upper surface of the upper cover 16. The flange portion 12b is slidably contacted with the upper surface of the upper cover 16, and the engagement step portion 11d ( The rotating member 11 and the relay member 12 are rotatably supported by the fixing member 13 in a state in which the rotating member 11 and the relay member 12 are in sliding contact with the upper end portion of the inner wall of the lower cover 17. The code plate 11b of the rotating member 11 is formed with a large number of light shielding portions 11e at predetermined intervals along the circumferential direction, and these light shielding portions 11e are recessed in the photo interrupter 14 as the rotating member 11 rotates. It passes through the inside of 14a. As a result, the light traveling from the light emitting element to the light receiving element is blocked in the recess 14a, and the low signal and the high signal are alternately output. Therefore, the rotation information of the rotating member 11 can be detected based on the output signal. .

  As shown in FIG. 4, the relay member 12 is provided with four cut-and-raised pieces 12c and elongated holes 12g extending in the radial direction at six equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the flange 12b. The cut-and-raised piece 12d and the cut-and-raised piece 12e each having a long hole-like flexible engagement hole 12h extending in the radial direction are formed. These cut and raised pieces 12c to 12e are all formed by cutting and raising the plate surface of the flange portion 12b upward. Of these, the cut and raised pieces 12d and the cut and raised pieces 12e are 180 degrees along the circumferential direction. The tip of the cut and raised piece 12e is a pair of elastic strips 12i that are opposed to each other through the flexible engagement hole 12h. Each cut-and-raised piece 12c is in elastic contact with the lower end surface of the lower plate portion 9c of the lower rotor 9, and the elongated holes 12g and the flexible engagement holes 12h of the cut-and-raised pieces 12d and 12e are respectively thickened from the lower rotor 9 side. The projections 9d and the narrow projections 9e are inserted and engaged, and the projections 9d and 9e are allowed to move in the radial direction with respect to the inserted long holes 12g or flexible engagement holes 12h. The dimensions are set so that there is no play in the rotational direction. Specifically, the outer diameter of the protrusion 9d and the inner diameter of the long hole 12g in the narrow direction are set to be substantially equal, and the outer diameter of the protrusion 9e and the elastic strips 12i in the flexible engagement hole 12h The distance between the protrusions 9e is elastically held along the circumferential direction by both elastic strips 12i.

  That is, the rotating member 11 of the rudder angle sensor 2 is connected to the rotor housing 4 of the rotating connector 1 via the relay member 12, and the protrusion 9d and the protrusion 9e engage with the long hole 12g and the flexible engagement hole 12h, respectively. Therefore, the rotation member 11 and the rotor housing 4 rotate integrally, and the deviation of the central axis caused by the play required for the rotor housing 4 with respect to the stator housing 3 is allowed. Further, the rotating member 11 and the rotor housing 4 are elastically biased in a direction away from each other by the elastic force of the cut and raised pieces 12c to 12e with respect to the lower rotor 9. Further, the fixing member 13 of the rudder angle sensor 2 and the stator housing 3 of the rotary connector 1 are integrated by fixing the upper cover 16 and the bottom plate 7 by means such as screwing or snap coupling.

  Thus, the connecting unit configured by stacking and integrating the rotary connector 1 and the rudder angle sensor 2 in two upper and lower stages can be incorporated into a steering device of an automobile as it is. In assembling the steering device, the steering shaft is inserted into the central through hole of the rotating member 11 and the central through hole of the rotor housing 4 and then the stator housing 3 on the rotary connector 1 side and the fixing member 13 on the steering angle sensor 2 side. Is fixed to an installation base material such as a steering column, and a connection pin (not shown) standing on the upper rotor 8 of the rotary connector 1 may be connected to the steering wheel.

  When the driver rotates the steering wheel clockwise or counterclockwise during use, the rotor housing 4 and the rotating member 11 rotate integrally with the rotation of the steering wheel, and the rotation connector 1 and the steering angle sensor 2 are rotated. Each works. That is, for the rotary connector 1, the flexible cable 5 is wound or unwound when the rotor housing 4 rotates, and for the steering angle sensor 2, the rotary member 11 having the code plate 11 b rotates. As a result, a rotation amount detection signal is output from the photo interrupter 14.

  As described above, in the connection structure of the rotary connector 1 and the rudder angle sensor 2 according to this embodiment, the rotor housing (first rotor member) 4 and the rotary member (second rotor member) 11 that rotate together are integrally formed. Are urged in the direction away from each other by the elastic force of the plurality of cut-and-raised pieces 12c to 12e formed in the flange 12b of the relay member 12, and a pair of long holes formed in the flange 12b ( Since the first and second rotor members 4 and 11 are positioned in the rotational direction by engaging the projections 9d and 9e of the lower rotor 9 with the long holes 12g and the flexible engagement holes 12h), both rotor members A stable detection signal can be obtained from the rudder angle sensor 2 while suppressing the backlash between 4 and 11. In addition, since a coil spring for preventing rattling is not necessary, vibration noise called spring squeal can be eliminated, noise can be reduced, and assembly workability can be improved. In addition, the protrusions 9d and 9e on the rotor housing 4 side can move in the radial direction in the long hole 12g on the rotating member 11 side and in the flexible engagement hole 12h. Since the structure is allowed, both the rotor members 4 and 11 can be smoothly rotated while the rotary connector 1 requiring relatively large play is connected to the high-precision steering angle sensor 2.

  Further, since the rudder angle sensor 2 in the present embodiment can position the rotating member 11 in the axial direction with respect to the fixed member 13 by the relay member 12, the rotating member 11 provided with the protruding code plate 11b is made of synthetic resin. Can be formed integrally, and the cost can be reduced by reducing the number of parts and the number of assembly steps. Moreover, the relay member 12 is made of a metal elastic plate such as stainless steel, and the flange portion 12b of the relay member 12 rotates with the upper surface of the upper cover 16 of the fixing member 11 as a sliding surface, so that the relay member 12 and the fixing member 13 are The dissimilar materials can slide with each other, and the slidability of the relay member 12 can be improved to achieve smooth rotation of the rotating member 11.

  In the embodiment described above, a case has been described in which a long hole (long hole 12g or flexible engagement hole 12h) for engaging the protrusion on the rotor housing 4 side is formed in the cut and raised piece of the flange 12b. You may form these long holes in the flat surface of the collar part 12b. However, when the long hole is formed in the cut and raised piece, each cut and raised piece and the long hole can be efficiently formed in the limited space of the flange portion 12b, and the engagement of the protrusion with the long hole is ensured. There is an advantage of becoming.

It is sectional drawing which shows the connection unit of the rotation connector which concerns on the example of embodiment of this invention, and a steering angle sensor. It is principal part sectional drawing in alignment with the II-II line | wire of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view of this connection unit. It is a top view of the relay member with which this connection unit is equipped. It is sectional drawing of this relay member.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Rotation connector 2 Rudder angle sensor 3 Stator housing 4 Rotor housing (1st rotor member)
5 Flexible cable 8 Upper rotor 9 Lower rotor 9d, 9e Projection 10 Annular space 11 Rotating member (second rotor member)
11a Hollow shaft portion 11b Code plate 11c Locking claw 12 Relay member 12a Cylindrical portion 12b Gutter portion 12c-12e Cut-and-raised piece 12g Long hole 12h Flexible engagement hole 13 Fixing member 14 Photointerrupter 15 Circuit board

Claims (6)

A rotary connector having a hollow shaft structure rotating in conjunction with the steering wheel, the first rotor member being rotatably supported by the stator member, and a code plate on the outer peripheral surface of the hollow shaft portion A steering angle sensor having a second rotor member provided, the second rotor member being rotatably supported by a fixed member, and a relay member for transmitting the rotation of the first rotor member to the second rotor member; With
The relay member is made of a metal elastic plate, a cylindrical portion fixed to the relay member on the inner peripheral surface of the hollow shaft portion, and a flange portion extending from the upper end of the cylindrical portion along the upper surface of the fixing member. A plurality of cut-and-raised pieces and elongated holes extending in the radial direction are formed in the flange portion, and the cut-and-raised pieces are elastically contacted with the lower end portion of the first rotor member. Elastically biasing the member and the second rotor member away from each other, and inserting a protrusion provided at a lower end of the first rotor member into the elongated hole; A structure for connecting a rotary connector and a rudder angle sensor, wherein the second rotor member is positioned in the rotational direction.   2. The rotating connector and rudder angle sensor coupling structure according to claim 1, wherein at least three of the cut and raised pieces are formed at substantially equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the flange portion.   3. The connecting structure according to claim 2, wherein the elongated hole is formed in the cut and raised piece.   2. The long hole is formed at two positions opposed to each other by 180 degrees through the rotation center of the second rotor member according to claim 1, and any one of the long holes serves as a circle of the flange portion. A connecting structure of a rotary connector and a rudder angle sensor, wherein the connecting structure is a flexible engagement hole that is elastically clamped from the circumferential direction.   5. The connecting structure of a rotary connector and a rudder angle sensor according to claim 4, wherein the elongated hole and the flexible engagement hole are formed in the cut and raised piece, respectively.   The rotary connector and rudder according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the second rotor member is a synthetic resin molded product in which the code plate is integrally formed on an outer peripheral surface of the hollow shaft portion. Angular sensor connection structure.

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