JPH0129756Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] Industrial application field The present invention provides a signal transmission mechanism that is interposed between the steering wheel and the vehicle body and transmits the output of switches etc. attached to the steering wheel to the vehicle body. The present invention relates to improvements in slip rings for automobiles, and particularly relates to slip rings having an electrical connection function between slip rings for automobiles (hereinafter simply referred to as "slip rings") and the vehicle body.

BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY This slip ring is provided with various steering switches on a steering wheel, and is used as a means for transmitting each output of the switch to the vehicle body, or as a steering rotation direction detection means for detecting the rotation direction of the steering wheel. There is.

This slip ring is, for example,
As disclosed in Publication No. 8559, it has two housings arranged vertically and oppositely to form a donut-shaped space, the upper housing being fixed to the steering wheel, and the lower housing being provided on the vehicle body side. a signal transmission mechanism that is provided with an insertion protrusion having an elastic piece that engages with the rotation restriction portion and that is loosely fitted into the upper housing, and that is capable of transmitting signals between the upper and lower housings while allowing mutual rotation; is provided.

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

FIGS. 4 and 5 show an example of a conventional slip ring. In both figures, the slip ring 1 includes an upper housing 11 and a lower housing 12 that are vertically opposed to each other to form a donut-shaped space. It consists of A signal transmission mechanism (not shown) is provided between the upper housing 11 and the lower housing 12 to allow signal transmission while allowing rotation thereof.

A bracket 11a is formed protruding from the outer periphery of the upper housing 11.
The upper housing 11 is attached to the steering wheel s with screws B via 1a.

On the other hand, an insertion protrusion 13 protruding toward the vehicle body is provided at a predetermined position on the outer peripheral edge of the lower surface of the lower housing 12, and wedge-shaped elastic pieces 13a are formed on both sides of the insertion protrusion 13. .

A combination switch 2 is fixed to the vehicle body, and has an insertion hole 21 in the center through which the steering shaft 3 is inserted, and an insertion protrusion 13 provided on the lower housing 12 on its outer periphery. Two rotation regulating protrusions 22, 22 that engage with are formed to protrude in parallel.

As shown in FIG. 5, the two rotation regulating protrusions 2
The insertion protrusion 13 is held freely between the rotation regulating protrusions 22 and 22 by the elastic force of the elastic pieces 13a and 13a between the rotation regulating protrusions 22 and 22. In other words, even if the steering shaft 3 is slightly eccentric with respect to the vehicle body, the rotation of the lower housing 12 in the slip ring 1 is restricted while sufficiently allowing the eccentricity.

Furthermore, the lower housing 1 of the slip ring 1
An electrical connection between the slip ring 1 and the vehicle body is established by joining the connector 14 provided on the slip ring 2 with the connector 4 provided on the vehicle body.

Next, shell covers 5 and 5 are installed to cover the slip ring 1, combination switch 2, etc.
is assembled.

Problems to be Solved by the Present Invention In the slip ring having the above-mentioned conventional configuration, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the electrical connection between the slip ring 1 and the vehicle body is Since this was done by joining the connector 14 provided on the side of the vehicle and the connector 4 provided on the vehicle body side,
Assembly workability was not good. Furthermore, when replacing the slip ring 1, the replacement work cannot be performed without removing the shell covers 5, 5, which requires a considerable amount of man-hours.

The present invention was developed in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a slip ring for an automobile that is easy to assemble and replace.

Means for Solving the Problems The slip ring according to the present invention has two housings arranged vertically opposite each other to form a donut-shaped space, the upper housing being fixed to the steering wheel, and the lower housing being fixed to the steering wheel. The signal transmission mechanism is provided with an insertion protrusion having an elastic piece that engages with a rotation regulating portion provided on the vehicle body side, is loosely fitted into the upper housing, and is capable of transmitting signals while allowing rotation between the upper and lower housings. In the automobile slip ring, the elastic piece is made of a conductive material, and a contact terminal that comes into contact with the elastic piece is provided in the rotation regulating portion on the vehicle body side.

Configuration of Embodiment A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 1 to 3.

Note that the same parts as those shown in the prior art in FIGS. 4 and 5 are given the same reference numerals, and the explanation thereof will be omitted.

The slip ring 1 according to this embodiment is generally composed of an upper housing 11, a lower housing 12, and an insertion protrusion 13 in which an electronic unit 15 is housed.

The upper housing 11 includes a contact ring 12 provided in the lower housing 12, which will be described later.
A slider 11a is provided which is in sliding contact with a. Further, a light guiding ring 11b is fitted into the inner peripheral portion of the upper housing 11.

A sliding noise preventing rubber 12b is fixed to the lower surface of the lower housing 12.

The insertion protrusion 13 has a substantially box shape, and its interior space is equipped with an electronic unit 15 consisting of an electronic element group 15b connected and arranged on a substrate 15a via an inner case 16. The electronic unit 15 is
Elastic piece 1 made of conductive material via connecting member 15c
3a' are configured to protrude in a wedge shape from both outer surfaces of the insertion protrusion 13. Furthermore, substantially triangular protrusions 13b, 13b are provided on both outer surfaces of the insertion protrusion 13, and are inserted into grooves 23, 23 provided in the combination switch 2 with a predetermined play. .

Rotation regulating protrusion 2 of combination switch 2
The elastic pieces 13a',
Contact terminals 22a, 22a, 22a, .

Effects of the Embodiment The slip ring 1 in the above configuration is connected to the contact terminals 22a, 22a provided on the combination switch 2 and the elastic pieces 13a'13a' made of a conductive material on the vehicle body side. and the slip ring 1 are electrically connected. Furthermore, the elastic pieces 13a', 13a'...
In addition to the above action, the elastic pieces 13a and 1 in the conventional slip ring 1 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5
It has the functions that 3a has.

Further, the protrusions 13b, 13b provided on both outer sides of the insertion protrusion 13 are elastic pieces 13a', 13a'...
It has the effect of limiting the amount of deflection to a predetermined value.

Effects of this invention It is now possible to achieve electrical connection between the vehicle body and the slip spring without using a connector.
It is possible to provide a slip ring for an automobile that is easy to assemble and replace.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1 to 3 show one embodiment of the slip spring for an automobile according to the present invention.
The figure is a front view, and Figure 2 is the arrow direction X-X in Figure 1.
Linear cross section, Figure 3 is taken along arrow Y-Y in Figure 2.
The linear sectional view, FIGS. 4 and 5 show the prior art of the slip ring for an automobile according to the present invention, FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view, and FIG. 5 is a front view. s... Steering wheel, 1... Slip ring, 11... Upper housing, 12... Lower housing, 13... Insertion projection, 13a, 13
a'...Elastic piece, 2...Combination switch, 22...Rotation regulating protrusion, 22a...Contact terminal.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] It has two housings arranged vertically opposite each other to form a donut-shaped space. The upper housing is fixed to the steering wheel, and the lower housing has an elastic piece that engages with a rotation restriction part provided on the vehicle body side. A slip ring for an automobile, which has an insertion protrusion and a signal transmission mechanism that is loosely fitted into the upper housing and can transmit signals while allowing rotation between the upper and lower housings,
A slip ring for an automobile, characterized in that the elastic piece is made of a conductive material, and a contact terminal that comes into contact with the elastic piece is provided in a rotation regulating portion on the vehicle body side.