JPH0367745A - Cable protecting device of steering column - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely protect plural single-core cables from external equipment and the like by putting the plural single-core cables between forked connecting bars slidably connected together and a box-shaped fixed case in such a manner as to allow the cables to freely expand or contract in their cross direction, the plural single-core cables being connected to electrical parts such as a cable reel and the like. CONSTITUTION:A steering wheel 1 fixed to the moveable side member 3 of a steering column and a cable reel main body 4 are freely moved by a telescopic mechanism in the direction of the axis of a steering shaft. In this case, a protector main body 5 is interposed between the cable reel main body 4 and the fixed side member 2 of the steering column. The protecting main body 5 comprises a connector 11 to be fixed to the cable reel main body 4, and a storage case 12 enclosing the connector 11 while allowing it to freely slide therein and fixed to the fixed side member 2. A pair of connecting bars 16 forkedly extending from the mounting stand 15 of the connector 11 are fitted into a guide channel 25a provided on the side of the storage case 12 so as to permit expansion and contraction of the cable 10 in its cross direction within the storage case 12.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a steering column, and more particularly to a harness protection device for a steering column having a telescopic function.

[Conventional technology]

As is well known, the steering column is equipped with a harness consisting of multiple lead wires that are connected to various electrical components around the steering wheel. Especially in a telescopic type steering column, the harness expands and contracts due to telescopic operation. A wiring structure that can absorb this is required.

Therefore, as shown in Japanese Utility Model Application No. 63-32527, in order to absorb such expansion and contraction of the harness, the intermediate portion of the harness is stored in a loop shape under the steering column. It is known that a harness spool is attached so that the diameter of the loop can be contracted or expanded in accordance with the telescopic operation of the steering column.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in the conventional wiring structure described above, a boss part inscribed in the harness loop is formed in the harness spool, and the diameter of the loop is contracted or expanded based on the sliding contact part with the boss part. In particular, when the diameter of the loop is reduced, stress tends to occur at the sliding contact portion with the boss portion. Further, since the harness spool is formed in a multi-stage spiral chamber structure in order to store the harness in a loop shape as described above, the thickness width of the harness spool becomes large. As a result, the space occupied under the steering column increases, reducing the space for the driver's knees and reducing comfort.

The present invention has been made in view of the actual state of the prior art, and its purpose is to prevent stress from occurring when the harness expands and contracts, and to minimize the space occupied under the steering column. Our goal is to provide a steering column harness protection device that can.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is mounted on the movable side of a steering column having a telescopic function,
comprising a connecting body having a connecting rod extending in a bifurcated shape, and a box-shaped fixed case attached to the fixed side of the steering column and slidably connected to the connecting rod of the connecting body,
The cable connected to the electrical components attached to the movable side of the steering wheel and routed along the steering column is stored in the space defined by the connecting body and the fixed case at both bottoms, and the cable is fixed within the space. The case is characterized by being expandable and contractible in the width direction of the case.

[Effect]

When electrical components such as cable reels move as the steering wheel moves in the axial direction, the bifurcated connecting rod and box-shaped fixed case move relative to each other, and the multiple single-core cables connected to the electrical components move. It moves within the space surrounded by these connecting rods and the fixed case.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the cable protection device according to this embodiment is mounted on a steering device with a telescopic function. In the figure, 1 is a steering wheel, 2 is a fixed side member of a steering column, and 3 is a steering wheel. The movable side member of the column, 4 is the cable reel body (
The steering wheel 1 and cable reel main body 4 attached to the movable member 3 of the steering column are moved in the direction of the axis of the steering shaft (not shown) by a telescopic mechanism (not shown) in the direction of arrow A-B. It is now possible to move to. 5
shows a protector body interposed between the cable reel body 4 and the fixed side member 2 of the steering column, and this protector body 5 is expandable and retractable in the direction of the above-mentioned arrow AB.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view showing a schematic structure of the cable reel main body 4. In the figure, 6 indicates a movable body and 7 indicates a fixed body, and the movable body 6 and the fixed body 7 are rotatably snap-coupled. There is. A flat cable 8 is housed in a space surrounded by the movable body 6 and the fixed body 7 in a state where it is wound with a plurality of turns, and the starting end of the winding is led out to the outside of the movable body 6. Further, a plurality of single-core cables 10 are connected to the winding end of the flat cable 8 via a connector 9, and these single-core cables 10 are led out to the outside of the fixed body 7. The flat cable 8 is made by laminating a plurality of conductors with a pair of flexible films,
The number of conductors in this embodiment is five, two of which are used for the air bag circuit, and the remaining three are used for the cruise control circuit and the horn circuit.

Next, the details of the protector main body 5 are shown in FIGS.
This will be explained using Figure 1.

FIG. 1 is a front view of the protector main body 5, FIG. 2 is a side view thereof, and FIG. 3 is a front view of the protector main body 5 with the first case removed. As shown in these figures, the protector main body 5 includes a connecting body 11 fixed to the cable reel main body 4, and a connecting body 11 slidably contained therein, and the protector main body 5 includes a connecting body 11 that is fixed to the cable reel main body 4, and a fixed side such as the fixed side member 2 of the steering column. A storage case 12 fixed to the member, and first and second holders 13.1 arranged between the connecting body 11 and the storage case 12.
4, and the groups of single-core cables 10 led out from the fixed body of the cable reel body 4 are connected to both holders 13
．． 14 and passes through the protector main body 5, it is connected to a connector on the vehicle body side via a connector attached to its lower end.

The connecting body 11 is made of a synthetic resin molded product, and has a block-shaped mounting base 15 and a pair of connecting bodies 16 extending bifurcated from the mounting base 15, as shown in FIG.

A cover 17 having the same shape as the mounting base 15 is screwed onto the mounting base 15 (see FIG. 2), and both form a cable insertion portion. A locking pawl 18 is provided upright on the inner bottom surface of this cable insertion portion. Further, hemispherical protrusions 16a are integrally formed at the tips of both connecting rods 16, respectively.

The storage case 12 is composed of a first case 19 and a second case 20 that are joined and integrated with each other using screws, and these are made of synthetic resin molded products. FIG. 5 shows a rear view of the first case 19. As is clear from the figure, the first case 19 has a rectangular mounting hole 21 and a plurality of lips 22 protrude from the back surface. ing. These ribs 22
has a hemispherical cross section and extends radially around the mounting hole 21.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the second case 20, and as is clear from the figure, a circular mounting hole 23 is bored in the center of the second case 20, and the periphery of this mounting hole 23 and Second
An annular wall 24 and a jetty 2 are provided on the outer peripheral edge of the case 20, respectively.
5 are erected.

Force guide grooves 25a are formed on both inner surfaces of the jetty 25, and the protrusion 16a of the connecting rod 16 fits into this guide groove 25.
It is designed to slide along a.

Further, a plurality of lips 26 having a hemispherical cross section are formed on the inner bottom surface of the second case 20, and these lips 26 extend radially around the attachment hole 23. Said jetty 2
5 extend downward and are close to each other to form a relatively narrow cable insertion portion. Further, a locking pawl 27 is provided upright on the inner bottom surface of this cable insertion portion. The first case 19 and second case 20 configured in this way are joined and integrated using screws as described above, but in this state, the ribs 22 and 26 of both cases 19 and 20 are opposite to each other. is set to.

7 is a front view of the first holder 13, FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 7, and FIG. 9 is a front view of the first holder 13.
This is an exploded perspective view of, and as is clear from these figures,
The first holder 13 includes a holder base 28 and a cover film 2.
9, both of which have bottom shapes made of highly flexible synthetic resin. The holder base 28 includes a strip-shaped body 30 having an elongated shape and locking protrusions 30a at both ends, tongue pieces 31 erected on both side edges of the strip-shaped body 30 at a predetermined interval, and a central part of the strip-shaped body 30. The tongue piece 31 and the partition wall 32 are arranged in an alternating manner along the longitudinal direction of the band-shaped body 30. On the other hand, the cover film 29 has an elongated shape that is slightly shorter than the strip, and has slits 33 formed at a predetermined interval in the center thereof. This cover film 29 is integrated with the holder base 28 by inserting the slit 33 into the partition wall 32, and the protrusion 32a
This prevents it from falling off. In this state, two spaces R1 and Rz divided by each partition 32 are defined in the first holder 13 (see FIG. 8), and one or two of the group of single-core cables 10 is inserted into these spaces. Books are stored here.

The second holder 14 is also configured in the same manner as the first holder 13, and the same reference numerals with dashes are given to corresponding members here to omit repeated explanation.

Returning to FIG. 3, the first and second holders 13, 14 each lock each locking protrusion 30a, 30'a with both locking claws 18, 27.
By inserting and locking them into the mounting base 15 of the connecting body 11 and the second case 20 of the storage case 12, the annular wall is fixed in an arcuate manner to the mounting base 15 of the connecting body 11 and the second case 20 of the storage case 12. It is now possible to move between pier 24 and pier 25. Five single-core cables 10 are held in two groups in both of these holders 13 and 14.

That is, as shown in FIG. 10, among the two single-core cables 10a and 10b necessary for the airbag circuit, one is inside the space R of the first holder 13, and the other is inside the second holder 1.
Three single-core cables IQc, 10d are housed in the space R1, respectively, and are necessary for the cruise control circuit and the horn circuit.

Among the toe books, book (1) is stored in the space R of the first holder 13, and the remaining two books are stored in the space R'z of the second holder 14. Therefore, 10 groups (10
a”l Oe) is divided into two by the connecting body 11 into one group including the airbag single-core cable 10a and the other group including the single-core cable 10b, and then the first and second holders 13.14 They are held and guided by the storage case 12, where they are bundled together and led out of the storage case 12.

In the cable reel configured as described above, the movable body 6 of the cable reel body 4 is fixed to the steering wheel 1 side, the fixed body 7 is fixed to the movable side member 3 of the steering column, and the connecting body 11 of the protector body 5 is fixed to the steering wheel 1 side. The storage case 12 is attached to the fixed body 7 and the fixed side member 2 of the steering column.
Each is fixed and used. When the steering wheel 1 is rotated to one side, the flat cable 8 is wound around the inner ring wall of the movable body 6, and when the steering wheel 1 is rotated to the other side, the flat cable 8 is wrapped around the outer ring wall of the fixed body 7. In either state, the electrical connection between the movable body 6 and the fixed body 7 is maintained via the flat cable 8 and the single-core cable 10 connected thereto. There is.

As described above, the steering wheel 1 is movable in the direction of the arrow AB in FIG. 12 by the telescopic mechanism. Figure 3 shows steering wheel 1
corresponds to the state in which it has been retracted to the dashed line position in FIG.

On the other hand, when the steering wheel 1 is pushed to the solid line position in FIG. 12, the connecting rod 1
The protrusion 16a of No. 6 descends along the guide groove 25a of the jetty 25, and the length between the connecting body 11 and the storage case 12 becomes the minimum. 24 to the jetty 25 direction, each single-core cable 10 is also absorbed by both holders 13 and 14.
deforms according to. In this case, since the end surfaces of the first and second holders 13.14 move on the ribs 22.26 provided on the first case 19 and the second case 20, smooth sliding is possible without increasing contact resistance. It becomes possible.

In this way, in the above-mentioned embodiment, since the plurality of single-core cables 10 are arranged between the relatively movable connecting body 11 and the storage case 12, the cable reel is easily transported before being incorporated into the steering device. The connecting body 11 and the storage case 12 can prevent the single-core cable 10 from being damaged at times. Further, the single-core cable 10 is held in flexible holders 13 and 14, and these holders 1
3.14, it is possible to prevent local bending stress from concentrating on the single-core cable 10. Furthermore, since the former of the connecting body 11 and the storage case 12 is made into a bifurcated rod, the thickness can be reduced compared to a case where both are made into a box shape, and a thin protector main body 5 can be provided.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, a plurality of single-core cables connected to electrical components such as cable reels are housed between a slidingly connected bifurcated connecting rod and a box-shaped fixed case. Therefore, the single-core cable can be protected from external equipment, etc., not only during telescopic operation, but also during transportation before mounting on the steering device.
Moreover, the main body of the protector that protects the single-core cable can be made thinner, and its practical value is high.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The figures all relate to embodiments of the present invention, and Fig. 1 is a front view of the protector main body, Fig. 2 is a side view of the same, Fig. 3 is a front view of the protector main body with the first case removed, and Fig. 4 is a front view of the protector main body. A front view of the coupling body, FIG. 5 is a rear view of the first case, FIG. 6 is a front view of the second case, FIG. 7 is a front view of the first holder, and FIG. 8 is A- in FIG. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the first holder, FIG. 10 is a sectional view of main parts of the protector body, FIG. 11 is a front view showing the protector body in a contracted state, and FIG. 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line A. FIG. 13, which is a schematic diagram showing the mounting state of the cable protection device, is a sectional view of the cable reel body. 2. Steering column fixed side member, 3.
...Movable side member of steering column, 4...
・・・Cable reel body (electrical parts), 5...
・Protector body, 6...Movable body, 7...
...Fixed body, 8...Flat cable, 10.
...Single-core cable, 11...Connection body, 1
2...Storage case (fixed case), 13...
...First holder, 14...Second holder, 15
......Mounting base, 16...Connecting rod, 19
...First case, 20...Second case, 22.26...Rib, 28...Holder base, 29...Cover Film, 30...
...Band-shaped body, 30a...Lock protrusion, 3 pieces.
... tongue piece, 32 ... septum, 32a ...
... protrusion, 33... slit. Fig. 3 Fig. 1 Fig. 13 Fig. 4 Fig. 2 Fig. 5 Fig. 6 Fig. 5t7I1 Fig. 0 Fig. 7 Fig. 8 Fig. 1O Fig. 12

Claims (1)

[Claims] A connecting body that is attached to the movable side of the steering column having a telescopic function and has a connecting rod extending in a bifurcated shape; and a connecting body that is attached to the fixed side of the steering column and is slidably connected to the connecting rod of the connecting body. A cable that has a box-shaped fixed case, is connected to an electrical component attached to the movable side of the steering wheel, and is routed along the steering column within a space defined by the connecting body and the fixed case. What is claimed is: 1. A cable protection device for a steering column, characterized in that the cable can be expanded and contracted in the width direction of the fixed case within the space.