Rotary connector device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10439348-B2
Application number	US-201716089901-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 29, 2017
Priority date	Mar 31, 2016
Publication date	Oct 8, 2019
Grant date	Oct 8, 2019

Abstract

A rotator, which is configured by an annular top plate and a cylindrically shaped inner peripheral portion, and a stator, which is configured by assembling an annular stator main body and a cylindrically shaped sub stator, are assembled to be relatively rotatable in both a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction. An SRC that houses a flat cable being wound inside of a housing space formed therein is provided with a stator locking portion that enables a frame-shaped locking portion that extends from the stator main body to lock with a protruding locking portion that is formed on the sub stator; and a recess-protrusion fitting portion that suppresses the entry of foreign matter into the housing space. The recess-protrusion fitting portion is disposed on an opposing portion that corresponds to the stator locking portion.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A rotary connector device, comprising:
a rotating body having an annular rotating ring plate and a cylindrically shaped inner cylindrical portion formed on an inner peripheral edge of the rotating ring plate;
a stationary body having an annular stationary ring plate and a cylindrically shaped outer peripheral cylindrical portion abutting against an outer peripheral edge of the stationary ring plate in an axial direction, the stationary body being assembled with the rotating body such that the stationary body and the rotating body are relatively rotatable in both a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction;
a flat cable being wound and housed in a housing space formed inside;
a locking portion extending from the stationary ring plate disposed along an outer peripheral surface of the outer peripheral cylindrical portion;
a locking unit that enables locking of an engaging portion formed on the outer peripheral cylindrical portion; and
a foreign matter intrusion suppression unit that suppresses entry of foreign matter into the housing space,
wherein the foreign matter intrusion suppression unit is disposed at a location corresponding to at least the locking unit of an opposing portion between the stationary ring plate and the outer peripheral cylindrical portion.

2. The rotary connector device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the foreign matter intrusion suppression unit includes:
a fitting protrusion that is formed on at least one of the stationary ring plate and the outer peripheral cylindrical portion and protrudes toward another one; and
a fitting recess that is formed on the other one and that engages with the fitting protrusion.

3. The rotary connector device according to claim 2 , wherein the fitting recess is formed on the stationary ring plate, the fitting protrusion is formed on the outer peripheral cylindrical portion, and the foreign matter intrusion suppression unit is disposed on a radial outer side of the opposing portion.

4. The rotary connector device according to claim 2 , wherein in a state in which the fitting protrusion and the fitting recess are recess-protrusion fitted to bond with each other in the axial direction, a fitting length of the fitting protrusion and the fitting recess in the axial direction is longer than a spacing in the axial direction formed between the locking portion and the engaging portion.

5. The rotary connector device according to claim 1 , wherein the foreign matter intrusion suppression unit comprises a blocking member configured to block the opposing portion in a radial direction.

6. The rotary connector device according to claim 5 , wherein
a stationary recess is formed on each opposing surface of the stationary ring plate and the outer peripheral cylindrical portion, and
the blocking member comprises a stationary blocking member being fixed to both stationary recesses straddling the opposing portion in the axial direction.

7. The rotary connector device according to claim 6 , wherein the stationary blocking member is a part of the flat cable housed in the housing space.

8. The rotary connector device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a surrounding portion surrounding a periphery of the locking portion along the outer peripheral surface and being formed on the outer peripheral cylindrical portion.

9. The rotary connector device according to claim 3 , wherein in a state in which the fitting protrusion and the fitting recess are recess-protrusion fitted to bond with each other in the axial direction, a fitting length of the fitting protrusion and the fitting recess in the axial direction is longer than a spacing in the axial direction formed between the locking portion and the engaging portion.

10. A rotary connector device, comprising:
a rotating body having an annular rotating ring plate and a cylindrically shaped inner cylindrical portion formed on an inner peripheral edge of the rotating ring plate;
a stationary body having an annular stationary ring plate and a cylindrically shaped outer peripheral cylindrical portion formed on an outer peripheral edge of the stationary ring plate, the stationary body being assembled with the rotating body such that the stationary body and the rotating body are relatively rotatable in both a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction, and that a housing space is included inside;
an annular rotator side protrusion protruding from the outer peripheral edge portion of the outer peripheral edge side of the rotating ring plate toward the stationary ring plate;
an annular protruding ring plate protruding to a radial inner side from the stationary ring plate at an upper end portion of the outer peripheral edge portion; and
an annular stationary side protrusion protruding from the protruding ring plate toward the rotating ring plate,
wherein the upper end portion, the rotator side protrusion, and the stationary side protrusion are disposed in the described order from a radial outer side to a radial inner side,
the rotator side protrusion has a tip thereof protruding toward the stationary ring plate beyond the upper end portion and the tip of the stationary side protrusion,
a protruding length of the rotator side protrusion is longer than a protruding length of the stationary side protrusion, and
the protruding ring plate has a tapered cross-section being gradually thinning toward a tip.

11. The rotary connector device according to claim 10 , wherein the outer peripheral cylindrical portion has a height such that an apex portion is substantially equal to the rotating ring plate.

12. The rotary connector device according to claim 10 , wherein a tip of the rotator side protrusion is formed in a circular arc cross section.

Assignees

• Furukawa Electric Co Ltd
• Furukawa Automotive Systems Inc

Inventors

• Hirai Shuji
• Kamiya Kazutaka

Classifications

• H01R13/52

  Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof cases · CPC title

• B60R16/027

  between relatively movable parts of the vehicle, e.g. between steering wheel and column {(devices for measuring, signalling or controlling tyre pressure or temperature specially adapted for mounting on vehicles B60C23/00)} · CPC title

• H01R2201/26

  for vehicles · CPC title

• B62D1/10

  Hubs; Connecting hubs to steering columns, e.g. adjustable (B62D1/11 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01R35/04 Primary

  Turnable line connectors with limited rotation angle {with frictional contact members} · CPC title