Electronic centering indicator for clockspring assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9557192-B2
Application number	US-201614995603-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 14, 2016
Priority date	Jan 16, 2015
Publication date	Jan 31, 2017
Grant date	Jan 31, 2017

Abstract

A clockspring assembly is provided having means to indicate that the clockspring assembly is properly centered upon installation in a motor vehicle. The clockspring assembly includes a hub and a rotor that is rotatable relative to the hub. A ribbon cable is wound about the rotor and provided with one end attached to the rotor and another end attached to the hub. An electronic centering indicator is mounted to the hub and is configured to indicate a centered position of the hub relative to the rotor as a result of a condition occurring when the hub becomes centered with the rotor. Upon the occurrence of the condition, the centering indicator is configured to provide an electronic signal indicating that the clockspring is properly centered.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A clockspring assembly comprising:
a rotor having an inner circumferential wall;
a hub mounted to the rotor and being rotatable relative to the rotor;
the rotor and the hub cooperatively defining a chamber;
a ribbon cable positioned within the chamber and coiled around the hub, the ribbon cable having first and second ends, the first end being attached to the rotor and the second end being attached to the hub;
an electronic centering indicator mounted to the hub and being configured to indicate a centered position of the hub relative to the rotor as a result of a condition occurring when the hub becomes centered with the rotor, the centering indicator configured to provide an electrical signal upon detecting the existence of the condition and the signal indicating that the clockspring is centered.

2. The clockspring assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the centering indicator is a sensor.

3. The clockspring assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the sensor is mounted in a circumferential wall of the hub and opposes the ribbon cable.

4. The clockspring assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the sensor senses an indicium provided on the ribbon cable.

5. The clockspring assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the indicium is detected by the sensor via a noncontact method.

6. The clockspring assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the indicium is optically detected by the sensor.

7. The clockspring assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the indicium is a region of color.

8. The clockspring assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the indicium is detected by the sensor via a contact method.

9. The clockspring assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the indicium is a raised projection on the surface of the ribbon cable.

10. The clockspring assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the raised projection projects radially outward from the surface of the ribbon cable.

11. The clockspring assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the sensor is a tact sensor configured to engage a raised projection as the indicium when the raised projection moves past the sensor during relative rotation of the hub and rotor.

12. The clockspring assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an aperture formed in an outer circumferential wall of the hub and the indicator is a sensor being mounted in the aperture.

13. The clockspring assembly of claim 1 , wherein the centering indicator includes a gear assembly driven by rotation of the rotor.

14. The clockspring assembly of claim 13 , wherein the gear assembly includes a drive gear mounted for rotation with the rotor and a driven gear supported by the hub in a fixed location relative to the rotor.

15. The clockspring assembly of claim 14 , wherein the drive gear is a ring gear fixedly mounted to the rotor.

16. The clockspring assembly of claim 14 , wherein the driven gear rotates a threaded portion coupled to a non-rotatable follower member, the follower member moving axially with rotation of the threaded portion by the driven gear.

17. The clockspring assembly of claim 16 , wherein the follower member includes a threaded part correspondingly engaging the threaded portion rotated by the driven gear, the follower member further including at least one electrical contact.

18. The clockspring assembly of claim 17 , wherein the indicator further includes a switch configured to be engaged by the at least one electrical contact during axial movement of the follower member.

19. The clockspring assembly of claim 18 , wherein engagement of the switch by the at least one electrical contact closes the switch indicating proper centering of the hub relative to the rotor.

20. The clockspring assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rotor is mounted to a steering assembly of a motor vehicle and is rotatable with rotation of a steering column of the motor vehicle.

Assignees

• Alps Electric Co Ltd

Inventors

• Siler Donald J
• Trask Anthony

Classifications

• G01D5/26 Primary

  characterised by optical transfer means, i.e. using infrared, visible, or ultraviolet light · CPC title

• H01R35/025

  having a flexible conductor wound around a rotation axis · CPC title

• G01B11/27

  for testing the alignment of axes {(means for centering or aligning a light guide within a ferrule G02B6/3834)} · CPC title

• B60R16/027 Primary

  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

• G01B5/25

  for testing the alignment of axes · CPC title