Rotary connector device

Abstract

A rotary connector device (1) has a first housing (10), a second housing (20), a cable (60), and a stopper structure (70). The stopper structure (70) includes a movable member (71), a rotation restriction portion (72), and a guide portion (73). The movable member (71) is movable in a radial direction perpendicular to a rotation axis (A1) between a first radial position (P11) and a second radial position (P12) with respect to the second housing (20). The rotation restriction portion (72) is provided to the first housing (10) and is contactable with the movable member (71) in a circumferential direction (D3) to restrict relative rotation of the first housing (10) and the second housing (20) in a state where the movable member (71) is in the second radial position (P12). The guide portion (73) is provided to the first housing (10) and is contactable with the movable member (71) to guide the movable member (71) to the first radial position (P11) side.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The technology disclosed in this application relates to rotary connector devices. Background Technology

[0002] Patent document 1 describes a rotary connector for vehicles.

[0003] Existing technical documents

[0004] Patent documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-218639 Summary of the Invention

[0006] The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0007] To ensure the stability of the cables in the rotary connector assembly, it is preferable to limit the rotation angle of the rotor relative to the stator to a specified rotation angle.

[0008] However, in the rotary connector described in Patent Document 1, when the stop member moves relative to the rotating housing, due to individual differences in the product, size errors, etc., the stop member may come into contact with the rotation restriction part in an undesirable state, thereby restricting the relative rotation of the fixed housing and the rotating housing.

[0009] The technical problem disclosed in this application is to suppress the malfunction of the stop structure caused by individual differences or size errors of the product.

[0010] Methods for solving problems

[0011] According to the first feature, the rotary connector device has a first housing, a second housing, a cable, and a stop structure. The first housing and the second housing are configured to rotate relative to each other about a rotation axis, forming a cable storage space arranged to surround the rotation axis. The cable is arranged within the cable storage space in a manner that is wound around the circumferential direction defined about the rotation axis. The stop structure is configured to limit the relative rotation of the first housing and the second housing to a predetermined rotation angle. The stop structure includes a movable member, a rotation limiting part, and a guide part. The movable member is movable relative to the second housing between a first radial position and a second radial position in a radial direction perpendicular to the rotation axis. The rotation limiting part is provided in the first housing and is able to contact the movable member circumferentially when the movable member is in the second radial position to limit the relative rotation of the first housing and the second housing. The guide part is provided in the first housing and is able to contact the movable member to guide the movable member toward the first radial position.

[0012] In the rotary connector device of the first feature, for example, when the movable member is in a position other than the second radial position and contacts the guide portion, the movable member is guided by the guide portion toward the first radial position. Therefore, it is possible to suppress situations where, due to slight movement of the movable member relative to the second housing caused by individual product differences, dimensional errors, etc., the movable member contacts the rotation limiting portion in an undesirable state, thereby restricting the relative rotation of the first and second housings. In other words, malfunction of the stop structure caused by individual product differences, dimensional errors, etc., is suppressed.

[0013] According to the second feature, in the rotary connector device of the first feature, the rotation limiting part is disposed radially outside the guide part.

[0014] In the rotary connector device of the second feature, the rotary limiting part can withstand a greater rotational force, and the strength of the stop structure can be improved.

[0015] According to the third feature, in the rotary connector device of the first or second feature, the rotation limiting portion includes a stop surface that can contact the movable member in the circumferential direction. A guide portion protrudes circumferentially from the stop surface.

[0016] In the rotary connector device of the third feature, the movable part can be reliably guided to the first radial position using the guide portion.

[0017] According to the fourth feature, in any of the first to third features of the rotary connector device, the guide portion includes a guide surface that is inclined relative to the circumferential direction when viewed along the axis of rotation.

[0018] In the rotary connector device of the fourth feature, the movable part can be guided to the first radial position side more reliably using the guide surface.

[0019] According to the fifth feature, in any one of the features 1 to 4 of the rotary connector device, the guide is configured to restrict the movement of the movable member toward the side of the first radial position when the movable member is in the second radial position.

[0020] In the rotary connector device of the fifth feature, for example, when the movable part is in contact with the rotation limiting part at the second radial position, the contact state between the movable part and the rotation limiting part can be stabilized.

[0021] According to the sixth feature, in any one of the features 1 to 5 of the rotary connector device, the stop structure includes a stop groove, which allows the movable member to be inserted at least partially when it is in contact with the rotation limiting part.

[0022] In the rotary connector device of the sixth feature, for example, when the movable part is in contact with the rotation limiting part at the second radial position, the contact state between the movable part and the rotation limiting part can be made more stable.

[0023] According to the seventh feature, in any one of the features 1 to 6 of the rotary connector device, the movable part includes: a stop body connected to the second housing in a manner that allows rotation about the stop rotation axis; and a protrusion that protrudes from the stop body in an axial direction defined along the rotation axis and is capable of contacting the rotation limiting part in the circumferential direction.

[0024] In the rotary connector device of the seventh feature, the shape and position of the protrusion are not easily affected by the shape and position of the stop body, and the design freedom of the movable parts is increased.

[0025] According to feature 8, in the rotary connector device of feature 7, the stop body includes a cable contact surface that is capable of contacting the cable in a manner that allows it to withstand radial forces from the cable, depending on the state of the cable.

[0026] In the rotary connector device of feature 8, the movable part can be moved radially using a cable, which simplifies the construction.

[0027] According to feature 9, in the rotary connector assembly of feature 8, the protrusion is located radially inward from the cable contact surface when viewed along the axis of rotation.

[0028] In the rotary connector device of feature 9, the protrusion can be positioned on the outside of the cable storage space.

[0029] According to the 10th feature, in any one of the 1st to 9th features of the rotary connector device, the protrusion is positioned radially away from the rotation limiting part when the movable part is in the first radial position.

[0030] In the rotary connector device of feature 10, it is possible to reliably prevent the movable part from accidentally coming into contact with the rotation limiting part.

[0031] According to feature 11, in the rotary connector device of any one of features 1 to 10, the movable part can move to the first radial position and the second radial position according to the state of the cable.

[0032] In the rotary connector device of feature 11, the movable part can be moved to the side of the first radial position and the side of the second radial position by means of a cable, which simplifies the construction.

[0033] According to feature 12, in the rotary connector device of any one of features 1 to 11, the first housing includes an inner peripheral surface that partially forms a cable storage space. The second housing includes an outer peripheral surface disposed radially inside the inner peripheral surface and partially forming the cable storage space. The cable includes: a first winding portion wound along the inner peripheral surface of the first housing; a second winding portion wound along the outer peripheral surface of the second housing; and an intermediate portion disposed between the first winding portion and the second winding portion, connecting the first winding portion and the second winding portion. The cable is disposed in the cable storage space such that the length of the second winding portion of the cable wound around the outer peripheral surface decreases when the second housing rotates relative to the first housing in a first rotation direction. The cable is disposed in the cable storage space such that the length of the second winding portion of the cable wound around the outer peripheral surface increases when the second housing rotates relative to the first housing in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction. When the second housing rotates relative to the first housing in the first rotation direction, the force exerted by the cable on the movable part in the first radial position decreases. When the second housing rotates relative to the first housing in the second rotation direction, the force exerted by the cable on the movable part in the first radial position increases.

[0034] In the rotary connector device of feature 12, the movable part can be moved to the side of the first radial position and the side of the second radial position by means of the relative rotation of the first housing and the second housing, which simplifies the construction.

[0035] According to feature 13, in the rotary connector device of any one of features 1 to 12, the first housing is a stator fixed to the vehicle body. The second housing is a rotor capable of rotating relative to the stator about a rotation axis. A movable member is connected to the rotor in a manner capable of rotating about a stop rotation axis. A rotation limiting part is provided on the stator.

[0036] In the rotary connector device of feature 13, the rotation limiting part provided on the stator can withstand greater forces and improve the strength of the stop structure.

[0037] Invention Effects

[0038] According to the technology disclosed in this application, a rotary connector device can be provided that can limit the rotation angle of the rotor relative to the stator to a specified rotation angle through a simple structure. Attached Figure Description

[0039] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the rotary connector device according to the embodiment.

[0040] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the rotary connector assembly of line II-II.

[0041] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of the stop structure of the rotary connector device shown.

[0042] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 An exploded perspective view of the rotary connector assembly shown.

[0043] Figure 5 yes Figure 3 The cross-sectional view of the stop structure shown.

[0044] Figure 6 yes Figure 3 A perspective view of the movable part of the stop structure shown.

[0045] Figure 7 yes Figure 3 A perspective view of the movable part of the stop structure shown.

[0046] Figure 8 yes Figure 3 The top view of the stop structure shown.

[0047] Figure 9 yes Figure 3 The top view of the stop structure shown.

[0048] Figure 10 yes Figure 3 The diagram illustrates the operation of the stop mechanism.

[0049] Figure 11 yes Figure 3 The diagram illustrates the operation of the stop mechanism.

[0050] Figure 12 yes Figure 3 The diagram illustrates the operation of the stop mechanism. Detailed Implementation

[0051] The following is a reference to the appendix. Figure 1 The implementation methods will be described below. In the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals denote corresponding or identical structures.

[0052] like Figure 1As shown, the rotary connector device 1 has a first housing 10 and a second housing 20. The first housing 10 and the second housing 20 are arranged in a manner that allows them to rotate relative to each other about a rotation axis A1. In this embodiment, for example, the first housing 10 is configured to be fixed to the vehicle body. The second housing 20 is configured to rotate together with the steering wheel. That is, the first housing 10 is a stator configured to be fixed to the vehicle body. The second housing 20 is a rotor capable of rotating relative to the stator about a rotation axis A1. Therefore, the first housing 10 can be referred to as the stator 10. The second housing 20 can be referred to as the rotor 20. However, the first housing 10 can also be a rotor, and the second housing 20 can also be a stator. That is, in this application, a structure provided in the stator 10 can be provided in the rotor 20, and a structure provided in the rotor 20 can also be provided in the stator 10.

[0053] The rotary connector assembly 1 has a first electrical connector 30 and a second electrical connector 40. The first electrical connector 30 is mounted on a first housing 10. The first electrical connector 30 protrudes from the first housing 10 along an axis D1 defined along the rotation axis A1. The second electrical connector 40 is disposed on a second housing 20. The first electrical connector 30 is configured, for example, to be electrically connected to electrical equipment (e.g., control devices and batteries) disposed in the vehicle body. The second electrical connector 40 is configured, for example, to be electrically connected to circuits such as steering wheel switches, airbag devices, etc.

[0054] like Figure 2 As shown, the first housing 10 and the second housing 20 form a cable storage space 50 arranged to surround the rotation axis A1. For example, the cable storage space 50 is annular and extends circumferentially D3 relative to the rotation axis A1. The rotary connector device 1 has a cable 60. The cable 60 is arranged within the cable storage space 50 in a manner that it is wound around the circumferential direction D3 defined about the rotation axis A1. The cable 60 is connected to the first electrical connector 30 and the second electrical connector 40 (…). Figure 1 Electrical connection. Cable 60 is flexible and has a flat shape. Cable 60 may also be referred to as a flexible flat cable. In this embodiment, cable 60 comprises a plurality of flat cables 61.

[0055] The first housing 10 includes an inner peripheral surface 10B, which partially forms a cable storage space 50. The second housing 20 includes an outer peripheral surface 20B, which is disposed radially inside the inner peripheral surface 10B and also partially forms the cable storage space 50. The cable 60 includes a first winding portion 60A, a second winding portion 60B, and an intermediate portion 60C. The first winding portion 60A is wound along the inner peripheral surface 10B of the first housing 10. The second winding portion 60B is wound along the outer peripheral surface 20B of the second housing 20. The intermediate portion 60C is disposed between the first winding portion 60A and the second winding portion 60B, and connects the first winding portion 60A and the second winding portion 60B.

[0056] The first winding portion 60A is electrically connected to the first electrical connector 30. The second winding portion 60B is electrically connected to the second electrical connector 40. Figure 1 Electrical connection. The intermediate portion 60C flexes between the first winding portion 60A and the second winding portion 60B. The intermediate portion 60C has, for example, a curved shape protruding in the first rotation direction D21. The plurality of flat cables 61 respectively include the first winding portion 60A, the second winding portion 60B and the intermediate portion 60C.

[0057] The cable 60 is positioned within the cable storage space 50 such that the length of the second winding portion 60B of the cable 60 wound around the outer peripheral surface 20B decreases when the second housing 20 rotates relative to the first housing 10 in the first rotation direction D21. The cable 60 is also positioned within the cable storage space 50 such that the length of the second winding portion 60B of the cable 60 wound around the outer peripheral surface 20B increases when the second housing 20 rotates relative to the first housing 10 in the second rotation direction D22, which is opposite to the first rotation direction D21. In other words, the cable 60 is positioned within the cable storage space 50 such that the length of the first winding portion 60A of the cable 60 wound around the inner peripheral surface 10B increases when the second housing 20 rotates relative to the first housing 10 in the first rotation direction D21. The cable 60 is disposed in the cable storage space 50 such that when the second housing 20 rotates relative to the first housing 10 in the second rotation direction D22, the length of the first winding portion 60A of the cable 60 wound around the inner circumferential surface 10B is reduced.

[0058] However, when the first housing 10 and the second housing 20 rotate excessively relative to each other, for example, the cable 60 may loosen, potentially damaging the state of the middle portion 60C of the cable 60.

[0059] Therefore, as Figure 3 As shown, the rotary connector device 1 has a stop structure 70 configured to limit the relative rotation of the first housing 10 and the second housing 20 to a predetermined rotation angle. The stop structure 70 includes a movable member 71, a rotation limiting part 72, and a guide part 73. The movable member 71 is connected to the rotor 20 in a manner rotatable about the stop rotation axis A2. The rotation limiting part 72 is provided in the first housing 10. The guide part 73 is provided in the first housing 10. The rotation limiting part 72 is provided in the stator 10. The guide part 73 is provided in the stator 10. However, the movable member 71 may also be rotatably connected to the stator 10. The rotation limiting part 72 may also be provided in the rotor 20. The guide part 73 may also be provided in the rotor 20.

[0060] like Figure 4As shown, the second housing 20 includes a second housing body 21 and a connector support 22. The connector support 22 is a separate component from the second housing body 21 and is mounted on the second housing body 21. A movable member 71 is connected to the connector support 22 in a manner rotatable about a stop rotation axis A2. A stop body 71A is connected to the connector support 22 in a manner rotatable about a stop rotation axis A2. The stop structure 70 includes a pivot pin 74. The pivot pin 74 connects the movable member 71 to the second housing 20 in a manner rotatable about a stop rotation axis A2. The connector support 22 may also be integrally provided with the second housing body 21 as a single piece. The pivot pin 74 may also be integrally provided with either the second housing 20 or the movable member 71 as a single piece.

[0061] The movable member 71 includes a stop body 71A and a protrusion 71B. The stop body 71A is connected to the second housing 20 in a manner that allows it to rotate about a stop rotation axis A2. The protrusion 71B protrudes from the stop body 71A along an axis D1 defined by the rotation axis A1. The stop rotation axis A2 is arranged parallel to the rotation axis A1. However, the stop rotation axis A2 may also be arranged non-parallel to the rotation axis A1.

[0062] like Figure 5 As shown, the movable member 71 is capable of moving radially along a direction D4 perpendicular to the rotation axis A1 between a first radial position P11 and a second radial position P12 relative to the second housing 20. The movable member 71 is also capable of rotating about a stop rotation axis A2 relative to the second housing 20 between the first radial position P11 and the second radial position P12. The second radial position P12 is positioned radially outward from the first radial position P11. However, the second radial position P12 can also be positioned radially inward from the first radial position P11.

[0063] like Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the stop body 71A includes a cable contact surface 75. The cable contact surface 75 can be configured to accommodate the cable 60 (e.g., refer to...). Figure 2 The cable contact surface 75 is in contact with the cable 60 in such a way that it bears a radial force from the cable 60. In this embodiment, the cable contact surface 75 includes a first cable contact surface 75A and a second cable contact surface 75B.

[0064] like Figure 5As shown, the second cable contact surface 75B is disposed on the back side of the first cable contact surface 75A. The second cable contact surface 75B is disposed radially inward of the first cable contact surface 75A. The first cable contact surface 75A is configured to face radially outward when the movable member 71 is in the first radial position P11. The second cable contact surface 75B is configured to face radially inward when the movable member 71 is in the first radial position P11. The first cable contact surface 75A can contact the cable 60 in a manner that bears a force from the cable 60 radially inward. The second cable contact surface 75B can contact the cable 60 in a manner that bears a force from the cable 60 radially outward.

[0065] The protrusion 71B is positioned radially inward of the cable contact surface 75 when viewed along the rotation axis A1. The protrusion 71B is also positioned radially inward of the first cable contact surface 75A when viewed along the rotation axis A1. Furthermore, the protrusion 71B is positioned radially inward of the second cable contact surface 75B when viewed along the rotation axis A1. However, the protrusion 71B may also be positioned at the same radial position as the cable contact surface 75 when viewed along the rotation axis A1, or it may be positioned radially outward of the cable contact surface 75.

[0066] like Figure 8 As shown, the rotation limiting part 72 can contact the movable member 71 in the circumferential direction D3 when the movable member 71 is in the second radial position P12 to limit the relative rotation of the first housing 10 and the second housing 20. The protrusion 71B can contact the rotation limiting part 72 in the circumferential direction D3. The rotation limiting part 72 includes a stop surface 72A, which can contact the movable member 71 in the circumferential direction D3. The stop surface 72A is configured to face the circumferential direction D3. The stop surface 72A is configured to face the second rotation direction D22.

[0067] With the movable member 71 in the second radial position P12, the protrusion 71B can contact the rotation limiting part 72 in the circumferential direction D3. With the movable member 71 in the second radial position P12, the radial position of the protrusion 71B is approximately the same as the radial position of the rotation limiting part 72.

[0068] The protrusion 71B is positioned radially away from the rotation limiting portion 72 when the movable member 71 is in the first radial position P11. When the movable member 71 is in the first radial position P11, the radial position of the protrusion 71B differs from the radial position of the rotation limiting portion 72. In this embodiment, the protrusion 71B is positioned radially inward of the rotation limiting portion 72 when the movable member 71 is in the first radial position P11. However, the protrusion 71B may also be positioned radially outward of the rotation limiting portion 72 when the movable member 71 is in the first radial position P11.

[0069] The first housing 10 includes an annular groove 15. The protrusion 71B is disposed within the annular groove 15 when the movable member 71 is in the first radial position P11. Therefore, when the movable member 71 is in the first radial position P11, the second housing 20 can rotate relative to the first housing 10 in the first rotational direction D21 and the second rotational direction D22. When the second housing 20 rotates relative to the first housing 10 in the first rotational direction D21 while the movable member 71 is subjected to a radially outward force, the protrusion 71B of the movable member 71 contacts the stop surface 72A of the rotation limiting part 72, and the rotation of the second housing 20 relative to the first housing 10 in the first rotational direction D21 stops. On the other hand, since the stop surface 72A faces the second rotation direction D22, even when the movable member 71 is subjected to a force in the radially outward direction, the second housing 20 rotates relative to the first housing 10 in the second rotation direction D22, and the rotation of the second housing 20 relative to the first housing 10 in the second rotation direction D22 is not restricted.

[0070] like Figure 9 As shown, the guide portion 73 can contact the movable member 71 in a manner that guides the movable member 71 toward the first radial position P11. For example, when the movable member 71 is in an intermediate position P13, approximately between the first radial position P11 and the second radial position P12, the guide portion 73 can contact the movable member 71 in a manner that guides the movable member 71 toward the first radial position P11. When the movable member 71 is between the first radial position P11 and the intermediate position P13, the guide portion 73 can contact the movable member 71 in a manner that guides the movable member 71 toward the first radial position P11.

[0071] A rotation limiting portion 72 is disposed radially outward of the guide portion 73. The guide portion 73 protrudes circumferentially from the stop surface 72A along the stop surface 72A. The guide portion 73 includes a guide surface 73A, which is inclined relative to the circumferential direction D3 when viewed along the rotation axis A1. The guide surface 73A is configured to face radially inward. However, the guide portion 73 may not protrude circumferentially from the stop surface 72A. It may also be configured such that the guide surface 73A extends radially inward from the stop surface 72A. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the guide surface 73A is planar, but it may also be curved.

[0072] The guide portion 73 is configured to restrict the movement of the movable member 71 towards the first radial position P11 when the movable member 71 is in the second radial position P12. The stop structure 70 includes a stop groove 72B defined by the rotation limiting portion 72 and the guide portion 73. When the movable member 71 is in contact with the rotation limiting portion 72, the movable member 71 is at least partially inserted into the stop groove 72B. When the protrusion 71B is in contact with the rotation limiting portion 72, the protrusion 71B is partially inserted into the stop groove 72B. If the guide portion 73 does not protrude from the stop surface 72A in the circumferential direction D3, the stop groove 72B can be omitted.

[0073] In this embodiment, the guide portion 73 includes a limiting surface 73B. The limiting surface 73B is configured to face radially outward. The limiting surface 73B is provided on the back side of the guide surface 73A. The limiting surface 73B extends circumferentially D3 from the stop surface 72A. The rotation limiting portion 72 includes an guide surface 72C, which is configured to guide the protrusion 71B into the stop surface 72A. The guide surface 72C extends circumferentially D3 from the stop surface 72A. The limiting surface 73B extends circumferentially D3 from the guide surface 72C and is arranged radially spaced apart from the guide surface 72C. The stop groove 72B is composed of the stop surface 72A, the guide surface 72C, and the limiting surface 73B.

[0074] Figure 10 The state in which the second housing 20 is in a neutral position P10 relative to the first housing 10 is shown. Figure 11 The diagram shows the state in which the second housing 20 has rotated 360 degrees relative to the first housing 10 from the neutral position P10 toward the first rotation direction D21. Figure 12 The diagram shows the second housing 20 rotated 720 degrees relative to the first housing 10 from the neutral position P10 towards the first rotation direction D21. The cable 60 consists of four flat cables 61, but... Figures 10-12 The cable 60 is shown in a simplified form.

[0075] like Figure 10As shown, when the second housing 20 is in a neutral position P10 relative to the first housing 10, the second winding portion 60B of the cable 60 is wound approximately 2 to 3 times around the outer peripheral surface 20B, thus the movable member 71 is subjected to radial inward force by the cable 60. On the other hand, the movable member 71 is subjected to radial outward force by the outlet portion 60D of the cable 60, but the number of second winding portions 60B disposed on the radial outward side of the movable member 71 is greater than the number of outlet portions 60D disposed on the radial inward side of the movable member 71. Therefore, when the second housing 20 is in a neutral position P10 relative to the first housing 10, the movable member 71 is held in the first radial position P11 by the force of the cable 60.

[0076] like Figures 10-12 As shown, the movable part 71 can move to the first radial position P11 and the second radial position P12 depending on the state of the cable 60. When the second housing 20 rotates relative to the first housing 10 in the first rotation direction D21, the force exerted by the cable 60 on the movable part 71 towards the first radial position P11 decreases. When the second housing 20 rotates relative to the first housing 10 in the second rotation direction D22, the force exerted by the cable 60 on the movable part 71 towards the first radial position P11 increases.

[0077] Specifically, as described above, when the second housing 20 rotates relative to the first housing 10 in the first rotation direction D21, the length of the second winding portion 60B of the cable 60 wound around the outer peripheral surface 20B decreases. On the other hand, when the second housing 20 rotates relative to the first housing 10 in the first rotation direction D21, the length of the first winding portion 60A of the cable 60 wound around the inner peripheral surface 10B increases by an amount equivalent to the decrease in the length of the second winding portion 60B wound around the outer peripheral surface 20B.

[0078] like Figure 11 As shown, when the second housing 20 rotates 360 degrees relative to the first housing 10 from the neutral position P10 to the first rotation direction D21, the number of second winding portions 60B wound on the outer peripheral surface 20B decreases compared to the neutral position P10. Consequently, the radially inward force on the cable 60 weakens, and due to slight movements of the movable part 71 relative to the second housing 20 caused by individual product differences, dimensional errors, etc., the movable part 71 may come into contact with the rotation restriction part 72 in an undesirable state.

[0079] However, as Figure 9As shown, for example, when the movable member 71 is in the state between the first radial position P11 and the intermediate position P13, the protrusion 71B of the movable member 71 contacts the guide surface 73A of the guide portion 73. Therefore, the movable member 71 is guided towards the first radial position P11, thereby suppressing the situation where the rotation of the second housing 20 relative to the first housing 10 in the first rotational direction D21 is restricted by the stop structure 70. That is, in Figure 11 At the relative rotation angle shown, the stop structure 70 does not function.

[0080] like Figure 12 As shown, when the second housing 20 rotates 720 degrees relative to the first housing 10 from the neutral position P10 to the first rotation direction D21, the number of second winding portions 60B wound around the outer peripheral surface 20B is further reduced compared to the case where it rotates 360 degrees from the neutral position P10. In this embodiment, when the second housing 20 rotates 720 degrees relative to the first housing 10 from the neutral position P10 to the first rotation direction D21, the number of second winding portions 60B wound around the outer peripheral surface 20B is zero. On the other hand, the movable member 71 is subjected to radially outward force by the cable 60's outlet portion 60D.

[0081] like Figure 5 and Figure 12 As shown, when the movable member 71 is subjected to a radially outward force by the cable 60's outlet portion 60D, when the second housing 20 rotates further relative to the first housing 10, the protrusion 71B of the movable member 71 contacts the stop surface 72A of the rotation limiting portion 72, and the rotation of the second housing 20 relative to the first housing 10 in the first rotation direction D21 stops. In this embodiment, for example, the rotation angle of the second housing 20 relative to the first housing 10 in the first rotation direction D21 is limited to approximately 720 degrees by the stop structure 70.

[0082] On the other hand, when the second housing 20 rotates relative to the first housing 10 in the second rotational direction D22, the length of the second winding portion 60B of the cable 60 wound around the outer peripheral surface 20B increases, thus the movable member 71 is held in the first radial position P11. Furthermore, as... Figure 8 As shown, since the stop surface 72A faces the second rotation direction D22, even if the second housing 20 rotates relative to the first housing 10 in the second rotation direction D22, the protrusion 71B of the movable member 71 does not contact the stop surface 72A of the rotation limiting part 72. Therefore, when the second housing 20 rotates relative to the first housing 10 in the second rotation direction D22, the stop structure 70 does not operate. In this case, when the second housing 20 rotates relative to the first housing 10 in the second rotation direction D22, the rotation of the second housing 20 relative to the first housing 10 stops while the cable 60 is stretched between the first housing 10 and the second housing 20.

[0083] The features of the rotary connector device 1 are summarized as follows.

[0084] (1) The rotary connector device 1 includes a first housing 10, a second housing 20, a cable 60, and a stop structure 70. The first housing 10 and the second housing 20 are configured to rotate relative to each other about a rotation axis A1, and form a cable storage space 50 arranged to surround the rotation axis A1. The cable 60 is arranged within the cable storage space 50 in a manner wound around a circumferential direction D3 defined about the rotation axis A1. The stop structure 70 is configured to limit the relative rotation of the first housing 10 and the second housing 20 to a predetermined rotation angle. The stop structure 70 includes a movable member 71, a rotation limiting part 72, and a guide part 73. The movable member 71 is capable of moving radially perpendicular to the rotation axis A1 relative to the second housing 20 between a first radial position P11 and a second radial position P12. A rotation limiting part 72 is provided in the first housing 10 and can contact the movable member 71 in the circumferential direction D3 when the movable member 71 is in the second radial position P12 to limit the relative rotation of the first housing 10 and the second housing 20. A guide part 73 is provided in the first housing 10 and can contact the movable member 71 to guide the movable member 71 toward the side of the first radial position P11.

[0085] In the rotary connector device 1 of the first feature, for example, when the movable member 71 is in a position other than the second radial position P12 and contacts the guide portion 73, the movable member 71 is guided by the guide portion 73 towards the side of the first radial position P11. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the situation where, due to slight movement of the movable member 71 relative to the second housing 20 caused by individual product differences, dimensional errors, etc., the movable member 71 contacts the rotation limiting portion 72 in an undesirable state, thereby restricting the relative rotation of the first housing 10 and the second housing 20. That is, malfunction of the stop structure 70 caused by individual product differences, dimensional errors, etc., is suppressed.

[0086] (2) The rotation limiting part 72 is disposed on the radially outer side of the guide part 73. As a result, the rotation limiting part 72 can withstand a greater rotational force, thereby improving the strength of the stop structure 70.

[0087] (3) The rotation limiting part 72 includes a stop surface 72A, which can contact the movable part 71 in the circumferential direction D3. The guide part 73 protrudes from the stop surface 72A in the circumferential direction D3. Therefore, the movable part 71 can be reliably guided to the side of the first radial position P11 by means of the guide part 73.

[0088] (4) The guide portion 73 includes a guide surface 73A, which is inclined relative to the circumferential direction D3 when viewed along the axis of rotation A1. Therefore, the movable part 71 can be guided to the side of the first radial position P11 more reliably using the guide surface 73A.

[0089] (5) The guide portion 73 is configured to restrict the movement of the movable member 71 toward the first radial position P11 when the movable member 71 is in the second radial position P12. Therefore, for example, when the movable member 71 is in contact with the rotation restriction portion 72 at the second radial position P12, the contact state between the movable member 71 and the rotation restriction portion 72 can be stabilized.

[0090] (6) The stop structure 70 includes a stop groove 72B, which allows the movable member 71 to be inserted at least partially when it is in contact with the rotation limiting part 72. Therefore, for example, when the movable member 71 is in contact with the rotation limiting part 72 at the second radial position P12, the contact state between the movable member 71 and the rotation limiting part 72 can be made more stable.

[0091] (7) The movable member 71 includes: a stop body 71A, which is connected to the second housing 20 in a manner that allows it to rotate about the stop rotation axis A2; and a protrusion 71B, which protrudes from the stop body 71A toward an axis D1 defined along the rotation axis A1, and is able to contact the rotation limiting part 72 in the circumferential direction D3. As a result, the shape and position of the protrusion 71B are not easily affected by the shape and position of the stop body 71A, and the design freedom of the movable member 71 is increased.

[0092] (8) The stop body 71A includes a cable contact surface 75, which is capable of contacting the cable 60 in a manner that allows it to withstand radial forces from the cable 60, depending on the state of the cable 60. As a result, the movable part 71 can be moved radially using the cable 60, which simplifies the construction.

[0093] (9) The protrusion 71B is located radially inward from the cable contact surface 75 when viewed along the rotation axis A1. Thus, the protrusion 71B can be positioned on the outside of the cable storage space 50.

[0094] (10) The protrusion 71B is positioned radially away from the rotation restriction portion 72 when the movable member 71 is in the first radial position P11. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the movable member 71 from accidentally contacting the rotation restriction portion 72.

[0095] (11) The movable part 71 can move to the first radial position P11 and the second radial position P12 depending on the state of the cable 60. Thus, the movable part 71 can be moved to the first radial position P11 and the second radial position P12 by means of the cable 60, which simplifies the structure.

[0096] (12) The first housing 10 includes an inner peripheral surface that partially forms the cable storage space 50. The second housing 20 includes an outer peripheral surface disposed radially inside the inner peripheral surface and partially forming the cable storage space 50. The cable 60 includes: a first winding portion wound along the inner peripheral surface of the first housing 10; a second winding portion wound along the outer peripheral surface of the second housing 20; and an intermediate portion disposed between the first winding portion and the second winding portion, connecting the first winding portion and the second winding portion. The cable 60 is disposed within the cable storage space 50 such that the length of the second winding portion of the cable 60 wound around the outer peripheral surface decreases when the second housing 20 rotates relative to the first housing 10 in the first rotation direction D21. The cable 60 is arranged within the cable storage space 50 such that the length of the second winding portion of the cable 60 wound around its outer periphery increases when the second housing 20 rotates relative to the first housing 10 in a second rotation direction D22, opposite to the first rotation direction D21. When the second housing 20 rotates relative to the first housing 10 in the first rotation direction D21, the force exerted by the cable 60 on the movable member 71 towards the first radial position 71 decreases. When the second housing 20 rotates relative to the first housing 10 in the second rotation direction D22, the force exerted by the cable 60 on the movable member 71 towards the first radial position P11 increases. Therefore, the movable member 71 can be moved towards both the first radial position P11 and the second radial position P12 by utilizing the relative rotation of the first housing 10 and the second housing 20, simplifying the structure.

[0097] (13) The first housing 10 is a stator fixed to the vehicle body. The second housing 20 is a rotor that can rotate relative to the stator 10 about the rotation axis A1. The movable member 71 is connected to the rotor in a manner that allows it to rotate about the stop rotation axis A2. A rotation limiting part 72 is provided on the stator 10. Therefore, by providing the rotation limiting part 72 on the stator 10, it is possible to withstand greater forces and improve the strength of the stop structure 70.

[0098] Furthermore, in this application, "having" and its derivatives are non-restrictive terms describing the existence of a constituent element, and do not exclude the existence of other constituent elements not described. This also applies to "possessing," "containing," and their derivatives.

[0099] In this application, ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" are merely terms used to identify the structure and do not have any other meaning (such as a specific order). For example, it does not imply that the existence of "first element" implies the existence of "second element", nor does it imply that the existence of "second element" implies the existence of "first element".

[0100] Furthermore, the terms "parallel," "perpendicular," and "consistent" in this disclosure should not be interpreted strictly, as they respectively mean "substantially parallel," "substantially perpendicular," and "substantially consistent." Moreover, the interpretations of other configurations are also not to be interpreted strictly.

[0101] Furthermore, the expression "at least one of A and B" in this disclosure includes, for example, any one of the following: (1) only A, (2) only B, and (3) both A and B. The expression "at least one of A, B, and C" includes, for example, any one of the following: (1) only A, (2) only B, (3) only C, (4) A and B, (5) B and C, (6) A and C, and (7) all of A, B, and C. In this disclosure, the expression "at least one of A and B" is not interpreted as "at least one of A and at least one of B".

[0102] Based on the above disclosure, it is evident that various modifications and alterations can be made to this invention. Therefore, without departing from the spirit of this invention, methods different from the specific disclosure of this application can also be used to implement this invention.

[0103] Label Explanation

[0104] 1: Rotary connector assembly; 10: First housing, stator; 10B: Inner circumferential surface; 15: Annular groove; 20: Second housing, rotator; 20B: Outer circumferential surface; 30: First electrical connector; 40: Second electrical connector; 50: Cable storage space; 60: Cable; 60A: First winding section; 60B: Second winding section; 60C: Intermediate section; 60D: Outlet section; 70: Stop structure; 71: Movable part; 71A: Stop body; 71B: Protrusion; 72: Rotation limiting part; 72A: Stop surface; 72B: Stop groove; 72C: Guide surface; 73: Guide part; 73A: Guide surface; 73B: Limiting surface; 75: Cable contact surface; 75A: First cable contact surface; 75B: Second cable contact surface; A1: Rotation axis; A2: Stop rotation axis; D1: Axial; D21: First rotation direction; D22: Second rotation direction; D3: Circumferential; D4: Radial; P11: First radial position; P12: Second radial position; P13: Intermediate position.

Claims

1. A rotary connector device, comprising: The first housing and the second housing are configured to rotate relative to each other about a rotation axis and form a cable storage space arranged in a manner that surrounds the rotation axis; A cable is arranged within the cable storage space in such a manner that it is wound around the circumferential direction defined about the axis of rotation; as well as The stop structure is configured to limit the relative rotation of the first housing and the second housing to a predetermined rotation angle. The stop structure includes: A movable component capable of moving radially perpendicular to the axis of rotation between a first radial position and a second radial position relative to the second housing; A rotation limiting part is provided on the first housing and is capable of contacting the movable member in the circumferential direction when the movable member is in the second radial position to limit the relative rotation of the first housing and the second housing; as well as A guide portion, disposed in the first housing, is capable of contacting the movable member to guide the movable member toward the first radial position. The rotation limiting part is disposed radially outside the guide part. The guide portion includes a guide surface. The movable part includes a protrusion. The guide surface contacts the protrusion when the movable member is positioned between the first radial position and the intermediate position, thereby guiding the movable member toward the first radial position to move it away from the rotation restriction portion when it moves only in one of the circumferential directions, wherein the intermediate position is defined between the first radial position and the second radial position.

2. The rotary connector device according to claim 1, wherein, The rotation limiting part includes a stop surface that can contact the movable member in the circumferential direction. The guide portion protrudes from the stop surface along the circumferential direction.

3. The rotary connector device according to claim 1, wherein, The guide surface is inclined relative to the circumferential direction when viewed along the axis of rotation.

4. The rotary connector device according to claim 1, wherein, The guide portion is configured to restrict the movable member from moving toward the first radial position when the movable member is in the second radial position.

5. The rotary connector device according to claim 1, wherein, The stop structure includes a stop groove, which allows the movable member to be inserted at least partially when it is in contact with the rotation limiting part.

6. The rotary connector device according to claim 1, wherein, The movable component includes: A stop body, which is rotatable about the stop's rotation axis, is connected to the second housing; and The protrusion extends from the stop body in an axial direction defined along the rotation axis and is capable of contacting the rotation limiting portion in the circumferential direction.

7. The rotary connector device according to claim 6, wherein, The stop body includes a cable contact surface that is capable of contacting the cable in a manner that, depending on the state of the cable, bears the radial force from the cable.

8. The rotary connector device according to claim 7, wherein, The protrusion is positioned radially inward from the cable contact surface when viewed along the axis of rotation.

9. The rotary connector device according to claim 6, wherein, The protrusion is positioned radially away from the rotation restriction portion when the movable member is in the first radial position.

10. The rotary connector device according to claim 1, wherein, The movable component is capable of moving to the first radial position and the second radial position according to the state of the cable.

11. The rotary connector device according to claim 1, wherein, The first housing includes an inner peripheral surface that partially forms the cable storage space. The second housing includes an outer peripheral surface disposed on the radially inner side of the inner peripheral surface and partially forming the cable storage space. The cable comprises: The first winding portion is wound along the inner circumferential surface of the first housing; The second winding portion is wound along the outer peripheral surface of the second housing; and The intermediate portion is disposed between the first winding portion and the second winding portion, and connects the first winding portion and the second winding portion. The cable is positioned within the cable storage space such that the length of the second winding portion of the cable wound around the outer circumferential surface decreases when the second housing rotates relative to the first housing in the first rotation direction. The cable is positioned within the cable storage space such that the length of the second winding portion of the cable wound around the outer peripheral surface increases when the second housing rotates relative to the first housing in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction. When the second housing rotates relative to the first housing in the first rotation direction, the force exerted by the cable on the movable part in the first radial position decreases. When the second housing rotates relative to the first housing in the second rotation direction, the force exerted by the cable on the movable member toward the first radial position increases.

12. The rotary connector device according to claim 1, wherein, The first housing is configured as a stator fixed to the vehicle body. The second housing is a rotor capable of rotating relative to the stator about the rotation axis. The movable component is connected to the rotor in a manner that allows it to rotate about the stop's rotation axis. The rotation limiting part is disposed on the stator.

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