Rotary Connector Neutral Position Fixing Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotary connector devices for vehicles face challenges in reliably fixing the relative rotation between the rotator and stator at a neutral position, especially when the steering device is dismounted, leading to potential misalignment during reassembly.
Innovation Solution
A rotary connector device with a self-rotation member and rotation restricting means that can switch between a released and restricted state, using gears or a belt for interlocked rotation, and a switching mechanism to maintain the neutral position even when the steering wheel is removed, ensuring accurate reassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If the steering wheel is temporarily removed for inspection, repair, or replacement, then maintenance operations can be performed, but the rotator becomes relatively rotatable with respect to the stator causing the neutral position to be lost and potential misalignment during reassembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing a neutral position fixing mechanism that automatically engages when the steering wheel is removed. The fixing member with positioning protrusions and corresponding positioning grooves pre-establishes the neutral position alignment before any maintenance work begins, ensuring that the rotator and stator remain aligned even when the steering wheel is temporarily detached.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a fixing member as an intermediary element between the rotator and stator. This fixing member includes positioning protrusions that fit into positioning grooves on the opposite component, creating a mediating structure that maintains the neutral position relationship between the rotator and stator during maintenance operations.
2Reliability
If a fixing member with cover and fitting hole is used to fix the neutral position, then the neutral position can be fixed when assembled, but the fixing mechanism becomes more complex and the neutral position cannot be maintained when the steering wheel is removed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the neutral position fixing function into separate positioning protrusions and positioning grooves that are distributed between the fixing member, rotator, and stator. This segmentation allows the fixing mechanism to work through simple geometric interlocking rather than a complex integrated system, reducing overall mechanism complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning protrusions and grooves are designed to automatically engage and maintain the neutral position without requiring additional active control mechanisms. The geometric features self-align and self-lock when the steering wheel is removed, providing automatic neutral position maintenance without complex control systems.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
The present invention provides a rotary connector device that enables relative rotation between the rotator and the stator to be easily and reliably fixed at a neutral position even when a steering device is disengaged. A rotary connector device (1) according to the present invention is provided with: a self-rotation pin (50) that is self-rotatable with respect to a sleeve (30) and that is provided with a pin-side notch (521) that restricts the self-rotation by coming into contact with an inner circumferential surface of a stator-side inner-circumferential cylindrical portion (23); a stationary-side gear (231) and a self-rotation-side gear (511) that transmit the relative rotation and the self-rotation in an interlocked manner; and a stationary-side switching mechanism (40) and a pin protrusion (52) that switch, in a neutral position, the self-rotation pin (50) from a released state to a restricted state.