Rotary Connector Viewing Window Cover for Dust-Free Neutral Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotary connector devices for vehicles suffer from reduced visibility of the viewing window due to foreign matter and dust adhering to adhesive layers on transparent cover members, which can lead to incorrect alignment and insufficient cable unwinding during steering wheel rotation.
Innovation Solution
A rotary connector device with a flexible, transparent cover member held in place by arc-shaped outer and inner regulating portions, eliminating the need for adhesive layers by using a deflecting mechanism to insert and secure the cover member, ensuring stable fixation and preventing foreign matter entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a transparent cover member with an adhesive layer is used to cover the viewing window, then the cover member can be securely attached to the rotating side ring plate, but foreign matter and dust may adhere to the adhesive layer, reducing visibility of the viewing window
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the adhesive layer from the cover member assembly by extracting the attachment function to a separate component (the groove structure on the rotating side ring plate). This eliminates the surface that attracts dust while maintaining secure attachment through mechanical engagement of the cover member in the groove.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove structure acts as an intermediary between the cover member and the rotating side ring plate, providing a dust-free mechanical attachment mechanism. The groove serves as the mediating structure that enables secure fixation without requiring adhesive materials that would attract foreign matter.
2Ease of manufacture
If the cover member is attached using an adhesive layer, then the cover member can be fixed to the viewing window, but the adhesive layer creates a surface that attracts foreign matter and dust
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive layer is completely extracted from the system and replaced with a groove-based mechanical attachment structure. This eliminates the harmful adhesion surface while maintaining the fixation function through the groove geometry that physically retains the cover member.
Solution Approach 2:
The chemical attachment mechanism (adhesive) is replaced with a mechanical attachment mechanism (groove structure). The groove provides physical retention through its geometry, substituting the chemical bonding function with a mechanical constraint system that does not attract dust.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a transparent cover member is provided to cover the viewing window, then the viewing window is protected, but the cover member may reduce visibility due to dust accumulation on adhesive layers
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive layer is extracted from the cover member assembly and replaced with a groove-based attachment system. This removes the dust-attracting surface while maintaining the protective function of the cover member over the viewing window, thereby preserving optical clarity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover member is designed as a flexible transparent film that can be attached without adhesive. The thin film structure maintains optical transparency while the groove-based attachment eliminates dust accumulation surfaces, preserving both protection and visibility functions.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
[Problem] An object of the present invention is to provide a rotary connector device in which a cover member can be easily disposed with respect to a viewing window. [Solution] A rotary connector device body 2 in which a rotator 10 and a stator 20 are assembled so as to be relatively rotatable has a housing space S that can house an FFC 100 inside. The rotary connector device body 2 has a viewing window 40 that is a through hole through which the housing space is viewed from outside of the rotary connector device body 2, a cover member 50 disposed at the viewing window 40 so as to cover the viewing window 40, an outer regulating portion 623 facing outside of the rotary connector device body 2 and disposed so as to be able to contact an outer surface of the cover member 50, and an inner regulating portion 61 facing the housing space S and disposed so as to be able to contact an inner surface of the cover member 50. The cover member 50 is disposed between an outer regulating portion 623 and an inner regulating portion 61.