Electrical connectors – With relatively guided members and intermediate pliable... – Relatively movable about axis
Patent
1997-05-02
1999-10-26
Bradley, Paula
Electrical connectors
With relatively guided members and intermediate pliable...
Relatively movable about axis
439 15, H01R 300
Patent
active
059717815
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to rotary contactors, especially for motor vehicles, of the kind comprising two coaxial parts which are mounted for rotation of one with respect to the other against the action of an electrically connecting flexible tape which is wound in a spiral between the said parts, being attached at one of its ends to one of the said parts and at its other end to the other one of the said parts.
Such a contactor is described for example in the document EP-A-0 479 567.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Thus, in FIG. 11, there is shown at 100 an exploded view of a rotary contactor comprising a fixed part 101, 102 in the form of a housing fixed to the steering column of the motor vehicle, via the switch support which is located under the steering wheel and which is fixed to the end of the steering column.
This contactor includes a movable part 103 in the form of a hub, which is mounted for rotation on the base plate 102 of the housing 101, 102. The hub includes a chimney 106 which is adapted to be driven in rotation by the steering wheel of the vehicle, and which also constitutes a connector.
In practice, the hub 103 is mounted within the hollow housing which comprises the components 101, 102.
One end of the flexible tape 104 is attached to the said chimney 106, while the other end of the flexible tape 104 is attached to the base plate 102 of the fixed part.
In the known way, the flexible tape 104 comprises one or more electrical conductors 105, together with an insulator for insulating the conductors 105 from each other.
This tape 104 provides electrical connection between the two parts 101, 102-103 without any micro-fractures.
The rotary contactor 100 ensures electrical connections for the purpose of, for example, controlling an inflatable airbag for protecting this depends on the application.
With this type of contactor, a problem arises because it is necessary to be able to execute for example 2.5 turns of the steering wheel in one direction and 2.5 turns of the steering wheel in the other direction.
Thus, the tape is spiral wound on the hub and is unwound on the housing in the same way as a watch spring. It has to be of substantial length, in order to satisfy the need for rotation of the order of five (5) turns which is necessary in most motor vehicles, this rotation being limited by abutments or by the tension in the tape.
The length of the tape is thus variable according to the diameters for internal winding and external unwinding which are determined by the size of the contactor.
In general terms, the length of these tapes is of the order of 3 to 6 meters, and represents a major part of the cost of the rotary contactor, especially in terms of the number of electrical paths or conductors 105 that are provided by the said tape 104. More than half of the price can be due to the tape in some cases.
It is also desirable to reduce the radial overall size of such a contactor fitted below the steering wheel in a position close to numerous electrical devices such as switches.
In practice, the internal diameter of the hub 103 is a function of the diameter of the steering shaft which passes through the fixed steering column of the vehicle.
Thus the internal diameter of the rotary contactor has a value which is imposed by external considerations.
In order to demultiply the number of turns between the hub and the housing, and to reduce the length of the tape, it has previously been proposed, in the documents U.S. Pat. No. 5,171,573 and EP-A-O 478 455, to provide the rotary contactor with an epicyclic gear train, with at least one pinion which is arranged to mesh with a set of internal teeth of the housing and with a set of external teeth of the hub.
In practice these pinions are of extended length, so as to carry rollers or bearings for guiding the flexible tape. For example, in the document EP-A-O 478 455, the flexible tape forms a U-shaped loop which is engaged on the bearings.
The tape is thus in discontinuous contact with the rollers or
REFERENCES:
patent: 4867688 (1989-09-01), Suzuki
patent: 5010784 (1991-04-01), Nakazato et al.
patent: 5171153 (1992-12-01), Kubota et al.
patent: 5259775 (1993-11-01), Kubota et al.
Bradley Paula
Davis Katrina
Valeo Electronique
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