Alps Electric Co., Ltd.

Kazuya Kawamura

Seishi Takahashi

Nobuo Matsuzaki

Takashi Oguma

A rotary connector includes a movable member housing consisting of a lead block having a lock portion , an upper rotor member having an accommodating portion accommodating the lead block and a plurality of engagement portions , and a lower rotor member inserted into the upper rotor member and having a plurality of holding portions to be engaged with the lock portion and the engagement portions, and a stationary member housing supporting the movable member housing, wherein the lower rotor member is inserted into the upper rotor member in which the lead block is accommodated to cause the holding portions to be engaged with the lock portion and the engagement portions.

Rotary connector for effecting electrical connection between electric devices provided in steering wheel and vehicle body

A rotating connector including a movable body having a lower holder with an outer extension portion which faces a widthwise direction end of a flexible cable. The flexible cable has a connecting end portion which extends beyond the outer extension portion and which is connected to a stationary side connecting portion of a first housing. For example, a cutout is formed in the flexible cable to prevent an edge of the connecting end portion of the flexible cable and the outer extension portion from contacting each other at a location where they cross each other. Using a simple structure, the rotating connector which makes it possible to reduce the level of sliding noise produced when sliding occurs between the flexible cable and the outer extension portion of the lower holder of the movable body.

Rotating connector

A first groove and a second groove are formed deep in the top surface of a stationary housing; the second groove being extended by a given angle circumferentially from both ends of the first groove. A lock screw is threadedly installed to a screw receiving portion of the movable housing, and the movable housing is rotatably connected to the center of the stationary housing. In the housing space defined between the two housings, a flexible cable is wound and housed. The movable housing is positioned in the neutral position of rotation with respect to the stationary housing. This state is kept by engaging the tip of the lock screw with the first groove. To perform rotation tests of the movable housing, the lock screw is turned back up to the position in which the lock screw contacts both ends of the second groove, and the movable housing can be turned within a range of less than &plusmn;180 degrees from the neutral position of rotation. After completion of the tests, the lock screw is engaged with the first groove to re-lock the movable housing in the neutral position of rotation.

Growing community of inventors

Miyagi-ken, Japan

Kazuya Kawamura