Yazaki Corporation

Azaki Corporation

Tomoyoshi Kikkawa

Hiromi Masuda

Yoshiyuki Tanaka

Hideki Adachi

Hiraku Tanaka

Masakazu Umemura

Tetsurou Muramatsu

A rotating connector includes a cable accommodation chamber formed between an outer case and an inner case in their radial direction, a flexible flat cable housed in the cable accommodation chamber, and multiple idlers housed in the cable accommodation chamber. The idlers are rotatably provided in a direction of an annular slidable member. The idlers are rotatable on their own axes. The flat cable is wound on an inner periphery of the outer case and an outer periphery of the inner case by way of a reversed portion of the flat cable. The flat cable is wound thereon in opposite directions. The idlers are pivotally supported by the slidable member so as to change a space between the idlers and the inner case and a space between the idlers and the outer case depending on winding of the flat cable.

Rotating connector

A rotary connector includes: a cylindrical fixed member defining an inner receiving portion; a rotary member rotatably concentrically mounted in the inner receiving portion defining an annular space in cooperation with the cylindrical fixed member; a spirally-wound flexible flat cable received in the annular space, wherein an outer periphery-side end of the flexible flat cable is fixed to the fixed member and a center-side end of the flexible flat cable is fixed to the rotary member; and a contact surface defining the annular space in cooperation with the cylindrical fixed member and the rotary member, wherein a portion of the contact surface adjacent to at least one of the cylindrical fixed member and the rotary member has a slanting surface slanting downwardly so that the flexible flat cable separates from a middle portion of the contact surface.

Rotary connector

A flat cable for electrically connecting a fixed body and a rotating body which can be freely rotated coaxially to this fixed body is disclosed. The flat cable includes a first insulating film on which a first set of separate plated conductor strips is disposed, and a second insulating film on which a second set of separate plated conductor strips is disposed. The first and second sets of separate plated conductor strips are sandwiched between the first and second insulating films to form multiple layers. The first set of separate plated conductor strips on the first insulating film and the second set of separate plated conductor strips on the second insulating film are layered to be electrically separated from each other.

Flat cable

A combination switch 31 includes a body 33 having at least one lever switch-mounting portion 41, 43 in which a lever switch 45, 47 is mounted, and a printed circuit board 51 having a printed wire portion 59 to which the lever switch 45, 47, mounted in the lever switch-mounting portion 41, 43, is electrically connected, wherein the printed circuit board has a fixed contact portion 55, 57 which is electrically connected to the printed wire portion 59, and projects into the lever switch-mounting portion 41, 43, the fixed contact portion being provided at that portion of the printed circuit board which contacts the lever switch.

Combination switch

A relaying device between relatively rotatable members for carrying out an electric connection between two relatively rotatable members via a cable is disclosed. In this relaying device, a first rotary unit having an inside cylindrical section, a second rotary unit having a relationship of making a relative rotation with respect to the first rotary unit by surrounding the Inside cylindrical section of the first rotary unit, and a cable for electrically connecting between the first rotary unit side and the second rotary unit side are provided. The inside cylindrical section is provided with a groove section for introducing the cable between an outer peripheral surface of the inside cylindrical section and an inner peripheral surface of the inside cylindrical section from the outer peripheral surface side and for guiding out the cable from one end of the inside cylindrical section in its axial direction along the axial direction, and at least the section of the cable extending out from the groove section is divided into groups, each having a predetermined number of conductors with a smaller width, by slits extending in a longitudinal direction of the cable.

Relaying device between relatively rotatable members

A relative rotation temporary stop mechanism 14 is integrally provided in a first rotor 11, and has a lock mechanism 140 elastically displaceable relative to the first rotor 11, and a lock recess portion 120a provided in a second rotor (stator) 12. The lock mechanism 140 has a lock protrusion portion 140a and an inclined portion 140b at its top end portion and at its base end portion respectively such that the lock protrusion portion 140a is fitted to the lock recess portion 120a. When an external connector A is connected to a direct connector 15, the inclined portion 140b is pushed by the external connector A to make the lock mechanism 140 move so that the lock protrusion portion 140a comes off from the lock recess portion 120a.

Relay system between relative rotation members

The signal transmission device 46 is structured such that a rotator formed as a rotating member is disposed inside and concentrically with an outer cylinder 47 formed as a fixed member, a spirally arranged electrical cable is stored in an annular storage chamber 60 formed between the outer cylinder 47 and rotator, and one end 50a of the electrical cable 50 is supported in the outer cylinder 47, whereas the other end 50b of the electrical cable 50 is supported in the rotator. In the signal transmission device for a steering roller connector 46, a canceler portion 57 is formed integrally in the upper cover 53 of the rotator. The canceler portion 57, as the steering is rotated and returned, contacts a return portion 59 formed in a turn signal cancel mechanism to thereby return turn signal lever 43 to a neutral position.

Steering roller connector signal transmission device on a steering wheel

A locking member is provided for properly locking an electrical device turning member and fixed member together. The locking member includes an elastic engaging piece and an elastic touching piece. The elastic engaging piece engages an in-hole projection of an engaging hole of the turning member upon insertion of the locking member into the engaging hole. The locking member elastic touching piece contacts the inside wall of the engaging hole upon insertion of the locking member into the engaging hole. The locking member further includes a latching part for engaging a latching projection of the fixed member. The elastic engaging piece and elastic touching piece both provide for sway prevention of the locking member within the engaging hole, and securely lock the locking member within the hole.

Growing community of inventors

Makinohara, Japan

Tomoyoshi Kikkawa