Transmission apparatus between rotary body and fixed body

• US 5,413,492 A
• Filed: 08/30/1993
• Issued: 05/09/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Furukawa Electric Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Furukawa Electric Company Limited
• Inventors: Obata, Ken
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US08/113,107
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 439/15, 439/164
• US Class Current: 439/164
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/027 between relatively movable parts of the vehicle, e.g. between steering wheel and column devices for measuring, signalling or controlling tyre pressure or temperature specially adapted for mounting on vehicles B60C23/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/26 for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 35/02 Flexible line connectors without frictional contact members

Abstract

A transmission apparatus used for transmitting electric signals, optical signals, small power, etc. between a rotary body and a fixed body using a flat cable. The apparatus has dummy cables in addition to the flat cable. At least one dummy cable is provided with a stopper member having a projecting portion which projects to the flange portion side of the outer case. Further, a depression portion in which the projecting portion of the stopper member enters is formed at the inner circumference of the flange portion of the outside case. If the inside case is rotated in the rewinding direction, the projecting portion of the stopper member catches on the peripheral wall of the depression portion before the flat cable is completely rewound and therefore no further rotation is possible. That is, by the present transmission apparatus, it is possible to accurately detect "over rotation in the rewinding direction" without damaging the flat cable and the dummy cables. "Over rotation in the winding direction" can be detected by a similar construction.

Claims

1. A transmission apparatus between a rotary body and a fixed body comprising:

an outside case having a flange portion and an outer tubular portion,

an inside case having a flange portion and an inner tubular portion disposed at the inner circumference side of said outside case and rotatable with respect to said outside case,

at least one flat cable with an inner end connected to the outer circumference of the inner tubular portion and an outer end connected to the inner circumference of the outer tubular portion and for exchanging signals between a rotary body and a fixed body, and

at least one dummy cable with an inner end connected to the outer circumference of the inner tubular portion and an outer end connected to the inner circumference of the outer tubular portion at different connecting positions from connecting positions of said flat cable in the circumferential direction,

said flat cable and said dummy cable forming winding direction inversion portions at portions midway in the longitudinal directions of the cables in the space defined by the outer tubular portion, inner tubular portion, and flange portions and further being wound up and housed so that the respective winding direction inversion portions are at intervals in the circumferential direction,

a first stopper member having a projecting portion being provided on said at least one dummy cable near a said connection portion to the inner tubular portion, a first engagement groove housing the first stopper member being formed at the outer circumference of the inner tubular portion, and a first depression portion in which the projecting portion of the first stopper member enters when the first stopper member leaves the first engagement groove being formed at the inner circumference portion of the flange portion of the outside case.

2. The transmission apparatus between a rotary body and a fixed body as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one dummy cable other than the dummy cable having the first stopper member have a length equal to said flat cable and the dummy cable having the first stopper member has a length shorter than the flat cable.

3. The transmission apparatus between a rotary body and a fixed body as set forth in claim 1, wherein the inner end of the dummy cable having the first stopper member is connected rotatably to the outer circumference of the inner tubular portion through a support shaft.

4. The transmission apparatus between a rotary body and a fixed body as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first stopper member is a thin rod member extending at a substantial right angle to the longitudinal direction of the dummy cable to which the first stopper member is attached and wherein the bottom end of the rod member has a projecting portion projecting with respect to the dummy cable.

5. The transmission apparatus between a rotary body and a fixed body as set forth in claim 1, wherein a support piece having elasticity is attached on the inner circumference of the outer tubular portion near a connection portion between an outer end of the dummy cable and the inner circumference of the outer tubular portion and wherein when the inner tubular portion rotates relative to the outer tubular portion in the direction winding the flat cable and the dummy cables, the front end of the support piece elastically bends along the winding direction inversion portion of the dummy cable before the flat cable is completely wound up so as to stop further rotation in the winding direction.

6. The transmission apparatus between a rotary body and a fixed body as set forth in claim 1, wherein a second stopper member having a projecting portion is attached on the dummy cable near a connection portion to the inner circumference of the outer tubular portion, a second engagement groove accommodating the second stopper member is formed at the inner circumference of the outer tubular portion, and a second recessed portion in which the projecting portion of the second stopper member enters when the second stopper member leaves the second engagement groove is formed in the outer circumference of the flange portion of the inside case.

7. A transmission apparatus between a rotary body and a fixed body comprising:

an outside case having a flange portion and an outer tubular portion,

an inside case having a flange portion and an inner tubular portion disposed at the inner circumference side of said outside case and rotatable with respect to said outside case,

at least one flat cable with an inner end connected to the outer circumference of the inner tubular portion and an outer end connected to the inner circumference of the outer tubular portion and for exchanging signals between a rotary body and a fixed body, and

at least one dummy cable with an inner end connected to the outer circumference of the inner tubular portion and an outer end connected to the inner circumference of the outer tubular portion at different connecting positions from connecting positions of said flat cable in the circumferential direction,

said flat cable and said dummy cable forming winding direction inversion portions at portions midway in the longitudinal directions of the cables in the space defined by the outer tubular portion, inner tubular portion, and flange portions and further being wound up and housed so that the respective winding direction inversion portions are at intervals in the circumferential direction,

a second stopper member having a projecting portion being provided on the dummy cable near a said connection portion to the inner circumference of the outer tubular portion, a second engagement groove accommodating said second stopper member is formed in the inner circumference of the outer tubular portion, and a second depression portion in which the projecting portion of the second stopper member enters when the second stopper member leaves the second engagement groove is formed in the outer circumference of the flange portion of the inside case.

8. The transmission apparatus between a rotary body and a fixed body as set forth in claim 7, wherein at least one dummy cable other than the dummy cable having the second stopper member have a length equal to the flat cable and the dummy cable having the second stopper member has a length shorter than the flat cable.

9. The transmission apparatus between a rotary body and a fixed body as set forth in claim 7, wherein the outer end of the dummy cable having the second stopper member is connected rotatably to the inner circumference of the inner tubular portion through a support shaft.

10. The transmission apparatus between a rotary body and a fixed body as set forth in claim 7, wherein the second stopper member is a thin rod member extending at a substantial right angle to the longitudinal direction of the dummy cable to which the second stopper member is attached and wherein the bottom end of the rod member has a projecting portion projecting with respect to the dummy cable.