Steering column electrical connector arrangement

• US 4,157,854 A
• Filed: 04/21/1978
• Issued: 06/12/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Beauch, Howard D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lake, Roy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jones, DeWalden W.
• Application Number:
  US05/898,912
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• Field of Search: 200/61.56, 339/35 R, 339/88 R, 339/5 R, 339/5 M
• US Class Current: 439/15
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 39/00 Rotary current collectors, distributors or interrupters

Abstract

An electrical connector arrangement for a motor vehicle steering assembly which includes a stationary steering column member rotatably supporting a steering shaft fixed with a steering wheel and characterized in that the steering column member supports a pair of concentric metallic rings that are adapted to be electrically connected to a sensor that forms a part of an occupant restraint cushion system. Each of the rings supports a plurality of contact brushes which cooperate with a pair of annular conductor members connected to the steering shaft for continuously providing electrical current to the occupant restraint system.

Claims

1. In combination with a motor vehicle steering assembly including a steering column member rotatably supporting a steering shaft fixed with a steering wheel having an occupant restraint cushion, said vehicle having a sensor for actuating said occupant restraint system, an electrical connector arrangement interposed between said steering member column and said steering shaft for allowing relative movement therebetween while continuously providing electrical continuity between said sensor and said occupant restraint cushion, said electrical connector arrangement comprising a stationary annular insulator member carried by said steering column member and formed with inner and outer concentric side wall, mounting means formed with said stationary insulator member between the side walls and lying on a circle that is concentric to the side walls, a pair of metallic rings located on opposite sides of said mounting means and adapted to be electrically connected to said sensor, each of said rings supporting a plurality of contact brushes that extend laterally towards the adjacent side wall, and a pair of annular conductor members fixed with the steering shaft and being located in intersecting planes when viewed in cross section for continuously maintaining engagement with the contact brushes during rotation of said steering shaft so as to provide current to said occupant restraint system upon operation of said sensor.

2. In combination with a motor vehicle steering assembly including a steering column member rotatably supporting a steering shaft fixed with a steering wheel having an occupant restraint cushion, said vehicle having a sensor for actuating said occupant restraint system, an electrical connector arrangement interposed between said steering member column and said steering shaft for allowing relative movement therebetween while continuously providing electrical continuity between said sensor and said occupant restraint cushion, said electrical connector arrangement comprising a stationary annular insulator member carried by said steering column member and formed with inner and outer concentric side walls, mounting means formed with said stationary insulator member between the side walls and lying on a circle that is concentric to the side walls, said mounting means including a plurality of support tabs each formed with a head portion connected to a body portion, a pair of concentric metallic ring members mounted on opposite sides of said mounting means and adapted to be electrically connected to said sensor, each of said ring members supporting a plurality of uniformly spaced contact brushes that extend laterally towards the adjacent side wall, and a pair of annular conductor members fixed with the steering shaft and being located in intersecting planes when viewed in cross section for continuously maintaining engagement with the contact brushes during rotation of said steering shaft so as to provide current to said occupant restraint system upon operation of said sensor.

3. In combination with a motor vehicle steering assembly including a steering column member rotatably supporting a steering shaft fixed with a steering wheel having an occupant restraint cushion, said vehicle having a sensor for actuating said occupant restraint system, an electrical connector arrangement interposed between said steering column member and said steering shaft for allowing relative movement therebetween while continuously providing electrical continuity between said sensor and said occupant restraint cushion, said electrical connector arrangement comprising a stationary annular insulator member carried by said steering column member and formed with inner and outer concentric side walls, mounting means integrally formed with and projecting outwardly from said stationary insulator member between the side walls and lying on a circle that is concentric to the side walls, a pair of concentric metallic split rings mounted on opposite sides of said support means and adapted to be electrically connected to said sensor, each of said rings supporting a plurality of contact brushes that extend laterally towards the adjacent side wall, a conductor support member fixed with the steering shaft, said conductor support member including a cover member and a carrier member, a pair of concentric support surfaces formed in said carrier member and lying in intersecting planes when viewed in cross section, and a pair of annular conductor members fixed with the carrier member and mounted on said support surfaces for continuously maintaining engagement with the contact brushes during rotation of said steering shaft so as to provide current to said occupant restraint system upon operation of said sensor.