Steering Roll Connector

1.

INTRODUCTION

The Steering Roll Connector (SRC) is a rotatable connector
which electrically connects the steering wheel and the column with the vehicle body, and then transmits signals andsupplies power from the vehicle body to the various switcheswithin the steering wheel and the column.
The SRC consists of flat cables with high-flexibility as electrical wiring materials and achieves a high rotation durability
and quietness.
In the case of a vehicle accident, the SRC transmits a trigger
signal to an air-bag inflator (gas generator) within the steeringand the column to activate an air-bag, and also transmits signals to the various switches, such as horn switches, which areattached to the steering wheel and the column.
Some vehicles have a steering wheel heater which offers
comfortable driving without feeling coldness of the steeringon cold days, thus the SRC supplies high current for heating
up the steering wheel.
Furukawa Automotive Systems Inc.(Furukawa AS) is theworld leading SRC manufacturer and has adopted Multi-Tape
U-Turn Method developed by our company which is themainstream of our new products in recent years.

Rotatable housing

Fixed housing

Flat Cable

Fixed housing
Rotatablehousing

Figure 22.

STRUCTURE OF
THE MULTI-TAPE U-TURN TYPE

The feature of this method is that 4 flat cables are wound inspirals with a “u-turn” shape inside the housing (the outercase). The repulsion force of the cables enables the steadyrotation without a cable loosening. (Figure 1) (Figure 2)

Flat cables

Figure 1

3.

Parts composition of the Multi-Tape U-Turn Type.

FEATURE OF
THE MULTI-TAPE U-TURN TYPE

By packaging multiple, 4 or more, flat cables within the conventional case, the Multi-Tape U-Turn Type can provide a small
and light product without an increase in the product’s heightand can be applicable to a multi-circuit and a high current.
Reduction in the part count (light weight, low cost)· No need for auxiliary parts of rotation for winding/unwinding
cables.
· No need for auxiliary parts to keep quietness.
Applied to multi-circuit in thin thickness· Although the required number of the conductors increases as
the number of circuit increases, it can be easily achieved without changing the product’s height by using multiple flat cables
internally installed.
Applied to high current in thin thickness· Although the wider conductor width are required as conducting current increases, it can be easily achieved withoutchanging the product’s height by using multiple flat cables
internally installed.

Internal structure of the Multi-Tape U-Turn Type.

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Steering Roll Connector

4.

MANUFACTURING AND EVALUATION OF SRC

Furukawa AS has been manufacturing SRC since 1989.
At present the company has established global supply
system holding 10 plants all over the world. An integrated
manufacturing from the flat-cables to SRC assembling is thefeature of our manufacturing technology. As the flat-cableand a wire end connection technology, the metal jointing
by welding is applied between both of the flat-cable and abus bar, the wire and the bus bar, also jointing parameters
are monitored and the jointing condition is checked, thus thejointing reliability is ensured.
The company implements the durability evaluation inconsideration of the market environment by using therotation type durability test equipment which can set
the various conditions such as rotation pattern, rotationalspeed, temperature etc. Rotation noise measurement andfrequency analysis simulating the equipped environment of
the vehicle are available.

5. CONCLUSION
We can propose the optimized product for customer’s
diverse requirements such as mounting space, number ofcircuits and conducting current.
For more information, please contact:
SRC Department,
Production Division 2
Furukawa Automotive Systems Inc.
Tel: +81-595-85-1526 Fax: +81-595-85-2310

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