Abstract: A clock spring connector including a movable housing rotatably connected to a fixed housing, the movable housing and fixed housings defining an annular cable accommodating area therebetween. A spacer is movably housed in the cable accommodating area. A ribbon cable is housed in the cable accommodating area and includes a first portion wound in a first direction on the fixed housing, a turned-back (U-shaped) portion extending through an opening in the spacer, and a second portion wound in a second direction on the movable housing. The spacer includes a plurality of rollers and raised portions located in gaps formed between each of the rollers, except for the opening through which the turned-back portion is passed, thereby preventing the erroneous threading of the cable when the clock spring connector is assembled.

Abstract: A torque sensor is provided which does not easily generate hysteresis in an output curve from a sensing device thereof and in which abnormality in detecting the rotational torque can therefore be prevented. An input shaft and an output shaft are connected to each other through a torsion bar. An actuator portion, having a semicircular cross sectional shape, and a stopper are, such that a predetermined interval is maintained, provided for a first mounting frame integrally formed with the input shaft. A sensing device comprising of a slide-operation-type variable resistor is secured to a second mounting frame integrally formed with the output shaft. A lever provided for the sensing device and having a circular cross sectional shape is caused to project between the actuator portion and the stopper.

Abstract: A rotary connector including a first housing rotatably connected to a second housing and forming an annular space therebetween, and a flexible cable wound within the annular spacing. According to a first aspect, the conductors of the flexible cable associated with an airbag circuit are spaced further apart than conductors for other circuits mounted on a steering wheel. A direct connector includes first terminals connected to the airbag conductors and second terminals connected to the other conductors. The first and second terminals are spaced apart and/or divided by a divider to prevent interference during assembly. In accordance with the second aspect, a locking member for preventing relative rotation of the first and second housings prior to assembly on a vehicle includes a cover portion for covering an open end of the direct connector.

Abstract: A clock spring connector including a fixed member, a movable member rotatably connected to the fixed member, and a rotary plate fixedly connected to the movable member and rotatably mounted on the fixed member. The movable member includes a ceiling plate and a bottom plate connected together by an outer cylindrical portion, both the ceiling member and the movable member defining central openings. The movable member is received in the central openings such that an annular space is defined between an outer surface of the movable member and the outer cylindrical portion. A flexible cable is accommodated in the annular space and includes a first end and a second end. The first end of the flexible cable is connected to the movable member and to a support section of the rotary plate, the support section being located further from the center of rotation of the movable member than the edges of the central openings of the ceiling and bottom walls.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the traveling of a mower comprising means for detecting the conveying state of cut grass in a shooter, and means for decelerating the traveling speed of the working machine while continuing the mowing work by the cutter and the feeding of an air flow to the shooter if the conveying state is more degraded than a jam prevention judgment criterion on the basis of the detection signal of the conveying state detector means. The conveying state of grass in the shooter is detected based on the density or amount of cut grass passing through the shooter per unit time, and the mower is decelerated while maintaining the rotation of the cutter blade for mowing and/or the feeding of the air flow into the shooter if the density exceeds a predetermined threshold value. A threshold value can be adjusted according to the condition of the grass to be cut; for example, high, degree of overgrowth, degree of dry or wet of the grass.

Abstract: A transmission type light sensor is disposed in the vicinity of the exit of a shooter, which has the exit thereof positioned above a grass-bag opening, and the fullness of the grass-bag is detected when the light blocking state of the sensor continues longer than a predetermined time. A light emitting portion and a light receiving portion of the light sensor are positioned opposite to each other so that their optical axes are in coincidence, and they are firmly attached to both ends of a light sensor mounting member. The light sensor consists of a light sensor main body which is placed at one side of a cover, and a retroreflective board placed at the side of the cover opposite to the light sensor main body for reflecting incident light from the light emitting portion in the direction of incidence.

Abstract: The invention relates to a clock spring connector which permits a reduction in the length of a flexible cable and simplification of the alignment mechanism.The clock spring connector has a first housing, and a second housing, a flexible cable wound in opposite directions through a U-shaped reversed portion in the ring-like space defined by the outer cylindrical portion of the first housing and the inner cylindrical portion of the second housing, and a moving member rotating while following the reversed portion. A third mark as an indicator is provided on a spacer which partially forms the moving member so that the third mark can be visually observed from the outside when the second housing is at the neutral position.

Abstract: A clock spring for use with a steering device of an automobile, including a fixed member, a movable member rotatably mounted on the fixed member with a cable accommodating portion defined therebetween, and a cable accommodated in the cable accommodating portion for effecting electrical connection between the fixed member and the movable member. One end of the cable is fixed to the fixed member and led out of the fixed member, while the other end of the cable is fixed to the movable member and led out of the movable member. One portion of the cable is wrapped in one direction on either of the fixed member or the movable member, while the other portion is wrapped in the opposite direction reverse to the one direction on the other of the fixed member and the movable member, whereby an inverted portion of the cable is formed between the one portion and the other portion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a clock spring connector in which a flexible cable is wound reversely on inner and outer cylindrical units through a U-shaped turned-back portion within an air space defined by these cylindrical units, and a plurality of rollers connected by connecting plates are disposed. A radial movement of the flexible cable is regulated by the rollers connected by the connecting member. A tight-wind or rewind operation of the flexible cable can be surely effected. The connecting member prevents the adjacent rollers from impinging on each other.

Abstract: A clock spring connector which has a shorter length of a flexible cable and can suppress noises. In a ring-shaped space between an outer cylindrical portion of a first housing and an inner cylindrical portion of a second housing, there are disposed a flexible cable wound in opposite directions with a reversely looped portion being at a U-turn point, and a carrier member rotatable following the reversely looped portion. A spacer as part of the carrier member slides over a rib provided on a bottom plate of the first housing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a clock spring connector having: a fixed member; a movable member so mounted as to be rotatable relative to the fixed member; and a flexible cable for connecting the fixed member to the fixed member, the flexible cable being accommodated in between an inner cylindrical unit provided in any one of the fixed member and the movable member and an outer cylindrical unit provided in the other member and reversely wound on the inner and outer cylindrical units through a U-shaped turned-back portion. In this clock spring connector, a plurality of rollers connected by a wire spring to which an inward elastic biasing force is imparted are mounted outwardly of the flexible cable wound on the inner cylindrical unit. The flexible cable is press-biased towards the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical unit by these rollers.

Abstract: A clockspring connector comprises a lower case (1) having an outer cylindrical wall (7), an upper case (2) having an inner cylindrical wall (8) and mounted on the lower case (1) so as to be able to turn relative to the fixed member (1), an intermediate movable member (4) placed in an annular space (10) formed between the outer cylindrical wall (7) and the inner cylindrical wall (8) so as to be able to turn relative to the lower case (1) and the upper case (2), and a flexible cable (3) contained in the annular space (10) and having an inverting portion (3a) and portions extending on the opposite aides of the inverting portion (3a) and wound in opposite directions on the inner cylindrical wall (8) and the outer cylindrical wall (7), respectively.

Abstract: A clock spring for use with a steering device of an automobile, including a fixed member, a movable member rotatably mounted on the fixed member with a cable accommodating portion defined therebetween, and a cable accommodated in the cable accommodating portion for effecting electrical connection between the fixed member and the movable member. One end of the cable is fixed to the fixed member and led out of the fixed member, while the other end of the cable is fixed to the movable member and led out of the movable member. One portion of the cable is wrapped in one direction on either of the fixed member or the movable member, while the other portion is wrapped in the opposite direction reverse to the one direction on the other of the fixed member and the movable member, whereby an inverted portion of the cable is formed between the one portion and the other portion.

Abstract: A clock spring used with, e.g., a steering apparatus of a motor vehicle to establish electrical connection between a stationary member and a movable member by using cables. The clock spring has a stationary member, a movable member fitted to the stationary member so as to be rotatable relative to the same, and a cable having a portion accommodated in a cable housing defined by the stationary and movable members. Two end portions of the cable are respectively fixed to the stationary and movable members and are led out of the cable housing. An improvement achieved by the invention resides in that the portion of the cable accommodated in the cable housing consists of a portion coiled on the stationary member, a portion coiled on the movable member in the direction opposite to the direction of coiling in the stationary member, and a turned portion connecting the coiled portions, and that a rolling member is provided which is pinched between the stationary and movable members and which serves as an indicator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cable reel in which an electrical connection between a fixed body and a movable body is made through a flat cable. The cable reel is suitable for installing on an expandable and contractible steering device of a vehicle, the device having a telescopic function. The cable reel includes the fixed body, the movable body rotatably attached to the fixed body, and the flat cable which is housed between the fixed body and the movable body while being wound around, and a storage housing having a pair of retaining bodies which are relatively and slidably connected to each other. Both the ends of the flat cable are electrically connected to the outsides of the fixed body and the movable body, respectively. The flat cable led out of the fixed body is affixed to the retaining bodies, respectively, and is curved in a semi-loop-like shape between fixed sections.

Abstract: A clock spring used with, e.g., a steering apparatus of a motor vehicle to establish electrical connection between a stationary member and a movable member by using cables. The clock spring has a stationary member, a movable member fitted to the stationary member so as to be rotatable relative to the same, and cables each having a portion accommodated in a cable housing defined by the stationary and movable members. Two end portions of each cable are respectively fixed to the stationary and movable members and are led out of the cable housing. An improvement achieved by the invention resides in that a group of stationary-side cable accommodation grooves and a group of movable-side cable accommodation grooves are formed by concentric projections in the cable housing so as to face each other, and that cutouts providing a communication through at least one of the groups of stationary-side and movable-side cable accommodation grooves are formed in the projections.

Abstract: In a clock spring connector using cables for electrical connection between a stationary member and a movable member which is rotatably mounted in relation to the stationary member, spiral or concentrical cable stowage grooves on both the stationary and the movable side are provided in a space for cable stowage, the cables being wound along either one of these cable stowage grooves and the remaining portion of the cables being wound reversely along the other cable stowage grooves, thereby decreasing the required length of the cables to half the amount of a rotation of the movable member.

Abstract: A clock spring connector of the present invention is used in steering systems of automobile cars and comprises a stationary member and a movable member rotatably mounted relative to the stationary member, both of which are electrically connected to each other by using cables. The cables are received in receiving portions formed by the stationary member and the movable member, and a spacer having an opening is rotatably interposed between the stationary member and the movable member. The cables and a driving belt are wound in one of the receiving portions separated from each other by the spacer, the remaining portion of each of the cables and the driving belt and the being wound in the other receiving portion through the opening. A driving roller which engages with the driving belt is disposed in the opening.

Abstract: A clock spring is used in a steering system for automobile cars and comprises a stationary member and a movable member provided rotatably relative to the stationary member, both of which are electrically connected to each other by using cables. The cables are received in the receiving portions formed by the stationary member and the movable member, and a spacer having an opening is rotatably provided between the stationary member and the movable member. The cables are wound in one of the cable receiving portions, the remaining portions of the cables being passed through the opening and wound in the other receiving portion in the reverse direction. Guide members are rotatably supported in the opening so that the cables are respectively wound on the free ends of the guide members to form half loops.

Abstract: A clock spring is used in a steering system for automobile cars and comprises a stationary member and a movable member provided rotatably relative to the stationary member, both of which are electrically connected by using cables. The cables are received in the receiving portions formed by the stationary member and the movable member, and a spacer having openings is rotatably provided between the stationary member and the movable member. The cables are wound in one of the cable receiving portions, the remaining portions of the cables being respectively passed through the openings and wound in the other receiving portion in the reverse direction. Rollers each having a diameter greater then the thickness of the spacer are rotatably eccentrically provided in the openings so that the cables are respectively wound on the rollers to form a half loop.