Two-piece clockspring with lock and wire harness assembly

摘要

A clockspring interconnector comprising a housing defining a chamber and a rotor cover attached to the housing. A coiled flat cable carried within the chamber surrounding the rotor cover. The flat cable having a first end attached to a first connector location of the rotor cover and a second end attached to a second connector location of the housing. The rotor cover includes an inner wall defining a central aperture having a top opening and a bottom opening. The inner wall having integral flanges extending from the rotor cover adjacent to the bottom opening. The housing having a center hole having a rim at its external diameter. The rotor cover snap fits to the housing via the flanges having angled surfaces to slide past the rim and a protruding surface to engage the rim of the housing. The first and second end of the flat cable including a backbone to receive the end of the flat cable. A backbone protrudes from the rotor cover at a first connection location and a second connection location. The backbone including parallel channels for positioning the conductors of the flat cable. Conductors welded to uninsulated end portions of external wires and secured by a back bone cover having a strain relief means. An automatic unlocking means included in the rotor cover. The unlocking means includes a depressed or unlocked position and an undepressed or locked position. Upon assembly of the clockspring onto a steering column, the unlocking means is depressed disengaging a detente of the locking means from the recess of the housing allowing the rotor top to rotate. Further, an externally exposed locking means limits rotation of the rotor cover to 350 DEG and may be permanently removed after assembly of the clockspring to a steering assembly.