Clockspring

A clockspring or clock spring is a special rotary electrical connector which allows a vehicle's steering wheel to turn while still making an electrical connection between the steering wheel airbag and/or the vehicle's horn and other devices and the vehicle's electrical systems. The clockspring is located between the steering wheel and the steering column.

Description

Clocksprings generally consist of a flat multicore cable wound in a spiral shape similar to a clock spring, hence the name^[1], but the name is also given to devices fulfilling the same purpose but which use spring-loaded brushes contacting concentric slip rings.^[2]

Notes

1. ^ Hillier, V.A.W. (1996). Hillier's Fundamentals of Automotive Electronics. Nelson Thornes. p. 382. ISBN 0748726950. 
2. ^ Rosenbluth, William (2001). Investigation and Interpretation of Black Box Data in Automobiles. ASTM International. p. 131. ISBN 0768007976.