EP1111494A1 - Stop device for two relatively movable pieces - Google Patents

Abstract

The control arm of a vehicle air conditioning system is attached to a cylinder (1) which contains an elastic substance (5) and a ball (7). As the control arm and cylinder move across an indicating board (2) the ball under pressure from the elastic element runs over the toothed profile (3) of the board and at the end of the course comes to rest at a definite position which will be marked.

Description

The invention relates to an indexing device specific to define at least one stable relative position for two crews capable of performing a relative movement according to a first direction, comprising at least one track extending in said first direction, belonging to a first of said crews, a support element mounted on the second crew so as to walk along the track during said relative movement, and an elastic element elongated in a second direction transverse to the first direction, guided in a second crew accommodation so as to solicit the support element in the second direction against the track, the latter having a depression in which the support element engages to define said position stable.

Such a device is used in particular to define a or several privileged positions of a control member such as a rotary knob or a cursor on a table of heating / ventilation or air conditioning control motor vehicle. In some cases, this is to avoid that the operating member remains in a position intermediate not corresponding to any defined value of the function to be ordered, for example in the case of the order in steps of fan speed. The positions can also serve as benchmarks for the user. The device may still have a function to maintain the operating member in a desired position, against an effort to move it, by example a force exerted by the air in the case of the control a shutter used to regulate an air flow.

In known devices of this kind, the elastic element is a metal coil spring, usually housed in a blind hole. This spring has many disadvantages. The compression of the spring causes it to buckle and rubbing against the wall of the hole, which leads to a wear and operating noise. A means of centering must be provided at the bottom of the blind hole, for example under shaped like a nipple. It is necessary to deform the turns extremes of the spring to bring them into radial planes, otherwise the spring would risk getting in the way and hang. Finally, when the springs are arranged in a vibrating bowl for feeding a mechanized mounting, they tend to get entangled.

The object of the invention is to remedy these drawbacks.

The invention relates in particular to a device of the kind defined in introduction, and provides that the elastic element is a body monobloc of non-metallic material having a surface substantially continuous device opposite the wall said accommodation.

• Ladite surface périphérique et ladite paroi ont des formes sensiblement cylindriques.
• Ledit corps est plein et est en un matériau déformable ou compressible élastiquement.
• Ledit corps présente au moins une cavité fermée ou ouverte contenant un gaz.
• Ledit corps est en un matériau cellulaire à pores fermés ou ouverts.
• Ledit corps est en élastomère.
• Ledit corps est en matière plastique.
• Ladite matière plastique est choisie parmi les polyoléfines, le polyuréthanne, le PVC, le polystyrène et les copolymères du styrène.
• L'élément d'appui est une bille propre à rouler sur la piste.
• L'élément d'appui est un galet propre à rouler sur la piste, monté rotatif sur un piston lui-même sollicité par l'élément élastique de manière à coulisser dans la seconde direction sans rotation sur lui-même.
• L'élément d'appui présente une surface arrondie propre à glisser sur la piste.
• Ledit logement est un trou borgne, l'élément élastique prenant appui sur son fond.
• Ledit logement est un trou traversant, les deux extrémités de l'élément élastique sollicitant respectivement deux éléments d'appui contre des pistes respectives ou contre des endroits respectifs d'une même piste.
• Ledit mouvement relatif est un mouvement de rotation.
• La seconde direction est sensiblement parallèle à l'axe du mouvement relatif.
• La seconde direction est sensiblement perpendiculaire à l'axe du mouvement relatif.
• Ledit mouvement relatif est un mouvement de translation.

Optional, complementary or alternative features of the invention are set out below:

• Said peripheral surface and said wall have substantially cylindrical shapes.
• Said body is full and is made of an elastically deformable or compressible material.
• Said body has at least one closed or open cavity containing a gas.
• Said body is made of a cellular material with closed or open pores.
• Said body is made of elastomer.
• Said body is made of plastic.
• Said plastic material is chosen from polyolefins, polyurethane, PVC, polystyrene and styrene copolymers.
• The support element is a ball capable of rolling on the track.
• The support element is a roller suitable for rolling on the track, rotatably mounted on a piston itself urged by the elastic element so as to slide in the second direction without rotation on itself.
• The support element has a rounded surface suitable for sliding on the track.
• Said housing is a blind hole, the elastic element resting on its bottom.
• Said housing is a through hole, the two ends of the elastic element respectively urging two support elements against respective tracks or against respective places of the same track.
• Said relative movement is a rotational movement.
• The second direction is substantially parallel to the axis of the relative movement.
• The second direction is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the relative movement.
• Said relative movement is a translational movement.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention will be described in more detail in the description below, in referring to the attached drawings.

Figures 1 to 4 are partial sectional views of different devices according to the invention.

Figure 5 is an elevational view of the device of the figure 4.

Figures 6 and 7 are sectional views showing variants of the support element.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of an element elastic for a device according to the invention.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing a other type of elastic element.

Figure 1 shows the essential functional elements of a device according to the invention, comprising a clean room 1 to move in translation, according to a double arrow F, the along a rack 2 whose teeth 3 are turned towards part 1. A blind hole 4, of cylindrical shape revolution, whose axis is perpendicular to the direction F, is arranged in room 1 so as to open out opposite teeth 3 and a short distance from them. An element elongated elastic 5, housed and guided in hole 4, takes support by one of its ends on the bottom 6 thereof and is in contact by its opposite end with a ball 7 also guided in hole 4 and partially projecting out of it to apply, under the action of element 5, against teeth 3.

In known manner, when the part 1 moves along the rack 2, the ball 7 rolls on the teeth 3, alternately approaching and moving away from the bottom 6, with compression and relaxation of the elastic element 5. In the position illustrated, the ball 7 is located between two teeth of the rack 2 and is in contact simultaneously with the flanks of these two teeth. The distance between the ball and the bottom 6, that is to say the length of the elastic element 5, is maximum. This is a stable position, since you have to to leave it compress element 5, so exercise a effort.

For example, rack 2 can be part of a heating / ventilation or air conditioning control panel vehicle, part 1 being a slider used to order a function.

According to the invention, the elastic element 5 is a body monobloc made of a non-metallic cellular material, preferably an organic material such as plastic or an elastomer. The body 5 has closed pores, that is to say, not opening to the outside, filled with a gas such as air. It has a peripheral surface continuous, of a cylindrical shape of revolution and a diameter slightly less than that of hole 4 so as to ensure good guidance. Among other benefits, the body elastic 5 absorbs noise and allows operation particularly silent device. Alternatively, the 5 body pores can be opened.

In the embodiment of Figure 2, the blind hole 4 of part 1, the elastic body 5 and the ball 7 are identical to the corresponding elements in Figure 1. The rack 2 is replaced by a toothed wheel 10 mounted rotating, opposite hole 4, around a perpendicular axis A in the longitudinal direction of it, the part 1 being fixed. The position is controlled by rotation of the toothed wheel around the axis A. The ball 7 is applied by the body 5 against the toothed peripheral edge 11 of the wheel 10, on which it rolls when the latter turns.

The embodiment of FIG. 3 differs from that of the Figure 2 in that the toothed track 12 on which the ball 7 is formed on one of the faces 13 of a wheel 14, the hole 4 of part 1 and the elastic body being elongated parallel to the axis A of rotation of the wheel.

In these latter two configurations, the wheel 10, 14 can be integral with a rotary operating button mounted on the control panel, the part 1 being integral with this latest.

In the embodiment of Figures 4 and 5, a body elastic 5 similar to those of the previous examples is housed in a through hole 20 formed with a diameter of one disc-shaped part 21. The body 5 is supported by its two ends on respective balls 7, guided in the hole 20 in the same manner as the balls of FIGS. 1 to 3, of so as to apply these against the toothing 22, turned inward, from a toothed crown 23 coaxial to the disc 21. The two parts 21 and 23 are mounted rotating one relative to each other around their common axis A. Teeth 22 of the crown 23 are diametrically opposed two to two, so that the two balls 7 are located simultaneously with respect to respective depressions 24, each depression corresponding to the transition between two neighboring teeth.

The parts 21 and 23 are for example integral respectively a rotary button and the control panel on which mounted this one.

The toothed crown 23 can be replaced by two racks in circular arcs, or by two rectilinear racks, piece 21 then sliding along these parallel to their longitudinal direction.

Figures 6 and 7 show usable support elements replacing the balls 7 described above.

In FIG. 6, the support element is a roller 30 mounted rotatable, around an axis A1 perpendicular to the direction longitudinal of hole 4 and elastic body 5, on a piston 31 itself slidably mounted in hole 4. The body 5 is here partially housed in a blind hole 32 of the piston 31, opening towards the bottom 6 of the hole 4, so that the end of the body 5 opposite to that which rests on the bottom 6 rests on the bottom 33 of the hole 32. The roller 30 is intended to roll on a track not shown, which can be similar to any of those depicted on Figures 1 to 5, and which extends in a perpendicular direction to the longitudinal direction of holes 4 and 32 and to axis A1. So that the direction of this last axis is fixed relative to the part 1, the piston 31 must not rotate on itself, which can be achieved by planning for the hole 4 and for the periphery of the piston 31 of the sections non-circular conjugates.

In the case of FIG. 7, the support element 35 is of again in direct contact with one end of the body elastic 5, but no longer in the shape of a ball and does not roll not. It has on the side of the body 5 a flat face 36 which can if desired be glued to the body 5, or on which it can be molded, and on the contrary a rounded surface 37 suitable for sliding on a runway not represented.

FIG. 8 represents an elastic body 40 usable in replacement of the body 5 described above, consisting of a simple skin made of a non-porous material, having a substantially cylindrical outer shape of revolution, surrounding a closed cavity 41 filled with air or another gas.

The elastic body 42 used in the device of the figure 9 differs from body 40 by the removal of the end wall on the bottom side 6 of the guide hole 4, its cavity internal 43 is therefore open. This configuration particularly suitable for an elastomer body.

It is also possible to provide an elastic body with several large closed or open cavities, separated from each other, or a full body, that is to say having neither pore nor cavity, in a material compressible or elastically deformable, for example a elastomer having an appropriate Shore hardness.

The elastic body of the device according to the invention can present a non-cylindrical shape of revolution, as described above, but prismatic, that is to say in profile polygonal. The body profile may also not be strictly uniform, but vary slightly along this one, either alternatively by forming grooves or annular ribs, or undulations, either of continuously giving the body a trunk shape of pyramid or truncated cone of low inclination. It is also possible to spare at the periphery of the body of longitudinal grooves providing channels therebetween and the wall of the hole through which the body is guided. All these measures can be used, in conjunction with the choice of material and porosity, to adjust properties body elastic.

Claims (17)

Indexing device capable of defining at least one stable relative position for two clean crews (1, 2) to execute a relative movement in a first direction (F), comprising at least one track (3) extending in said first direction, belonging to a first (2) of said crews, a support element (7) mounted on the second crew (1) so as to travel along the track during of said relative movement, and an elongated elastic element (5) in a second direction transverse to the first direction, guided in a housing (4) of the second crew of so as to solicit the support element in the second direction against the runway, the latter presenting a depression (24) in which the support element engages for define said stable position, characterized in that the elastic element is a one-piece body (5) made of a material non-metallic with a substantially peripheral surface continues opposite the wall of said housing. The device of claim 1, wherein said peripheral surface and said wall have shapes substantially cylindrical. Device according to one of claims 1 and 2, in which said body (5) is full and is made of a material elastically deformable or compressible. Device according to one of claims 1 and 2, in wherein said body has at least one closed cavity (41) or open (43) containing a gas. The device of claim 4, wherein said body is made of closed pore cellular material or open. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said body is made of elastomer. Device according to one of claims 4 and 5, in which said body is made of plastic. The device of claim 7, wherein said plastic material is chosen from polyolefins, the polyurethane, PVC, polystyrene and copolymers of styrene. Device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the support element is a ball (7) suitable for ride on the track. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, in which support element is a roller (30) suitable for rolling on the track, rotatably mounted on a piston (31) itself stressed by the elastic element so as to slide in the second direction without rotation on itself. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, in which the support element (35) has a rounded surface (37) suitable for sliding on the track. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said housing (4) is a blind hole, the element elastic bearing on its bottom (6). Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, in which said housing (20) is a through hole, both ends of the elastic element acting respectively two support elements (7) against respective tracks or against respective places on the same track (23). Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said relative movement is a movement of rotation. Device according to claim 14, in which the second direction is substantially parallel to the axis (A) of the relative movement. Device according to claim 14, in which the second direction is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the relative movement. Device according to one of claims 1 to 13, in which said relative movement is a translational movement.

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