JP2000016111A - Operating position display device of operating member - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a shifting device which can enhance the accuracy in ocular judgement of the shift lever operating position even in a case where dispersion exists in the dimensions of shift lever components and/or their assembling positions. SOLUTION: A shifting device 5 is equipped with a shift lever 6 capable of setting a plurality of operating positions corresponding to different ranges of an automatic transmission, a display member 32 which is connected with the shift lever 6 and operating interlocking with the operation of the shift lever 6, and upper housing 25 to cover the over-part of the display member 32, and a plurality of operating position display windows 29 formed in the upper housing 25, wherein a gap is provided to make it possible that the shift lever 6 and display member 32 make relative movement within the specified range in the operating direction of the display member 32.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an operation position display device used by an operator to visually determine an operation position of an operation member.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a vehicle in which a transmission is mounted on an output side of a power source, a driver operates a shift lever (operation member) to control the transmission. . If this transmission is an automatic transmission that can automatically change the gear ratio based on the running state of the vehicle, the automatic transmission can have a parking range, a reverse range, a neutral range, a drive range,
A plurality of operation positions can be set by a shift lever corresponding to each range such as a low range.

A shift lever applied to such an automatic transmission has a predetermined angle around a predetermined support shaft due to a restriction on the configuration of the automatic transmission or an operation restriction of the shift lever. It is configured to be rotatable within the range.

[0004] On the other hand, a shift device having a shift lever is provided with an operation position display device capable of visually confirming the operation position of the shift lever. An example of a shift device having this operation position display device is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-8502.
No. 8 and Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 57-133426. The operation position display devices described in these publications are operable in a predetermined direction and are capable of setting a plurality of operation positions, a shift lever (operation member) connected to the shift lever, and the shift lever. A pointer (movable member) that operates in conjunction with operation of the lever, a shielding member that covers an upper side of the pointer, and a shielding member that is formed on the shielding member,
It has a single opening (operation position display window) arranged in the operating direction of the pointer, and a plurality of operation position display symbols provided along the opening.

According to the operation position display devices described in these publications, the hands operate in conjunction with the operation of the shift lever. Then, the driver can visually check the position of the pointer through the opening, and can visually determine the operation position of the shift lever based on the correspondence between the pointer and the operation position display symbol.

On the other hand, in the operation position display device described in the above-mentioned publication, a plurality of operation position display symbols are provided corresponding to a single opening, but due to restrictions on the installation space of the operation position display device. The interval between the operation position display symbols is as narrow as possible. For this reason, it is possible that the pointer stops between the two operation position display symbols in a state where the shift lever is set to the predetermined operation position due to the conditions such as the dimensions of the components constituting the shift device or the assembly accuracy. Therefore, it is difficult to visually determine the operating position of the shift lever accurately.

Accordingly, an operation position display device having a configuration in which a plurality of operation position display windows are independently arranged corresponding to a plurality of operation positions of the shift lever has been put to practical use. According to this operation position display device, the operation position of the shift lever can be reliably determined based on which operation position display window the display member is viewed from.

[0008]

By the way, in a shift device, there is a variation in an assembling position between the shift device and the transmission, a variation in a dimension of each component constituting the shift device, or a variation in an assembling position between the components. There is a possibility that such troubles may occur. In the operation position display device having a configuration in which a plurality of operation position display windows are independently arranged, when the above-described problem occurs, the pointer and the operation position display window are set in a state where the shift lever is set to a predetermined operation position. Positioning accuracy may be reduced. As a result, the driver may not be able to see the pointer from any of the operation position display windows.

In order to avoid such a situation, a configuration is adopted in which the size of the pointer in the operation direction is set to be larger than the size of the opening in the same direction. When this configuration is adopted, even if the positioning accuracy between the pointer and the opening is reduced, the range in which the pointer can be visually checked is enlarged by the setting of the dimension of the pointer larger than the dimension of the opening.

[0010] However, when this configuration is employed, the assembling position of the shift device and the transmission is not uniform,
Or variations in the dimensions of the components that make up the shift device,
Alternatively, if the variation in the assembling position of each part becomes excessive, the pointer may stop over a plurality of operation position display windows in a state where the shift lever is set at a predetermined position. . As a result, the operating position of the shift lever may not be accurately visually determined.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to improve the visual judgment accuracy of the operation position of an operation member even when the size of parts of the operation member or the assembly position varies. It is an object to provide a simple operation position display device.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an operation member operable in a predetermined direction and capable of setting a plurality of operation positions;
A movable member connected to the operating member and operating in conjunction with the operation of the operating member; a shielding member covering the movable member; and a shielding member formed on the shielding member and arranged in the operating direction of the movable member. In the operation position display device for an operation member provided with a plurality of operation position display windows, the operation member and the movable member can relatively move within a predetermined range in the operation direction of the movable member. A relative movement mechanism is provided.

According to the present invention, the movable member and the operating member are relatively movable within a predetermined range in the operation direction of the movable member. For this reason, in the state where the operation member is set at the predetermined operation position, even if the size of the operation member varies or the assembly position varies, the movable member moves in the operation direction within the predetermined range. Is regulated. For this reason, in the state where the operation member is set at the predetermined position, the movable member is prevented from stopping at a position straddling the plurality of operation position display windows.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main system configuration of a vehicle to which the present invention is applied. An automatic transmission 2 is connected to the output side of the engine 1 as a power source. The automatic transmission 2 includes a torque converter, a gear transmission mechanism for setting a gear ratio, a friction engagement device for changing a torque transmission path of the gear transmission mechanism, a hydraulic control device for controlling engagement / disengagement of the friction engagement device, and the like. It is of a known structure provided with That is, the automatic transmission 2 is a stepped automatic transmission in which the gear ratio is changed stepwise. In the automatic transmission 2, it is possible to set a state such as a parking range, a reverse range, a neutral range, a drive range, a second range, and a low range.

When a parking range and a neutral range are set in the automatic transmission 2, the automatic transmission 2 does not output torque. When the reverse range is set in the automatic transmission 2, the vehicle moves backward. When the drive range, the second range, or the low range is set in the automatic transmission 2, the vehicle travels forward and the type of speed ratio of the automatic transmission 2 that can be set in each range is different. For example, when the automatic transmission 2 is configured to be able to set the first to fourth speeds in the forward gear, the first to fourth speeds can be set in the drive range, and the first to fourth speeds can be set in the second range. The speed or the second speed can be set, and the first speed is always set in the low range.

An electronic control unit 3 for controlling the engine 1 and the automatic transmission 2 is provided. The electronic control unit 3 includes a microcomputer mainly including an arithmetic processing unit (CPU or MPU), a storage device (RAM and ROM), and an input / output interface. Then, a detection signal of the detection device 4 including various sensors and switches is input to the electronic control device 3, and the electronic control device 3 determines the traveling state of the vehicle. The engine 1 or the automatic transmission 2 is configured to be controlled based on a control signal output from the electronic control unit 3.

When the automatic transmission 2 is set in the drive range and the second range while the vehicle is running, the automatic transmission 2 is based on the running state of the vehicle detected by the electronic control unit 3. Thus, the friction engagement device is controlled, and the gear ratio of the automatic transmission 2 is automatically set.

Further, there is provided a shift device 5 for mutually switching the respective ranges of the automatic transmission 2 by manual operation. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the shift device 5. The shift device 5 is arranged on the side of the driver's seat, specifically near the console box (not shown). That is, the shift device 5 has a so-called floor shift type structure.

The shift device 5 has a shift lever 6, and is configured so that the operating force of the shift lever 6 is transmitted to the automatic transmission 2 via the operating force transmitting device 7.
The operating force transmitting device 7 has a configuration for mechanically transmitting the operating force of the shift lever 6 to the automatic transmission 2. The operating force transmitting device 7 includes an operating force transmitting mechanism using a wire (cable), or Any of the operation force transmission mechanisms using links may be employed.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the shift device 5.
The shift device 5 includes a shift lever plate 8 made of metal. The shift lever plate 8 is provided with a mounting hole 8B, and the screw member 8D inserted into the mounting hole 8B positions and fixes the shift lever plate 8 to a body (not shown). The shift lever 6 is attached to the shift lever plate 8. The shift lever 6 includes a hollow lever body 9, a knob cover 10 connected to an upper part of the lever body 9, and a shift lever knob 11 connected to an upper part of the knob cover 10. A shift lever knob button 12 is attached to a side surface of the shift lever knob 11 on the driver's seat side.

The lower end of the lever body 9 is connected to a cylindrical portion 9A that is disposed substantially orthogonal to the lever body 9.
Then, the control shaft 13 constituted by a screw member is inserted into the cylindrical portion 9A and the support hole 8A of the shift lever plate 8. A nut 14 is fastened and fixed to a male screw portion of the control shaft 13. Further, the control shaft 13 and the cylindrical portion 9A are configured to be relatively rotatable. In this way, the shift lever 6 is rotatably supported around the control shaft 13 within a predetermined angle range.

A long hole-shaped opening 15 is formed in the side wall of the lever body 9, and a grooved pin 16 is arranged over the outside, the opening 15, and the inside of the lever body 9. A mechanism (not shown) for operating the grooved pin 16 by operating the shift lever knob button 12 is provided inside the shift lever 6.

A detent plate (not shown) is provided on the shift lever plate 8 side, and a guide hole (not shown) is formed in the detent plate. A concave portion (not shown) corresponding to each range of the automatic transmission 2 is formed in the guide hole, and a grooved pin 16 is arranged in the guide hole. Then, depending on the relative positional relationship between the grooved pin 16 and the guide hole, the state is switched between a state in which the shift lever 6 can be operated and a state in which the operation of the shift lever 6 is restricted.

A lower housing 17 made of metal is provided above the shift lever plate 8.
The lower housing 17 has a mounting hole 17A. On the other hand, the shift lever plate 8 has
A female screw portion 8C corresponding to 7A is formed. The shift lever plate 8 and the lower housing 17 are positioned and fixed to each other by inserting the screw member 18 into the mounting hole 17A and screwing the screw member 18 into the female screw portion 8C and tightening.

The lower housing 17 has a guide hole 1
9 are formed, and the planar shape of the guide hole 19 is
It is almost rectangular. And shift lever 6
Are operably disposed in the guide holes 19. Also,
A pair of guide members 17B projecting upward is formed on both sides of the lower housing 17 in the width direction of the guide hole 19. The pair of guide members 17B are configured to be parallel to each other. Further, two guide surfaces 21 bent in an arc shape are formed on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the guide hole 19 in the lower housing 17.

Further, a slide cover 20 is provided above the lower housing 17, specifically, between a pair of guide members 17B. The slide cover 20 is formed in a belt shape, and the length of the slide cover 20 is set longer than the length of the guide hole 19. The guide hole 19 is covered by the slide cover 20. The slide cover 20 is formed of a flexible synthetic resin or the like, and the slide cover 20 can slide in the longitudinal direction along the guide surface 21 and the guide member 17B.

An opening 22 penetrating in the thickness direction is formed substantially at the center of the slide cover 20 in the longitudinal direction. The shift lever 6 is disposed in the opening 22. Further, a protrusion 24 protruding in a substantially horizontal direction is integrally formed on an edge 23 of the slide cover 20 on the driver's seat side.

Further, an upper housing 25 is covered on the upper part of the lower housing 17. The upper housing 25 is made of an opaque member such as a synthetic resin. An engagement hole 26 is formed in a side wall of the upper housing 25. And the lower housing 1
The upper housing 25 and the lower housing 17 are positioned and fixed to each other by engaging the engagement claws 17C formed on the engagement member 7 with the engagement holes 26.

A guide hole 27 penetrating vertically is formed in the upper housing 25 at a position facing the slide cover 20, and the shift lever 6 is operably disposed in the guide hole 27. The planar shape of the guide hole 27 is substantially rectangular. An indicator 28 is provided on the upper surface of the upper housing 25, specifically, on the driver's seat side of the guide hole 27. The indicator section 28 is provided for the driver to visually determine the operating position of the shift lever 6.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the upper housing 2.
5 is a partial plan view of FIG. The indicator section 28 includes
In the longitudinal direction of the guide hole 27, in other words, the shift lever 6
A plurality of operation position display windows 29 are formed along the operation direction of. The operation position display windows 29 are arranged at predetermined intervals. Each operation position display window 29 is provided with a number corresponding to each range of the automatic transmission 2. Each operation position display window 29 is provided so that the driver can view the inside of the upper housing 27 from above the upper housing 25. Therefore, each operation position display window 29
Is composed of a mere opening or a transparent member such as synthetic resin or glass.

An operation position display symbol 30 is displayed on the side of each operation position display window 29, specifically, on the driver's seat side. Specifically, a letter P corresponding to the parking range, a letter R corresponding to the reverse range,
A character N corresponding to the neutral range, a character D corresponding to the drive range, a character 2 corresponding to the second range, and a character L corresponding to the low range are displayed.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VII-VII of FIG.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 5. On the lower surface of the upper housing 25, a pair of guide rails 31 is formed. The pair of guide rails 31 are bent in an L-shape in directions facing each other, and the pair of guide rails 31 are formed in a long shape substantially parallel to the guide holes 27.

Further, between the pair of guide rails 31,
A display member 32 that is movable in the longitudinal direction of the pair of guide rails 31 (the left-right direction in FIGS. 7 and 8) is disposed. The display member 32 is integrally formed of a synthetic resin or the like. The display member 32 includes a display section 33 having a substantially square planar shape, and a pair of locking sections 34 protruding downward from the lower surface of the display section 33. The pair of locking portions 34 are arranged at a predetermined distance L3 in the operation direction of the display member 32.

Then, at least the upper surface of the display member 32,
That is, the color of the surface of the display unit 33 on the side of the operation position display window 29 is different from the color of the surface of the upper plate 25. That is, the color of the surface of the display unit 33 and the color of the surface of the upper plate 25 are set to colors that can be visually identified. For example, when the surface of the upper plate 25 is set to black, gray, or the like, the surface of the display unit 33 is set to red, orange, yellow-green, or the like. Furthermore, the length L1 of the display unit 33 in the operation direction of the display member 33
Are set longer than the distance L2 between the ends of the operation position display windows 29 adjacent to each other in the same direction. Further, the length L1 is set longer than the length L5 of the operation position display window 29 in the operation direction of the display member 32.

The projecting portion 24 has a length reaching below the operation position display window 29. When the projecting portion 24 is moved in the longitudinal direction of the guide hole 25 by the operation of the shift lever 6, the projecting portion 24 is provided. The projecting portion 24 is bent substantially in an L-shape so that the guide rail 31 and the guide rail 31 do not interfere with each other. The free end of the protruding portion 24 is
4.

The distance L3 between the pair of locking portions 34
Is the width L of the protrusion 24 in the operation direction of the display member 33.
It is set larger than 4. Therefore, the protrusion 2
4 and the display member 33, the protrusion 24
A gap is formed between the display unit 33 and the locking unit 34, so that the protrusion 24 and the display member 33 can move relative to each other within a predetermined range in the operation direction of the display member 33. Here, the predetermined range is determined by the difference between the distance L3 and the width L4. In addition,
In the vehicle assembling process, the components of the shift device 5 are positioned so that the display member 32 stops immediately below the operation position display window 30 at each operation position of the shift lever 6.

Here, the correspondence between the configuration of this embodiment and the configuration of the present invention will be described. That is, the shift lever 6
The slide cover 20 and the projection 24 correspond to the operating member of the present invention, the display member 32 corresponds to the movable member of the present invention, the upper housing 25 corresponds to the shielding member of the present invention, and the shift device 5 corresponds to the present invention. , And the projection 24 and the display member 32 correspond to a relative movement mechanism of the present invention.

Next, the operation of the shift device 5 will be described.
By operating the shift knob button 12, the grooved pin 16
Is operated to switch to a state in which the operation of the shift lever 6 is possible or a state in which the operation of the shift lever 6 is restricted based on the correspondence between the grooved pin 16 and the detent plate. When the shift lever 6 is operated, the rotation of the shift lever 6, that is, the operation force is transmitted to the automatic transmission 2 via the operation force transmission device 7, and the range of the automatic transmission 2 is changed.

Then, the range of the automatic transmission 2 is determined by stopping the shift lever 6 at a predetermined operation position. Here, a case where the operation position of the shift lever 6 is visually determined based on the indicator unit 28 will be described.

When the shift lever 6 is operated, the rotational force of the shift lever 6 is transmitted to the slide cover 20, and the slide cover 20 moves along the pair of guide members 18B. Then, the operating force of the slide cover 20 is transmitted to the display member 33, and the display member 33 is
Move along 1 Then, the driver looks at the operation position display window 29, visually recognizes that the display member 33 is present immediately below the operation position display window 29, and operates the shift lever 6 in accordance with a predetermined range of the automatic transmission 2. It is determined that the position has been set.

On the other hand, the torque of the engine 1
Are transmitted to the automatic transmission 2. The vibration of the automatic transmission 2 is transmitted to the shift lever 6 via the operation force transmission device 7. Then, there is a possibility that the shift lever 6 vibrates in the operation direction, and the protrusion 24 and the indicator 28 relatively move in the operation direction of the display member 32. In addition, due to variations in the dimensions of the components constituting the shift device 5 and variations in the assembled state of the components, there is a possibility that the positioning accuracy of the projection 24 and the indicator 28 in the operation direction of the display member 32 may vary. .

The assembling accuracy of the components constituting the shift device 5 depends on the relative position between the body and the mounting hole 8B, the cylindrical portion 9
A and the relative position between the support hole 8A, the relative position between the mounting hole 17A and the female screw portion 8C, the relative position between the shift lever 6 and the through hole 22, the relative position between the engaging claw 17C and the engaging hole 26, and the like. Is determined.

On the other hand, in this embodiment, the length L1 is set to be longer than the length L5. Even if the protruding portion 24 is set at a position deviated from immediately below the operation position display window 29 corresponding to the predetermined range, the driver is not required to be in the range corresponding to the difference between the length L1 and the length L5. Can visually confirm the display member 32 through the operation position display window 29. That is,
The operation position of the shift lever 6 can be visually determined based on the correspondence between the display member 32 and the operation position display symbol 30.

By the way, since the length L1 is set longer than the length L5, if a variation corresponding to the above-mentioned problem is transmitted to the display member 32 via the protruding portion 24 as it is, the variation causes the display member. There is a possibility that there will be variations in the 32 operating positions.

However, in this embodiment, the distance L3 is set to be larger than the width L4.
Even if the position of the protruding portion 24 is set to a position moved in one of the operation directions of the display member 32 due to the above-described problem,
If the amount of movement is within a predetermined range, the display member 32 does not operate. This predetermined range is determined based on the difference between the distance L3 and the width L4. In other words, based on various conditions such as variations in the dimensions of the components, variations in the positioning of the components, and vibrations of the automatic transmission 2, the above-mentioned values are set so as to exceed the values calculated experimentally. Distance L3 and width L
The difference from 4 may be determined.

For this reason, as shown in FIG. 7, even when the protruding portion 24 is located in the middle between the two operation position display windows 29 due to the above-mentioned problem, the display member 3 can be used.
2 is positioned below only a single operation position display window 29 without straddling a plurality of operation position display windows 29. Therefore, in a state where the shift lever 6 is set at a predetermined operation position corresponding to a predetermined range of the automatic transmission 2, visual judgment accuracy of the correspondence between the operation position of the shift lever 6 and the operation position display symbol 30 is improved. I do.

Therefore, the result of the visual judgment of the operating position of the shift lever 6 and the range of the automatic transmission 2 match, and the vehicle stops or runs, or the running direction of the vehicle, or the gear ratio of the automatic transmission 2. Thus, various control contents are adapted to the driver's intention.

In the above embodiment, the operation direction and direction of the shift lever 6 and the operation direction and direction of the display member 32 are configured to be the same.
It is also possible to configure so that at least one of the operation direction and the direction is different. Further, in the above embodiment, the floor shift type shift device 5 is shown, but the present invention can be applied to a shift device provided on an instrument panel. Further, in the above embodiment, a continuously variable transmission that can continuously change the gear ratio may be used as the automatic transmission 2.

The present invention is also applicable to a functional device other than the shift device, for example, a display device for visually determining the operation position of the operation lever of the air conditioner. Further, in the present invention, examples of the operation mode of the operation member include a rotation system around a support shaft and a linear slide system.

Here, the characteristic configuration of the present invention disclosed based on the above specific example will be described as follows. That is, a shift lever operable in a predetermined direction and capable of setting a plurality of operation positions corresponding to each range of a transmission mounted on a vehicle, and a shift lever connected to the shift lever, A movable member that operates in conjunction with the operation of (i), a shielding member that covers the movable member, and a plurality of operation position display windows formed in the shielding member and arranged in the operation direction of the movable member. In the shift device, a relative movement mechanism that enables the shift lever and the movable member to relatively move within a predetermined range in an operation direction of the movable member is provided.

[0051]

As described above, according to the present invention, even if there is a variation in the dimensions of the operating member or a variation in the assembling position in a state where the operating member is set at the predetermined operating position, the predetermined range is maintained. Inside, the movable member is restricted from moving in the operation direction. For this reason, in the state where the operation member is set at the predetermined position, the movable member is prevented from stopping at a position straddling the plurality of operation position display windows. Therefore, the visual judgment accuracy of the operation position of the operation member is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a shift device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a vehicle to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side sectional view of the shift device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial plan sectional view of the shift device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a partial plan cross-sectional view of the shift device shown in FIG. 1;

6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG.

8 is a sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

5: Shift device, 6: Shift lever, 20: Slide cover, 24: Projection, 25: Upper housing, 29: Operation position display window, 32: Display member.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus which is configured to be operable in a predetermined direction, and
An operation member capable of setting a plurality of operation positions, a movable member connected to the operation member and operating in conjunction with the operation of the operation member, a shielding member covering the movable member, and formed on the shielding member And an operation position display device of an operation member including a plurality of operation position display windows arranged in the operation direction of the movable member, wherein the operation member and the movable member are arranged in the operation direction of the movable member. An operation position display device for an operation member, comprising: a relative movement mechanism that enables relative movement within a predetermined range.