JP2000145213A - Operating lever fitting structure in steering wheel device for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an operating lever fitting structure in the steering wheel device for an automobile good in assembling workability, and securely capable of ensuring smooth operation. SOLUTION: In a steering wheel device for an automobile provided with a steering wheel body turnably journaled in a wheel base, and an operating lever 4 energized to the initial position by a torsion spring so as to be turnably journaled to the steering wheel base and operated by the turning operation given to the steering wheel body; the operating lever 4 penetrates the spring winding shaft part 6 on which the coil part of the torsion spring is externally fitted and which is turnably journaled by a support shaft bridged between the lever fitting pieces 7 and 7 formed in the steering wheel space, and a bearing stepped part 9 for bearing the outer circumferential surface of the spring winding shaft part 6 and for maintaining the fitting posture of the operating lever 4 is provided at least to the lever fitting piece 7 on one side.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

2. Description of the Related Art An operating lever is operated by turning a handle body in a direction in which a door is opened.
As an automotive door outside handle device for opening and closing a door, one disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-49769 is known. In this conventional example, a handle body is pivotally supported on a handle base so as to be rotatable around a support shaft. When the handle body is rotated, an operating lever pivotally supported by the handle base rotates, and is connected to the operating lever. Release the locking device via the rod to be released.

As another conventional example, Japanese Utility Model 6-10
No. 041 has also been proposed. This conventional example is formed by pivotally supporting an operation lever, which is a movable element, on a handle case, which is a fixed element to a door panel of a vehicle, and operates the operation lever by rotating the operation lever by grasping the operation lever. I do.

In any of the above-mentioned handle devices, the operating lever is mounted by fixing a support shaft passing through the operating lever to a lever mounting piece of the handle base. It is necessary to insert the support shaft after positioning so that the support shaft insertion hole of the lever and the support shaft mounting hole of the lever mounting piece match.
However, since the torsion spring for urging the handle body or the operating lever to the initial position is wound around the operating lever, it is necessary to perform the positioning operation of the operating lever while resisting the reaction force of the torsion spring. Therefore, there is a disadvantage that the operation is extremely troublesome and the workability is extremely poor.

In addition, since the operating lever is mounted with both ends of the spring-wound shaft portion abutting against the flat portion of the lever mounting piece, for example, the longitudinal dimension of the spring-wound shaft portion is set between the lever mounting pieces. If the interval becomes smaller than
A gap is generated between the end surface of the spring winding shaft portion and the flat portion of the lever mounting piece. The gap is inevitably generated due to accumulation of errors at the time of manufacturing, or when the lever mounting piece is formed integrally with the handle base, due to the necessity of a draft for molding the lever mounting piece, If there is such a gap, there is a disadvantage that the torsion spring falls into the gap and hinders the smooth operation of the operating lever.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, and has a good assembling workability and an operation lever for a steering wheel device for an automobile which can guarantee a smooth operation reliably. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a mounting structure.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, the above object is achieved by a handle base 2 rotatably supported by a handle base 1 and a handle base 1 urged by a torsion spring 3 toward an initial position. In a motor vehicle handle device provided with an operating lever 4 rotatably supported and operated by a rotation operation given to the handle main body 2, the operating lever 4 is a spring winding to which the coil portion 5 of the torsion spring 3 is fitted. A shaft 8 penetrates the shaft mounting portion 6 and is rotatably supported by a support shaft 8 provided between the lever mounting pieces 7 formed on the handle base 1. At least one of the lever mounting pieces 7 includes a spring. Mounting structure of operating lever in an automobile handle device provided with a bearing step 9 for supporting the outer peripheral surface of winding shaft portion 6 and maintaining operating lever 4 in the mounting position. It is achieved by providing a.

The handle body 2 pivotally supported by the handle base 1 is provided with a contact portion 2a for contacting the operating lever 4. When the handle body 2 is rotated around the pivot 1a, the contact portion 2a interferes with the operating lever 4. The operating lever 4 is operated. The operating lever 4 has a spring winding shaft 6 for winding the torsion spring 3, penetrates through the spring winding shaft 6, and has a lever mounting piece 7 on the handle base 1 side.
It is rotatably mounted by a support shaft 8 whose both ends are supported.

In the present invention, the operation lever 4 is mounted by inserting the support shaft 8 with both ends of the spring-wound shaft portion 6 or one of the two ends supported by the support step 9 of the lever mounting piece 7. Is performed by fixing. With the end of the spring-wound shaft 6 supported on the support step 9, the support shaft insertion hole 6a of the spring-wound shaft 6 substantially matches the support shaft fixing hole 7a of the lever mounting piece 7. The insertion and fixing of the support shaft 8 are simplified. Therefore, according to the present invention, even if there is a reaction force of the torsion spring 3, the operating lever 4 is pressed with a force that overcomes the reaction force and the bearing step 9 is pressed.
Since the positioning can be performed only by bringing the spring winding shaft 6 into contact with the shaft, the workability is improved.

In the present invention, the term "handle base" refers to a component fixed to a vehicle panel, for example, a door outside handle in order to hold the handle body 2 rotatably. Means a movable element that is rotatably supported by the handle base 1. In addition to the handle base and the handle body according to the invention described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-49769 described above, the above-mentioned Japanese Utility Model Publication No. In Patent Document 1, the part named as the handle body corresponds to the handle base 1 of the present invention, and the part named as the operation lever corresponds to the handle body 2 of the present invention.

Further, as in the second aspect of the present invention, the bearing step 9 is formed on the lever mounting piece 7 on the side where the leg 10a of the torsion spring 3 is locked (in this specification, the lever mounting piece 7). 10a is attached to the leg to be locked,
The leg on the side locked to the operating lever 4 is denoted by reference numeral 10b to distinguish them from each other. 4), when the supporting step 9 is extended to the engaging portion of the leg 10a, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), the leg 10a interferes with the extension 9a of the supporting step 9 so that the spring winding is performed. It cannot move to the end face of the shaft portion 6. As a result, even if there is a gap between the end face of the spring winding shaft 6 and the lever mounting piece 7, the leg 10 does not fall down, and the smooth operation of the operating lever 4 is guaranteed.

Further, the above object is achieved by a handle base 2 rotatably supported by a handle base 1 and a handle base urged by a torsion spring 3 to an initial position side. 1, a steering device for an automobile having an operating lever 4 rotatably supported by 1 and operated by a rotation operation given to a handle main body 2, the operating lever 4 is fitted with the coil portion 5 of the torsion spring 3 outside. Lever mounting pieces 7, 7 penetrating the spring winding shaft 6 and formed on the handle base 1.
A lever mounting piece 7 rotatably supported by a support shaft 8 provided therebetween and at least a leg 10 of the torsion spring 3 is locked, a U-shaped groove 11 for supporting the spring winding shaft portion 6. Can be achieved by the mounting structure of the operating lever in the automobile door handle device in which is formed.

In the present invention, the bottom wall of the U-shaped groove 11 formed in the lever mounting piece 7 functions as the bearing step 9,
In order for the side wall to function as an extension 9a of the bearing step 9,
The end of the spring-wound shaft portion 6 is supported by the bottom wall of a U-shaped groove 11 formed in the lever mounting piece 7 to position the shaft 8 when the shaft 8 is inserted, and the side wall of the torsion spring 3 drops the leg 10a. Is prevented.

[0013]

1 to 4 show an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a door outside handle device of an automobile.
Shown in The door handle device includes a handle base 1 fixed to a door panel 12 of a vehicle, and a handle body 2 mounted on the handle base 1. The handle body 2 has a long shape extending from the front to the rear of the vehicle, and one end in the longitudinal direction is pivotally attached to the handle base 1 by the pivot 1a.

The handle base 1 is formed by holding a seal body 1b interposed between the handle base 1 and the door panel 12 on the peripheral back surface, a bolt 13 screwed into a female screw 1c formed on the back surface of the handle base 1, and a bracket 14 Is fixed to the door panel 12. The handle base 1 has an insertion opening 1d into which a leg 2b projecting from the open / close end of the handle body 2 toward the inside of the door is inserted, and a lever mounting piece 7 protruding from the periphery of the insertion opening 1d. As a result, the operation lever 4 is rotatably pivoted.

The operating lever 4 is formed by projecting a lever piece 4a from a spring-wound shaft portion 6, and as shown in FIG. 3, one end of the lever piece 4a is inserted into a leg 2b formed on a leg 2b of the handle body 2. It enters the opening 2c. The lever piece 4a is provided with a rod holding hole 4b for holding a rod (not shown). Further, the torsion spring 3 is wound around the spring winding shaft portion 6 of the operating lever 4, and the bottom wall (contact portion 1a) of the lever insertion opening 2c is moved by the operating lever by the restoring force of the torsion spring 3. It is pushed downward and held at the initial position shown by the solid line in FIGS.

Accordingly, in this embodiment, when the handle main body 2 is rotated in the opening direction of the door body as shown by a chain line in FIG. 2 against the reaction force of the torsion spring 3, the operating lever 4 is moved in FIG. Rotate clockwise as shown by. The rotation of the operation lever 4 causes the rod held in the rod holding hole 4b to move downward, and a lock device (not shown) is operated to release the lock.
Thereafter, when the operating force on the handle body 2 is released, the handle body 2 returns to the initial position by the restoring force of the torsion spring 3.

FIGS. 1 and 4 show details of a mounting portion of the operation lever 4. The lever mounting piece 7 is integrally protruded from the back surface of the handle base 1 in an L-shape, and a shaft fixing hole 7a is drilled at the tip thereof. In order to form the handle base 1 efficiently, the lever mounting piece 7 which is a component protruding from the general surface is used.
Has a draft angle, and the tip is thinner than the base plate thickness.

Further, a U-shaped groove 11 is formed on one lever mounting piece 7, more precisely, on the side on which the leg 10a of the torsion spring 3 is locked. U-shaped groove 11
Is a bearing step 9 on the side of the lever mounting piece 7 facing the operating lever 4.
And its extension 9a is bulged and opened in the die-cutting direction, that is, in the direction of the back surface of the handle base 1. The bearing step 9 forming the bottom wall of the U-shaped groove 11 has a curvature surface which is concentric with the support shaft fixing hole 7 a of the lever mounting piece 7 and substantially coincides with the radius of the spring winding shaft 6 of the operating lever 4. It is formed. The distance D between the front wall 11a of the U-shaped groove 11 and the other facing lever mounting piece 7 is slightly longer than the length of the spring winding shaft 6 of the operating lever 4, and the supporting step 9 and The extension 9a of the bearing step 9 constituting the side wall of the U-shaped groove 11 is formed with a bulging height H sufficient to be located inside the end face of the spring winding shaft 6.

The mounting of the operating lever 4 is performed as follows. First, the coil portion 5 of the torsion spring 3 is fitted onto the spring winding shaft portion 6, and one leg 10 b is locked to the operating lever 4. In this state, the other leg 10a is dropped into the U-shaped groove 11 of the spring winding shaft 6 while locking the torsion spring 3 with a predetermined initial bending by locking the locking projection 7b of the lever mounting piece 7. When the spring winding shaft 6 is fitted into the U-shaped groove 11, the support shaft insertion hole 6 a of the spring winding shaft 6 becomes the support shaft fixing hole 7 a of the lever mounting piece 7.
Therefore, the support shaft 8 is inserted while pressing the spring-wound shaft, and then the opposite direction is pressed to align the support shaft insertion hole 6a with the support shaft fixing hole 7a of the other lever mounting piece 7. Thereafter, the support shaft 8 is inserted and the support shaft 8 is fixed.
In this embodiment, one end of the support shaft 8 is knurled, and when the support shaft 8 is inserted and further pushed in, the knurled portion is fixed in the support shaft fixing hole 7a.

In the assembled state of the operating lever 4, the leg 10a of the torsion spring 3 is moved toward the center of the spring winding shaft 6 by the extension 9a of the support step 9, and is positioned on the end face of the spring winding shaft 6. Because of this, the end face of the spring-wound shaft portion 6 and the lever mounting piece 7, specifically, the U-shaped groove 1
Even if there is a gap between the front wall 11a and the front wall 11a, the leg 2b does not fall into the gap, which does not cause a malfunction or a decrease in operational feeling.

[0021]

As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, the workability of assembling the operating lever can be improved, and smooth operation can be guaranteed.

Further, since the U-shaped groove serves as a reservoir for grease or the like, a smooth operation can be obtained for a long period of time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a lever mounting piece.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a door outside handle.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3A-3A in FIG. 2;

4A and 4B are diagrams showing the operation of the operating lever, wherein FIG. 4A is a view in the direction of arrow 4A in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4B is a sectional view taken along line 4B-4B in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Handle base 2 Handle main body 3 Torsion spring 4 Operating lever 5 Coil part 6 Spring winding shaft part 7 Lever mounting piece 8 Support shaft 9 Bearing step part 10 Leg 11 U-shaped groove

Claims (3)

[Claims] A handle body rotatably supported by the handle base; a torsion spring biasing the handle body toward an initial position to be rotatably supported by the handle base; An automobile handle device provided with an operating lever, wherein the operating lever penetrates a spring-wound shaft portion to which a coil portion of the torsion spring is fitted, and is supported between lever mounting pieces formed on a handle base. A handlebar device for an automobile, which is rotatably supported by a shaft, and at least one of the lever mounting pieces is provided with a supporting step for supporting the outer peripheral surface of the spring-wound shaft to maintain the operating lever in the mounting position. Mounting structure of the operating lever in. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the supporting step is formed on a lever mounting piece on a side on which a leg of the torsion spring is locked.
2. A mounting structure for an operating lever in an automobile handle device according to claim 1, wherein said bearing step portion extends to a locking portion of said leg. A handle body rotatably supported by the handle base; a torsion spring biasing the handle body toward an initial position to be rotatably supported by the handle base; An automobile handle device provided with an operating lever, wherein the operating lever penetrates a spring-wound shaft portion to which a coil portion of the torsion spring is fitted, and is supported between lever mounting pieces formed on a handle base. An operating lever in a door handle device for an automobile, wherein a U-shaped groove for supporting a spring-wound shaft is formed in a lever mounting piece rotatably supported by a shaft and at least a leg of a torsion spring is locked. Mounting structure.