JP2000292279A - Pressure-detecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a pressure-detecting device which enables an easily inserting of a pressure-sensitive sensor into an insertion hole. SOLUTION: A pressure-detecting device 10 has an elliptical sectional shape where an insertion hole 196 of a protector 148 is in a short-diameter direction nearly along the forward and backward directions of a vehicle, and the short- diameter direction is nearly equal to the outer-diameter dimension of a skin part 124. Then, when the skin part 124 is inserted into the insertion hole 196, a gap S is formed at the side of the skin part 124. As a result, the slide resistance between the outer-periphery part of the skin part 124 and the inner- periphery of the insertion hole 196 becomes small, the skin part 124 can be easily inserted into the insertion hole 196.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pressure detecting device for detecting whether or not an external force has acted on a predetermined portion.
The present invention relates to a pressure detection device suitable for detecting a foreign object caught in a door panel in an electric sliding door device of a vehicle or an automatic door device such as a building or an elevator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In vehicles generally called wagons, vans, and recreational vehicles, an operation switch provided near a driver's seat or at a predetermined position in a rear seat is operated at a door corresponding to a rear seat. There is a vehicle that employs a so-called automatic slide door device that opens and closes a doorway formed on a vehicle body side wall by driving a motor and sliding a door panel back and forth along a vehicle body side wall portion by a driving force of the motor.

[0003] An automatic sliding door device of this type includes an automatic sliding door device provided with a pressure detecting device for detecting or preventing foreign material from being caught when the door panel is closed.

A pressure detecting device applied to such an automatic sliding door device is provided with a front end portion of a door panel (that is, a pressure detecting device).
(End portion on the side of the closing movement direction) and a pressure-sensitive sensor in which a plurality of electrode wires are arranged inside a hollow outer skin portion along the longitudinal direction. In this pressure-sensitive sensor, when the outer skin portion is elastically deformed by receiving the pressing force, the electrode wires in the outer skin portion are curved and come into contact with each other with the elastic deformation of the outer skin portion, and the electrode wires are in contact with each other. That the pressing force has acted on the outer skin by detecting changes in electrical resistance at the time of
That is, it is configured to detect that a foreign object abuts on the front end portion of the door panel that moves to close, and that a pressing reaction force from the foreign object acts on the outer cover.

[0005]

A pressure-sensitive sensor used in such a pressure detecting device is a protector formed in a long cylindrical shape from a rubber material or a synthetic resin material having a lower rigidity than its outer cover. The pressure-sensitive sensor is inserted inside and is fixed to the door panel indirectly through the protector by fixing the protector to the door panel.

Here, the cross-sectional shape of the outer skin of the pressure-sensitive sensor is substantially circular, while the cross-sectional shape of the insertion hole of the protector into which the outer skin (pressure-sensitive sensor) is inserted is also substantially circular. In addition, the inner diameter is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the outer skin. For this reason, when the outer skin is inserted into the insertion hole, sliding resistance with the inner circumference of the insertion hole acts on the entire outer circumference of the portion of the outer skin inserted into the insertion hole. Therefore, it is difficult to insert the outer skin portion into the insertion hole, and this is an obstacle to reducing the number of steps in the mounting process when mounting the pressure-sensitive sensor on the door panel.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a pressure detecting device that allows easy insertion of a skin portion into an insertion hole.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pressure-sensitive sensor having an elastically deformable outer cover, and detecting an external force acting on the outer cover by elastically deforming the outer cover. A pressure detecting device that detects that the external force has acted on a predetermined portion to which the pressure-sensitive sensor is attached, wherein an inner peripheral length is longer than an outer peripheral length of the outer skin portion, and an inner peripheral portion is a portion of the outer skin portion. An insertion hole into which the outer skin portion is inserted in a state in which the outer skin portion is inserted in a state where the outer skin portion is in contact with a part of the outer periphery, the rigidity is equal to or less than the rigidity of the outer skin portion, and the predetermined portion is inserted with the pressure-sensitive sensor inserted. And a support member fixed to the support member for supporting the pressure-sensitive sensor.

According to the pressure detecting device having the above-described structure, the support member in which the outer cover of the pressure-sensitive sensor is inserted into the insertion hole is fixed to a predetermined portion, and when an external force acts on the predetermined portion, the external member applies the support member. Are elastically deformed, and the elastically deformed support member elastically deforms the outer skin. The pressure-sensitive sensor detects an external force by the elastic deformation of the outer skin portion, and detects that the external force acts on a predetermined portion.

Here, in this pressure detecting device, the inner peripheral length of the insertion hole is longer than the outer peripheral length of the outer skin portion, and when the outer skin portion is inserted into the insertion hole, the gap between the inner peripheral portion of the insertion hole and the outer peripheral portion of the outer skin portion is increased. A gap is formed between the first and second portions. For this reason, it becomes easy to insert the outer skin portion into the insertion hole.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the pressure detecting device according to the first aspect, two or more portions of the inner peripheral portion of the insertion hole of the support member along the circumferential direction are formed with the outer skin portion. The outer skin portion is sandwiched by being brought into contact with the outer peripheral portion.

According to the pressure detecting device having the above structure, the inner peripheral portion of the insertion hole is in contact with the outer peripheral portion of the outer skin portion at two or more locations along the circumferential direction. Is holding the pressure sensor. Thus, although a gap is formed between the outer peripheral portion of the outer skin portion and the inner peripheral portion of the insertion hole when the pressure-sensitive sensor is inserted into the insertion hole, the outer skin portion (pressure-sensitive sensor) is inserted inside the insertion hole. It is held at a predetermined position. For this reason, the mounting position accuracy of the pressure-sensitive sensor with respect to the predetermined portion to which the support member is fixed can be made to depend only on the mounting position accuracy of the support member with respect to the predetermined portion, which facilitates the mounting.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the pressure detecting device according to the first or second aspect, the inner peripheral shape of the insertion hole of the support member is such that the minor dimension is substantially equal to the diameter dimension of the outer cover. It is characterized by having the same elliptical shape.

According to the pressure detecting device having the above-described configuration, the inner peripheral shape of the insertion hole of the support member is made elliptical, and the minor diameter is substantially equal to the diameter of the outer cover. Therefore,
Of the inner peripheral portion of the insertion hole, a portion corresponding to the minor diameter portion of the ellipse abuts on the outer peripheral portion of the outer skin portion to sandwich the outer skin portion (that is, the pressure-sensitive sensor).

Here, claim 1 or claim 2 described above.
According to the configuration described above, the shape of the insertion hole may be a polygon such as a triangle or a quadrangle, but in the case of a polygon, a corner is formed on the inner peripheral portion, so that the angle of the corner is supported in a direction to widen the angle. When the member is elastically deformed, there is a possibility that stress is concentrated on the corner and a crack is formed. On the other hand, when the shape of the insertion hole is an elliptical shape, a corner is not formed in the inner peripheral portion, so that even if the support member is elastically deformed, the possibility that a crack is formed in the inner peripheral portion is extremely low. This improves the durability of the support member.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the pressure detecting device according to any one of the first to third aspects, of the outer peripheral portion of the outer skin portion, a side in which the external force acts and a side opposite thereto. At least one side thereof is in contact with the inner peripheral portion of the insertion hole.

In the pressure detecting device having the above-described structure, at least one of the outer peripheral portion of the outer skin portion on the side in which the external force acts and the opposite side is in contact with the inner peripheral portion of the insertion hole.
The outer skin portion can be pressed quickly by the support member elastically deformed by the external force and the outer skin portion can be elastically deformed, and the external force acts on the support member, that is, the external force acts on the predetermined portion where the pressure-sensitive sensor is attached. Can be detected immediately.

That is, when a gap is formed between the outer peripheral portion of the outer skin portion and the inner peripheral portion of the insertion hole on the opposite side of the outer skin portion of the pressure-sensitive sensor from the direction in which the above-described external force acts. Even if an external force acts on the support member and the support member is elastically deformed, the outer skin portion is not elastically deformed until the support member is elastically deformed beyond the above-mentioned gap.

On the other hand, if a gap is formed between the outer peripheral portion of the outer skin portion and the inner peripheral portion of the insertion hole on the side of the external force acting direction above the outer skin portion of the pressure-sensitive sensor, the elasticity is increased by the external force. Even if the deformed support member presses the outer skin portion, it is displaced in the direction of action of the external force by the interval of the gap described above, and the outer peripheral portion of the outer skin portion and the inner peripheral portion of the insertion hole do not abut each other. The outer skin may not be elastically deformed.

Therefore, even if a gap is formed between the outer peripheral portion of the pressure sensor and the inner peripheral portion of the insertion hole on the side where the above-described external force acts and on the opposite side thereof, There is a possibility that inconvenience that detection of an external force by the delay is delayed.

On the other hand, in this pressure detecting device, at least one of the outer peripheral portion of the outer skin portion on the side in which the external force acts and the opposite direction side is in contact with the inner peripheral portion of the insertion hole. Since at least one of the inconveniences can be eliminated, it is possible to immediately detect that an external force has acted on a predetermined portion to which the pressure-sensitive sensor is attached.

[0022]

FIG. 7 shows a pressure detecting device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention between the door panel 18 and the vehicle body 20 when the door panel 18 is closed in the automatic sliding door device 16 of the vehicle 14. An example employed for preventing foreign matter from being trapped is shown in a perspective view. Prior to the description of the configuration of the present pressure detecting device 10, first, the configuration of the automatic sliding door device 16 will be described.

(Configuration of Automatic Sliding Door Device 16) FIG.
As shown in FIG.
2 (vehicle body 20) is provided with a slide door actuator 24 provided at a rear end side middle portion in the vehicle vertical direction. The slide door actuator 24 is electrically connected to a battery disposed in an engine room (not shown) at the front end side of the vehicle body 20 or below the driver's seat via connection means (not shown) such as a harness and a cable. A motor 28 is provided.

A plurality of gears including a gear meshing with the output shaft of the slide door motor 28 are accommodated on the side of the slide door motor 28, and the external drive is performed while the rotation of the slide door motor 28 is reduced by these gears. A speed reducer 32 that transmits the pulley 30 to rotate the drive pulley 30 is provided. The drive pulley 30 is rotatable around this axis with the vehicle vertical direction as the axial direction. Drive pulley 30
An endless belt 36 is wound around a plurality of driven pulleys 34 provided apart from the driving pulley 30. When the slide door motor 28 starts driving and the driving pulley 30 rotates, the endless belt 36 is rotated. It is driven and rotated.

As shown in FIG. 7, an attachment 38 is integrally fixed to a part of the endless belt 36 in the longitudinal direction. As shown in FIG.
Is integrally formed with a side wall portion 40, a side wall portion 42 facing the side wall portion 40 along the left-right direction of the vehicle 14, and a connecting portion 44 connecting the attachment 38 and each upper end portion of the side wall portion 42. A U-shaped member opened downward, and a side wall portion 4 of a center rail 46 provided at an intermediate portion in the vertical direction of the side wall 22 so as to be elongated in the front-rear direction.
8 (that is, the side wall 40 faces the side wall 42 via the side wall 48). The side wall portion 42 of the attachment 38 is fixed to the front end portion of the door panel 18, and is connected to the door panel 1 via the center arm 50.
8, a pair of inner panel 54 and outer panel 5
When the endless belt 36 rotates, the door panel 18 slides along the rotation direction.

The door panel 18 is formed to correspond to a substantially rectangular entrance 58 (see FIG. 7) formed on the side wall 22 for passengers to get on and off. That is, the doorway 58 can be closed (by the door panel 18 moving to the end point of the closing movement), and in this fully closed state, the outer surface of the outer panel 56 of the door panel 18 and the outer surface of the side wall 22 are substantially flush. .

As shown in FIG. 9, a roller 60 that rotates about the axis of the center arm 50 is provided at the distal end of the center arm 50 with the direction substantially along the left-right direction of the vehicle 14 as the axial direction.
And a pair of rollers 62 that rotate around the axis, with the direction generally along the up-down direction of the vehicle 14 as the axial direction, are respectively supported by the shaft. The outer periphery of the roller 62 abuts on the bottom wall 64 of the center rail 46 and rolls on the bottom wall 64. On the other hand, both rollers 60 are in contact with the side wall 66 provided so that the outer peripheral portions of the center rail 46 are opposed to the center rail 46 on the left and right sides of the vehicle 14 with respect to the center rail 46. In addition to restricting the outward movement in the left-right direction, the roller rolls while being in contact with the side wall portion 66.

Here, as shown in FIG. 8, the front end side of the center rail 46 is inclined inward in the left-right direction of the vehicle 14. Therefore, when the door panel 18 fitted into the entrance 58 slides toward the rear side of the vehicle 14, first, the rollers 60 are guided by the side wall 66 at the front end side of the center rail 46, and the door panel 18 is moved. Vehicle 14
Of the vehicle 14 while sliding toward the rear side of the vehicle 14, and opposed to the side wall 22 along the left and right direction of the vehicle 14 from a state where the door panel 18 is located outside of the side wall 22 in the left and right direction of the vehicle 14. Slide backward in the state.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, an upper rail 68 is provided near the upper end of the side wall 22 along the upper end of the entrance 58. As shown in FIG. 10, the upper rail 68 has a U-shaped cross section that opens downward, and has an upper arm 70 inside the vehicle that is rotatable about its axis, with the vertical direction of the vehicle 14 as an axial direction. A roller 72 pivotally supported at the tip enters. The upper rail 68 has a pair of side wall portions 74 facing each other substantially along the left and right direction of the vehicle 14, and the outer peripheral portion of the roller 72 is a side wall portion 74 of the pair of side wall portions 74 on the outside in the left and right direction of the vehicle 14. , And the lateral movement of the vehicle 14 in the left-right direction is restricted by the side wall portion 74, and the vehicle 14 rolls while being in contact with the side wall portion 74.

The base end of the upper arm 70 is fixed to the vicinity of the upper end of the inner panel 54 by fastening means (not shown) such as bolts, and the roller 72 is moved by the side wall 74 to the outside of the vehicle 14 in the left-right direction. Due to the restriction, the movement of the door panel 18 outward in the left-right direction of the vehicle 14 is restricted. The front end side of the upper rail 68 is also inclined inward in the left-right direction of the vehicle 14 similarly to the center rail 46. When the roller 60 is guided to the side wall 66 at the front end side of the center rail 46, the roller 72 Is guided to the upper rail 68 at the front end side of the upper rail 68.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a lower rail 76 is provided near the lower end of the side wall 22 along the lower end of the entrance 58. Lower rail 76
Is provided below a step 78 that constitutes a part of the floor of the vehicle 14, and has a generally U-shaped cross section that opens outward in the left-right direction of the vehicle 14.

A lower arm 80 is provided inside the lower rail 76.
The tip side of has entered. At the tip of the lower arm 80, the direction substantially along the left-right direction of the vehicle 14 is set as the axial direction,
A roller 82 that rotates around the axis and a roller 84 that rotates around the axis with the direction generally along the vertical direction of the vehicle 14 as the axial direction are supported by the shaft. The outer periphery of the roller 84 contacts the lower wall 86 of the lower rail 76 and rolls on the lower wall 86.

On the other hand, the roller 82 enters a guide rail 88 having a U-shaped cross section which is opened downward. The guide rail 88 is fixed to the upper wall portion 90 of the lower rail 76 and is rolled to a side wall portion 92 located on the outer side in the left-right direction of the vehicle 14 among a pair of side wall portions 92 facing each other along the left-right direction of the vehicle 14. 82 is in contact with the outer periphery. The rollers 82 are restricted from moving laterally outward of the vehicle 14 by the lateral side walls 92 on the left and right sides of the vehicle 14, and roll while contacting the side walls 92. The front end side of the guide rail 88 is also inclined inward in the left-right direction of the vehicle 14 similarly to the center rail 46, and when the roller 60 is guided to the side wall 66 at the front end side of the center rail 46, 82 is guided to the side wall 92 at the front end side of the guide rail 88.

That is, the door panel 18 includes the roller 62 of the center arm 50, the roller 72 of the upper arm 70,
And vehicle 14 via rollers 84 of lower arm 80.
The slide door actuator 24 is slidably mounted on the vehicle body 20 on a track along the front-rear direction.
When the slide door motor 28 is driven forward or backward, the slide door motor 28 slides rearward or forward of the vehicle 14 to open and close the entrance 58.

As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 6, the slide door actuator 24 has a slide door driver 94 constituted by a control circuit such as a relay.
Is electrically connected to Sliding door driver 94
Is connected to the battery 26 via a computer 96 as a determination means. For example, when an operation switch 98 provided near the driver's seat of the vehicle 14 is operated by a switch, according to the switch state of the operation switch 98 at that time, The signal is sent to the slide door driver 94, and the slide door motor 28 is driven forward or backward, or stopped.

On the other hand, the automatic sliding door device 16 has a position detecting device 100. The position detecting device 100 includes, for example, a disk-shaped slit disk in which slit holes are radially formed at predetermined angles along the circumferential direction, and which rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the output shaft of the slide door motor 28, Counts the number of times light emitted from the light emitting element and passed through the slit of the rotating slit disc is received by the light receiving element. By doing so, the number of rotations of the output shaft of the sliding door motor 28, that is, the sliding amount of the door panel 18 is detected.

As shown in FIG. 6, the automatic sliding door device 16 includes a closer actuator 102 provided on the vehicle body 20. The closer actuator 102 includes a closer motor 104, and a pair of junctions (not shown) provided at an end portion of the door panel 18 on the closing movement direction side and an inner peripheral portion of the entrance 58 facing the same, respectively. When the door panel 18 slides until it is electrically connected to each other, and becomes a so-called half-door state, the closer motor 104 is energized to start driving to close the door panel 18 and to determine the sliding amount at this time by a position detecting device. 100 detects that the computer 9
6 operates the slide door driver 94 to operate the battery 2.
From 6, the power supply to the slide door motor 28 is stopped, and the slide door motor 28 is stopped. Closer motor 10
4 closes the door panel 18 and closes the door panel 18. When a latch switch (not shown) of the closer actuator 102 detects this, the door panel 18 is locked via a mechanical transmission means such as a link mechanism.

(Configuration of Pressure Detector 10) Next, the configuration of the pressure detector 10 will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the pressure detecting device 10 is a pressure-sensitive device which is provided along the end of the door panel 18 on the closing movement side and which is elongated along the vertical direction of the vehicle 14. The sensor 120 is provided. As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3, the pressure-sensitive sensor 120 has a hem (lined portion) 52 between the inner panel 54 and the outer panel 56, which are ends on the closing movement direction side of the door panel 18. Hem 5 which is arranged inside and a part of which is the opposite end
2 project forward of the vehicle from the front end. Further, the pressure-sensitive sensor 120 has an outer skin portion 124 formed in a long shape by an insulating elastic material such as rubber or soft synthetic resin material.
It has. A cross hole 126 having a cross-shaped cross section is formed inside the outer skin portion 124 along the longitudinal direction of the outer skin portion 124. The cross hole 126 is gradually displaced around the center of the outer skin portion 124 along the longitudinal direction of the outer skin portion 124.

An electrode as an electrode which is formed into a long string having flexibility by twisting a conductive thin wire such as a copper wire inside the outer sheath portion 124 and is covered with a conductive rubber. Lines 128, 130, 132, 134 are provided. As shown in FIG.
8 to 134 near the center of the cross hole 126
, And are spirally arranged along the cross hole 126 and are integrally fixed to the inner peripheral portion of the cross hole 126. Therefore, the electrode wires 128 to 134 are flexed by the elastic deformation of the outer skin portion 124. In particular, if the outer skin portion 124 is elastically deformed to the extent that the cross hole 126 is crushed, the electrode wire 1
28 or the electrode wire 132 is the electrode wire 130 or the electrode wire 134
And it conducts. When the outer skin portion 124 is restored, the electrode wires 128 to 134 are also restored.

As shown in the circuit diagram of FIG. 5, the electrode line 128 and the electrode line 132 are conductive at one end in the longitudinal direction, and the electrode line 130 and the electrode line 134 are also at one end in the longitudinal direction. Conducted in the part. On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the inner panel 5
A connector 136 is disposed between the outer panel 4 and the outer panel 56. As shown in the circuit diagram of FIG.
6, a resistor 138 is provided. Resistance 138
The other end in the longitudinal direction of the electrode wire 130 is electrically connected to one end of the electrode wire 130, and the other end of the resistor 138 is connected to the electrode wire 13.
2 are electrically connected to each other in the longitudinal direction, and the electrode wire 130
And the electrode line 132 are electrically connected via the resistor 138.

In the connector 136, one end in the longitudinal direction of the pair of conductive wires 142 and 144 of the lead wire 140 is accommodated and fixed to a terminal inside the connector 136. The other ends of the above-described electrode wires 128 and 134 in the longitudinal direction are fixed to the terminals to which the conductive wires 142 and 144 are fixed, and the conductive wires 142 and the electrode wires 128 are electrically connected. , Conducting wire 144 and electrode wire 13
4 are electrically connected. The conducting wire 142 is directly or indirectly connected to the battery 26 via another connecting member (for convenience, the conducting wire 142 is directly connected to the battery 26 in the circuit diagram of FIG. 4).
Reference numeral 4 is connected to the battery 26 via a current detection element 146 which cuts off the circuit when a current of a predetermined value or more flows. In other words, the current flowing from the electrode wire 128 to the electrode wire 134 via the electrode wire 130 and the electrode wire 132 usually flows via the resistor 138, but if the outer cover 124 is crushed, the electrode wire 128 or the electrode wire 132 is the electrode wire 130
Alternatively, if a short circuit occurs due to conduction with the electrode wire 134, the current flows without passing through the resistor 138. For example, if a current flows through this circuit at a constant voltage, the current value changes.
Therefore, if a change in the current value at this time is detected, it is determined whether or not the outer skin portion 124 has been crushed, that is, the outer skin portion 12
4 can be detected whether or not an external force has acted.

As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the current detecting element 146 is connected to the computer 96, and the current detecting element 146 detects that a current of a predetermined value or more flows in the circuit, Wire 128 or electrode wire 132
The computer 96 operates the slide door driver 94 and the closer driver 110 and operates the slide door motor 28 and the closer motor 104 when the current detecting element 146 detects that the Is driven in reverse.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sensor main body 122 having the above-described structure is formed in a long tube shape from a synthetic resin material or a rubber material having a lower rigidity than the synthetic resin material forming the outer skin portion 124. Protector 1 as support member
It is held in a state of being inserted inside 48.

As shown in FIG. 1, the protector 148
Is provided with a holding portion 150 whose rigidity is equal to or less than the rigidity of the outer cover portion 124 and in which a concave portion 192 opened toward the front side of the vehicle 14 is formed. The concave portion 1 of the holding portion 150
92 is curved so as to form a part of an elliptical shape in which a direction along the front-rear direction of the vehicle 14 is a minor axis direction, and abuts on a portion of the outer skin portion 124 corresponding to the rear side of the vehicle 14. I have. A flexible portion 152 having a concave portion 194 opened toward the rear side of the vehicle 14 is continuously formed on the front side of the vehicle 14 of the one holding portion 150. Flexible part 15
The second concave portion 194 is also curved so as to form a part of an elliptical shape in which a direction along the front-rear direction of the vehicle 14 is a minor axis direction, and the minor axis dimension of the concave portion 192 and the concave portion 194 is the outer skin portion. 124 is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the
4 is a substantially elliptical insertion hole 196 whose long diameter along the left-right direction is sufficiently longer than the outer diameter of the outer skin portion 124.
Since the insertion hole 196 formed by the concave portion 192 and the concave portion 194 has the dimensional relationship as described above, the inner peripheral length is equal to the outer skin portion 124.
And a gap S of a predetermined size is formed on the side of the outer skin portion 124 (sensor body 122) inserted inside the outer circumference. Moreover, as described above, the insertion hole 196
Is approximately equal to the outer diameter of the outer skin portion 124,
The concave portion 194 contacts the outer skin portion 124 on the side opposite to the contact portion of the concave portion 192 with the outer skin portion 124 via the outer skin portion 124, and as a result, the insertion hole 196 is formed by the elastic force of each of the holding portion 150 and the flexible portion 152. It is sandwiched from the front and rear direction of the outer skin 152.

Further, a silicon layer (not shown) as a cold-resistant layer is formed on the surface of the flexible portion 152 to prevent the flexible portion 152 from freezing and hardening when the temperature falls in winter or the like. are doing. This silicon layer has a relatively low intermolecular force of the constituent molecules and has such physical characteristics, so that the silicon layer itself generally has high cold resistance and is hard to be cured even at a low temperature.

On the other hand, a mounting portion 154 is formed continuously on the opposite side of the holding portion 150 from the flexible portion 152. The mounting portion 154 is formed with a mounting groove 156 that opens toward the rear side of the vehicle 14 and is elongated along the longitudinal direction of the holding portion 150 and the flexible portion 152. It is attached to a bracket 170 provided near the part.

Further, the pressure sensor 12 is connected to the door panel 18.
In the vicinity of the lower end of the protector 148 in a state where the protector 148 is attached, a ring-shaped flange portion 15 forming an engaging portion in a direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the protector 148 is provided.
8 are formed. Further, a ring-shaped flange 160 substantially similar to the flange 158 constituting the engaging portion is formed from a position spaced a predetermined distance from the flange 158 along the longitudinal direction of the protector 148. The collar 158 and the collar 160
Between the flanges 158 and 160, the outer diameter is smaller than the diameter of each of the flanges 158 and 160.
60 and substantially coaxial.

Further, a seal portion 164 is formed on the axial end surface of the flange 160 opposite to the neck 162.
The outer diameter of the seal portion 164 is slightly larger than that of the flange 160, and is formed substantially coaxially with the flange 160.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the vicinity of the front end of the door panel 18 to which the pressure-sensitive sensor 120 having the above structure is attached, a part of the vicinity of the front end of the inner panel 54 is temporarily moved to the left side of the vehicle 14. In this portion, the thickness direction of the inner panel 54 is along the front-back direction of the vehicle 14. Further, the left end of the bent portion extends toward the front side of the vehicle 14, and the front end of the outer panel 56 is integrated with the front end of the inner panel 54 by caulking. A bracket 170 is provided at a bent portion of the inner panel 54 (that is, a portion where the plate thickness direction is the front-back direction of the vehicle 14).
The bracket 170 includes a flat fixing portion 172 that is elongated along the vertical direction of the inner panel 54. One end of the fixing portion 172 in the width direction is a support portion 174 bent toward the front side of the vehicle 14, and the mounting portion 1 described above.
54 enters the inside of the mounting groove 156, and the tip (front end) of the mounting groove 156 is in contact with the bottom of the mounting groove 156. Mounting part 1
54 is supported by the support portion 174 by sandwiching the support portion 174 by its own elastic force, and the support portion 54 is formed by the adhesive force of the adhesive applied to at least one of the support portion 174 and the inside of the mounting groove 156. 174.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a circular hole 176 is formed at the lower end of the bracket 170, and bolts or the like penetrating the circular hole 176 and the hole formed in the inner panel 54. The lower end of the bracket 170 is fixed to the inner panel 54 by a fastening means (none of which is shown). Although not particularly shown, a through hole similar to the circular hole 176 is also formed near the upper end of the bracket 170, and the upper end of the bracket 170 is similarly fixed to the inner panel 54 by fastening means such as bolts.

The bracket 1 is located above the circular hole 176.
70 is fixed to the inner panel 54, and projects toward the front side of the vehicle 14.
Are formed. The concave portion 178 has a circular shape as a whole, and its depth dimension is slightly deeper than the thickness (length in the axial direction) of the flange 160, and the thickness of the seal portion 164 is equal to the thickness of the flange 160. Shallower than the sum of the dimensions. Also, recess 1
A pull-in hole 180 is formed coaxially with the concave portion 178 at the bottom of 78. The drawing hole 180 is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the neck portion 162 so that the neck portion 162 can penetrate. Here, the axial dimension of the neck portion 162 is substantially the same as the thickness of the bracket 170 at the portion where the drawing hole 180 is formed, and when the neck portion 162 is penetrated through the drawing hole 180, a flange is formed on the inner bottom of the recess 178. The portion 160 abuts, and the flange 158 abuts on the outer bottom of the recess 178. As described above, since the depth of the recess 178 is smaller than the sum of the thickness of the flange 160 and the thickness of the seal 164, the recess 180 is formed.
In the state where the neck portion 162 is penetrated, the seal portion 164 protrudes from the surface of the bracket 170 on the rear side of the vehicle 14, but the bracket 170 is fixed to the inner panel 54 and the surface of the bracket 170 and the surface of the inner panel 54 are The seal portion 164 is brought into close contact with the inner panel 54 while the seal portion 164 is crushed by the inner panel 54.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the bracket 170 is fixed to the inner panel 54, the bracket 170 extends along the axial direction of the through hole 182 (ie, in the direction of the arrow A in FIGS. 1 to 3). Along with the drawing hole 180 formed in the concave portion 178, the through hole 182 formed in the inner panel 54 is formed.
And wrap (overlap). The inner diameter of the through hole 182 is slightly larger than the lower end of the protector 148 beyond the flange 160, and the lower end of the protector 148 can penetrate sufficiently.
8 penetrates through the inside of the door panel 18 (that is, between the inner panel 54 and the outer panel 56).
8, the electrode wires 128 to 134 drawn from the lower end of the protector 148 are connected to the connector 136.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,
Near the lower end of the bracket 170, the bracket 170
A notch 184 that opens at one end in the width direction and communicates with the above-described drawing hole 180 is formed. The width of the notch 184 is smaller than the outer diameter of the neck 162, and the width of the notch 184 is such that the neck 162 can be elastically deformed to partially pass through the notch 184 with the outer diameter reduced. ing. Therefore, in a state where the neck 162 has penetrated (fitted) into the drawing hole 180, the neck 162 (the protector 148) does not come out of the drawing hole 180 unless the neck 162 is contracted intentionally.

(Operation and effect of the present embodiment)
The operation and effect of the present embodiment will be described.

With the door panel 18 slid to the rear of the vehicle 14 to open the entrance 58, the operation switch 9
8, the computer 96 operates the slide door driver 94 of the slide door actuator 24 to cause the slide door driver 94 to operate the slide door motor 28.
, And the door panel 18 is slid toward the front side of the vehicle 14 via the endless belt 36 and the center arm 50.

If foreign matter is present on the slide track of the door panel 18 when the door panel 18 slides forward to fully close the entrance 58, the end (front end) of the door panel 18 in the closing movement direction contacts the foreign matter. To press foreign matter. When the protector 148 and the outer cover 124 are elastically deformed by the pressing reaction force from the foreign matter at this time, the electrode wires 12 in the outer cover 124 are deformed.
8 or the electrode line 132 comes into contact with the electrode line 130 or the electrode line 134 to conduct and short-circuit. As described above, at this time, the current flowing through the electric circuit including the electrode lines 128 to 134 (see FIG. 5) flows without passing through the resistor 138.
If a current flows through this circuit at a constant voltage, the current value changes, and the outer skin portion 124 detects the change in the current value at this time. When the outer cover 124 detects a change in the current value, the computer 96 operates the slide door driver 94 and the closer driver 110 to reversely drive the slide door motor 28 and the closer motor 104, and the door panel 18
To the rear of the vehicle 14. This can prevent foreign matter from being caught by the door panel 18.

Here, in the present pressure detecting device 10, since the cross-sectional shape of the insertion hole 196 of the protector 148 into which the pressure-sensitive sensor 120 is inserted is elliptical, no corner is formed on the inner peripheral portion thereof. . For this reason, as described above, when the protector 148 is elastically deformed by the pressing force acting thereon, even if the cross-sectional shape of the insertion hole 196 changes, no crack or the like is generated, and the protector 148 is not deformed. Very high durability.

In the pressure detecting device 10, the insertion hole 196 of the protector 148 has an elliptical shape.
Moreover, the shape of the outer diameter of the pressure-sensitive sensor 120 is the same as that of the outer skin 1 of the pressure-sensitive sensor 120 whose short diameter is equal to the outer diameter of the outer skin 124.
24 is sufficiently longer than the outer diameter of the insertion hole 196, and the pressure-sensitive sensor 120 (the outer skin portion 124) is sandwiched between the two inner circumferential portions of the insertion hole 196.
The contact area with the inner peripheral portion of the pressure sensor 96 is extremely smaller than the surface area of the outer peripheral portion of the pressure-sensitive sensor 120 (that is, the outer peripheral portion of the outer skin portion 124), and the sliding resistance from the inner peripheral portion of the insertion hole 196 is reduced. Compared to the case where it acts on the entire outer peripheral portion of 124,
Since the sliding resistance when the pressure-sensitive sensor 120 is inserted into the insertion hole 196 is reduced, the pressure-sensitive sensor 12
0 can be easily inserted, and the number of steps in the assembly process of the pressure detecting device 10 can be reduced.

In the pressure detecting device 10, the insertion hole 1
The gap S is formed as described above, since the pressure-sensitive sensor 120 is sandwiched between two portions of the inner peripheral portion of the 96 facing the outer skin portion 124 along the substantially front-rear direction of the vehicle 14 which is a short diameter portion. However, the pressure sensor 120 is held at a predetermined position in the insertion hole 196, and the relative movement of the pressure sensor 120 with respect to the protector 148 along the radial direction of the pressure sensor 120 does not occur. Therefore, the mounting position accuracy of the pressure-sensitive sensor 120 with respect to the door panel 18 is the same as that of the door panel 1.
8 depends only on the mounting position accuracy of the protector 148 with respect to FIG. That is, in the present pressure detecting device 10,
In the process of attaching the pressure-sensitive sensor 120 to the door panel 18, the pressure-sensitive sensor 120 can be accurately attached to the door panel 18 as long as the position of the protector 148 that can be easily seen from the outside is accurate. For this reason, the determination of the mounting position of the pressure-sensitive sensor 120 and the like are facilitated, which contributes to a reduction in the number of steps in the mounting process of the pressure-sensitive sensor 120.

Further, in the pressure detecting device 10, the pressure-sensitive sensor 120 is sandwiched between two portions of the inner peripheral portion of the insertion hole 196 facing the outer skin portion 124 along the substantially front-rear direction of the vehicle 14. As described above, the direction of the pressing reaction force when the foreign object is pressed when the door panel 18 closes is substantially behind the vehicle 14. Here, if a gap is formed between the inner peripheral portion of the insertion hole 196 and the outer peripheral portion of the outer skin portion 124 along the front-rear direction of the vehicle 14, the protector 148 is elastically deformed until the gap disappears. Although the pressure-sensitive sensor 120 may not be elastically deformed up to this point, in the present pressure detecting device 10, as described above, the inner peripheral portion of the insertion hole 196 faces the outer skin portion 124 along the substantially front-rear direction of the vehicle 14. Since the pressure-sensitive sensor 120 is sandwiched between the two positions, the pressure-sensitive sensor 120 is immediately elastically deformed in response to the elastic deformation of the protector 148 due to the reaction force of the foreign matter when the door panel 18 that moves in the closing direction presses the foreign matter. I do. For this reason, the pressure detection device 10 has a very quick response to the pressing reaction force from the foreign matter, and can detect the foreign matter being caught very quickly.

In the present embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the insertion hole 196 is elliptical, but from the viewpoint of the present invention described in claim 1, the cross-sectional shape of the insertion hole 196 is limited to an elliptical shape. Not something. In other words, from the viewpoint of the present invention described in claim 1, it is sufficient that the inner peripheral length of the insertion hole 196 is longer than the outer peripheral length of the outer skin portion 124, and the cross-sectional shape may be circular, triangular, or square. And the like. Similarly, from the viewpoint of the present invention described in claim 2, the insertion hole 196 has an inner peripheral length longer than the outer peripheral length of the outer skin portion 124, and furthermore, two or more portions are formed in the outer skin portion 1.
24 is sufficient. Therefore, the insertion hole 196
Is not basically circular, and may be a polygon such as a triangle or a quadrangle. In particular, in the case of a triangle or a quadrangle, three or more of the inner peripheral portions may have the outer skin portion 1 depending on the shape.
24, and in terms of holding the pressure-sensitive sensor 120, the effect may be improved as compared with the case where the cross-sectional shape of the insertion hole 196 is elliptical.

Further, in the present embodiment, the insertion hole 196
Among them, the portion facing the outer skin portion 124 along the front-rear direction of the vehicle 14 is the contact portion with the outer skin portion 124, but from the viewpoint of the present invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, In this case, the contact portion with the outer skin portion 124 is not necessarily the vehicle 14
It does not have to be a portion facing the outer skin portion 124 along the front-rear direction. That is, in the present embodiment, the door panel 1
8 is substantially in front of the vehicle 14 and the insertion hole 1 is closed.
This is because it is advantageous from the viewpoint of the responsiveness to the pressing reaction force from the foreign substance that the portion of the 96 that is opposed to the outer skin portion 124 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 14 and that is held in contact with the outer skin portion 124 is advantageous. is there. In other words, when the portion of the insertion hole 196 facing the outer skin portion 124 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 14 is brought into contact with the outer skin portion 124, the above-described advantages are not obtained, and the ease of assembly and the feeling Pressure sensor 12
This does not mean that the retention of 0 and the like are significantly reduced. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of the assembling property, the holding property of the pressure-sensitive sensor 120, and the like, the portion of the insertion hole 196 facing the outer skin portion 124 along the direction other than the front-rear direction of the vehicle 14 is the outer skin portion 124.
When the sensor is held in contact with the
May be further improved.

In the present embodiment, the pressure detecting device 1
0 is used to prevent the automatic sliding door device 16 of the vehicle 14 from being pinched by the door panel 18, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to this, and other vehicles other than automobiles such as railway vehicles and the like can be used. It can be used for automatic sliding door devices in all fields, such as automatic doors and windows of elevators and buildings.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan sectional view showing a configuration of a main part of a pressure detecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a main part of the pressure detecting device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side side view showing a configuration of a main part of the pressure detecting device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a pressure-sensitive sensor of the pressure detection device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram illustrating a configuration of a pressure-sensitive sensor.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a pressure detection device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of a vehicle to which the pressure detection device according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of a vehicle to which the pressure detection device according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of a center rail of the automatic opening / closing device.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of an upper rail of the automatic opening / closing device.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the vicinity of a lower rail of the automatic opening / closing device.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged plan view of the vicinity of a lower rail of the automatic opening / closing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 pressure detection device 120 pressure-sensitive sensor 148 protector (supporting member) 196 insertion hole

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Noboru Tsuge 390 Umeda, Kosai City, Shizuoka Prefecture Asmo Co., Ltd. 72) Inventor Kenji Kato 100 Kanayama, Ichiriyama-cho, Kariya-shi, Aichi F-term (Toyota Auto Body Co., Ltd.) KA16 2F051 AA01 AA06 AB07 BA07

Claims (4)

[Claims] A pressure-sensitive sensor for detecting an external force acting on the outer skin portion by elastically deforming the outer skin portion, wherein the pressure-sensitive sensor is attached to a predetermined portion. A pressure detecting device for detecting that an external force has acted, wherein the inner peripheral length is longer than the outer peripheral length of the outer skin portion, and the outer peripheral portion is inwardly contacted with an inner peripheral portion of the outer peripheral portion of the outer peripheral portion. A support member for fixing the pressure-sensitive sensor in a state where the pressure-sensitive sensor is inserted, the support member supporting the pressure-sensitive sensor while the insertion hole into which the pressure-sensitive sensor is inserted is formed; A pressure detecting device comprising: 2. An inner peripheral portion of an insertion hole of the support member,
2. The pressure detecting device according to claim 1, wherein two or more portions in the circumferential direction abut on the outer peripheral portion of the outer skin portion to sandwich the outer skin portion. 3. The pressure detection device according to claim 1, wherein an inner peripheral shape of the insertion hole of the support member is an elliptical shape whose minor dimension is substantially equal to a diameter dimension of the outer cover. apparatus. 4. An outer peripheral portion of the outer cover portion, wherein at least one of a side in which the external force acts and a side opposite thereto is brought into contact with an inner peripheral portion of the insertion hole. The pressure detection device according to claim 3.