JP2000346042A - Automatic cable length adjustment mechanism and parking brake device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an automatic small-sized cable length adjustment mechanism which can absorb extension of the cable with a simple structure and shows excellent practicability. SOLUTION: A latch plate 10 is supported to a guide plate 20 through a long hole 14 and rivets 24, 25. A latch lock which is oscillatingly energized is abutted against a latch 13. When a brake lever A is operated in an X direction, the latch 13 is engaged by means of the latch lock 30. The latch plate 10 is displaced together with the guide plate 20 for pulling a cable 2 and driving a brake device. When the brake lever A is operated in a Y direction, the latch plate 10 is pulled back to the brake device together with the cable 2. When the cable 2 is extended, it is loosened at the time of operation in the Y direction. At this time, the latch plate 10 is displaced so as to tension the cable 2. When the displacement rate exceeds the width of the latch 13, the latch lock 30 engages the adjacent latch 13 at the time of next pulling operation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cable length automatic adjusting mechanism for absorbing an elongation of a cable due to aging in a cable for transmitting an operating force to a driven object by a pulling operation using an operating lever or the like. It is used for a parking brake device of a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a device for pulling a cable, such as a parking brake device of a vehicle, a cable pulled by an operation lever or the like elongates due to repeated pulling for a long period of time. If this elongation is neglected, it may cause a shortage of operating force such as a shortage of braking force. For this reason, serrations are manually adjusted so that the cable length is appropriately maintained during inspection and maintenance.

On the other hand, in a limited use, the cable length is adjusted as described in (1)
As disclosed in JP-A-61023, a fixed screw having a cable attached thereto is screwed to a rotary screw rotatable with respect to a parking lever, and a ratchet wheel is rotated by a pawl which rotates together with the parking lever. The cable is designed to absorb the elongation of the cable by rotating the rotary screw through the
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H10-260, a split screw ring that is screwed to the outside of a screw rod connected to a cable is disposed, housed in a case having a tapered surface inside, and a split screw ring in the case. Are biased by a spring, and when the slack occurs, the slack of the cable is absorbed by shifting the screwing position of the split screw ring with the screw rod.

[0004]

However, with serrations, if the inspection and maintenance are neglected, the operation cannot be performed reliably. Further, in the above (1), since it is necessary to rotate the ratchet wheel, its mounting location is limited to an interlocking portion with the parking lever, and the versatility is poor. Therefore, there is a problem that the size of the adjusting device is increased because a structure for preventing such a situation is required. In the case of the above (2), since the pulling force for pulling the cable must be applied to the case, the range of use is limited to the vicinity of the lever. There is a problem that a structure or the like for locking the lock is required separately, and the versatility is poor.

The present invention relates to a cable for transmitting an operating force to an object to be driven by a pulling operation using an operating lever or the like.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a cable length automatic adjustment mechanism excellent in versatility that can absorb the elongation of the cable due to aging and can be easily used in various applications for pulling the cable.

[0006]

According to the present invention, claim 1 is:
In a cable length automatic adjustment mechanism provided in connection with a cable between a tension target urged to return to a tension release position and a tension operation unit for performing a tension operation on the tension target, the tension target or A member connected to either side of the pulling operation means, wherein the member can be locked against a displacement during a pulling operation of the cable and cannot be locked against a displacement during a relaxing operation of the cable. A latch member provided with a plurality of latches arranged in a pulling direction, and a member connected to a side of the pulling object or the pulling operation means that is not connected to the latch member, wherein the latch member A latch support member slidably supporting the latch member along the pulling direction, and a latch member disposed on the plurality of latch sides of the latch member and swinging so as to abut on the latch arrangement portion of the latch member. A swing member which is urged and is swingably supported by the latch support member, and which can be locked to a contact portion with the latch member with respect to any of the latches when the cable is pulled. A swing latch provided with a locking latch, and a tension that constantly urges the latch support member and the latch member slidably supported by the latch support member so as to relatively pull the cable. And a biasing means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the latch supporting member is formed so as to sandwich the latch member, and the latch member extends along at least a portion sandwiched by the latch supporting member in the sliding direction. An elongated hole is formed, and the latch supporting member is provided with a slide restricting portion which is slidably displaced in the elongated hole and regulates a sliding direction of the latch member. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the latch support member includes two members disposed so as to sandwich the latch member and the swing latch from both sides, and the slide restricting portion includes the two members. And two connecting members arranged at a predetermined interval along the longitudinal direction of the elongated hole.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first to third aspects, an end of the latch member is provided so as to protrude from an end of the latch support member, and the tension urging member is connected to an end of the latch member. A compression spring is provided between the ends of the latch support member to urge the end of the latch member away from the end of the latch support member.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first to fourth aspects, the tension operation means is an operation lever provided such that an operation point acts on one of the two connection members. It is characterized by.

A sixth aspect of the invention is characterized in that the automatic cable length adjusting mechanism according to the first to fifth aspects is used for a parking brake of a vehicle. Claim 7 relates to claim 6,
The vehicle is a motorcycle. Claim 8
The vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the vehicle is a four-wheeled vehicle.

[0011]

According to the present invention, the latch member is slidably supported by the latch support member, and is oscillated and urged to abut against a portion of the latch member where a plurality of latches are arranged. The latch is also swingably supported by the latch support member. The latch member is constantly urged by the tension urging means in the direction in which the cable is pulled against the latch support member.

When the tension operating means is operated and the cable is pulled in a state in which the automatic cable length adjusting mechanism of the present invention having the above-described structure is provided between the tension operating means and the object to be pulled, the cable swings. Since the latch for latching the latch is locked by any one of the plurality of latches of the latch member, the latch member is displaced by tension together with the latch support member via the swinging latch, and accordingly, the pulling operation means The tension operation of the tension operation means is transmitted via a cable between the tension and the tension symmetry, and the tension target is driven. When the tension operation means is operated in the direction opposite to the tension direction, the tension target returns to the tension release position. At this time, the cable, the latch member, the latch support member, the swinging latch, and the like are displaced toward the tension target side with the returning operation of the tension target.

In the state where the cable is pulled back to the tension target side, the cable elongates due to aging and the like,
If the tension is longer than the initial state from the pulling operation means to the tension target, the amount of return to the tension target side of the cable etc. is insufficient with only the biasing force to the tension release position, and the cable Is loosened. Here, the latch member and the latch support member are always urged in the tension direction of the cable by the tension urging means, and the latch is formed so as not to be locked against displacement when the cable is relaxed. Therefore, the latch member is not locked by the locking latch and can be displaced with respect to the locking latch. Therefore, the latch member is displaced toward the tension side relative to the latch supporting member by an amount corresponding to the slack of the cable. At this time, the swing latch swings in the direction opposite to the swing biasing direction while bringing the latch for latch into contact with the latch next to the latch locked at the time of pulling. Displaces relatively in the opposite direction.

If the amount of displacement at this time is smaller than the distance between the latches of the latch member, the displacement stops in a state where the latch for latching is in contact with the latch. The latch for latching is re-engaged with the previously latched latch while rubbing on the latch that is in contact with it, and drives the latch member.

Conversely, when the displacement amount at this time is larger than the interval between the latches of the latch member, the locking latch gets over one latch on the side to be pulled. Thereafter, when the pulling operation means is pulled, the locking latch locks the latch at a position relatively displaced toward the pulling target side by one from the latch previously latched to the latch member. Then, the latch member is driven to the tension side. As a result, even if the cable length becomes longer due to long-term use, slack more than the arrangement interval of the latch does not occur between the pulling operation means and the pulling target, and the slack is determined by the operation of the pulling operation means. Thus, the object to be pulled can be reliably driven via the cable.

As described above, according to the present invention, even when the length of the cable is extended, the locking position between the latch member and the swinging latch is automatically set when the extent of the extension exceeds the interval between the latches. Switching can reduce the total length of the latch member and the latch support member in the pulling direction. For this reason, the length from the tension operation means including the cable to the tension target can be automatically adjusted, and a reliable operation can be performed. In addition, the length adjustment is automatically performed by a change in the tensile force applied from both ends of the tension side and the tension target side to the latch member and the latch support member, and the operation by another member or the like is performed for the adjustment. Since the device is unnecessary, the device is inexpensive and compact, and the installation location is not limited to the vicinity of the operation lever and the like, and the device can be provided in the middle of the connection of the cable.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the sliding direction of the latch member is regulated by a long hole, and the latch support member may be formed so as to sandwich the latch member. Therefore, the structure for sliding the latch member is simplified. Become. Therefore, an inexpensive device can be obtained. According to the third aspect, the two members constituting the latch support member are connected by a connecting member serving as a slide restricting portion that restricts the sliding direction of the latch member in the elongated hole. Assembly with the latch support member can be performed simultaneously. Therefore, the structure is simple and the assembly is easy. Also, for example, the connection between the latch support member and the pulling operation means can be performed by using the connecting member located on the pulling side as the pulling operation means, so that the number of parts can be reduced. Therefore,
Since the configuration can be simple, an inexpensive device can be provided.

According to the fifth aspect, since the operating point of the operating lever is provided so as to act on one of the two connecting members, the connecting of the tension operating means and the latch supporting member is performed in the same step. Therefore, there is no need to separately provide a connecting member for the operation lever, and the connecting member can be omitted. Therefore, assembling can be performed easily and an inexpensive device can be obtained.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an automatic cable length adjusting mechanism according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an automatic cable length adjusting mechanism 1 provided between a brake lever A and a brake device (not shown) in a motorcycle parking brake device. The automatic cable length adjusting mechanism 1 includes a latch plate 10, a guide plate 20, a latch lock 30, and a coil spring 40 as main members, and includes some other components for assembly.

The latch plate 10 is formed of a substantially straight plate member, and is connected to the cable 2 connected to a brake device (not shown) as a tension target which is urged to return to the tension release position. At the end, an end holder 11 for fitting the cable end 3 of the cable 2
Are formed in a shape branched into two in the thickness direction.
A slit 12 through which the cable 2 passes when the cable end 3 is fitted is formed on one side of the branched end holder 11.

A plurality of latches 13 arranged linearly along the longitudinal direction are formed at an intermediate portion of one side edge of the latch plate 10 along the longitudinal direction. As shown in FIG. 2, these latches 13 are formed such that each side 13 a on the end holder 11 side to which the cable 2 is connected is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the latch plate 10, and The opposite side 13b is formed to be inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction.

The central portion of the latch plate 10 is provided with an elongated hole 14 formed near the inner side of the portion where the plurality of latches 13 are formed and further extended toward the pulling direction side of the cable 2. I have. When the latch plate 10 is slid by a guide plate 20, which will be described later, the elongated hole 14 is a portion where the sliding direction is regulated and slidably supported, and is parallel to the arrangement direction of the plurality of latches 13 described above. It is formed linearly so that

The guide plate 20 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in the figure, it is arranged outside the latch plate 10,
A portion where the latch plate 10 sandwiches the vicinity of the elongated hole 14 and a portion thereof is bent slightly toward the latch 13 to
The guide plate 20 is composed of two substantially symmetrical plate-like members having a portion protruding therefrom, and an end on the pulling direction side of each guide plate 20 has an outer side for locking a coil spring 40 described later. The flange portion 21 is bent at a right angle in the direction.

The two guide plates 20 have connecting holes 2 at portions where the long holes 14 of the latch plate 10 are sandwiched.
2 and 23 are formed, and each guide plate 20 is integrated through the latch plate 10 by these holes 22 and 23 by two rivets 24 and 25 arranged through the long hole 14 of the latch plate 10. Has been here,
The interval between the rivets 24 and 25 is set to about half the length of the long hole 14 of the latch plate 10, and the diameter of each rivet 24 and 25 slides smoothly in the long hole 14 described above. The sliding direction of the latch plate 10 is set so as to be restricted. Thereby, the latch plate 10
The two rivets 24 and 25 in the elongated hole 14 are slidably supported in a state where the sliding direction is regulated.

The guide plate 20 has a hole 26 which is bent in a substantially rectangular shape and protrudes to the outside of the latch 13.
A latch lock 30 swingably supported by a rivet 27 is provided. The latch lock 30 has a locking latch 31 that can be locked to the latch 13 by swinging from the outside of the latch plate 10 toward the latch 13.
Is urged to swing by a torsion spring 32 that contacts the latch plate 10 from the outside.

The locking latch 31 is provided on the latch plate 10.
Is displaceable in the pulling direction side with respect to the guide plate 20 and is not displaceable in the cable 2 side direction.
3, the outer (left side in FIG. 1) side is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the latch plate 10, and the inner (right side in FIG. 1) side is in the longitudinal direction of the latch plate 10. Each is formed to be inclined with respect to the other.

The tension side end of the latch plate 10 slidably supported by the guide plate 20 projects from the flange portion 21 of the guide plate 20, and the end of the latch plate 10 has the same size as the flange portion 21. A substantially cylindrical end member 16 having the flange 15 is attached. The terminal member 16 is formed with a vertically-slit slit 17 into which the end of the latch plate 10 is inserted.
It is fixed to.

Between the flange 21 and the flange 15 of the guide plate 20, which is the outer periphery of the terminal member 16, a coil spring 40 for urging the flange 15 to separate it further outward (tensile direction) from the flange 21. Is arranged.

The automatic cable length adjusting mechanism 1 according to the present embodiment having the above-described configuration is designed so that when the guide plate 20 and the latch lock 30 are relatively displaced in the pulling direction with respect to the latch plate 10, Since the latch 31 is locked by the latch 13, the latch plate 10 is displaced together with the guide plate 20 and the latch lock 30. Conversely, when the guide plate 20 and the latch lock 30 are to be displaced toward the cable 2 relative to the latch plate 10, the locking latch 31 is
3, it can be displaced. Therefore, when the distance that the latch lock 30 is displaced toward the cable 2 relative to the latch plate 10 exceeds the arrangement interval of the latches 13, the latch lock 30
3 and gets into the valley of the adjacent latch 13.

The automatic cable length adjusting mechanism 1 described above is, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, a manually operated type which is swingably provided by a shaft 4 with respect to a bracket (not shown) provided on a motorcycle body. The operation point of the brake lever A is integrated with the guide plate 20 by the rivet 24. The brake device is provided with an urging means for automatically returning to the non-braking position at all times, and the brake lever A is provided to maintain the position of the brake lever A after the pulling operation. (Not shown).

In the above configuration, when the brake lever A is pulled (in the X direction in FIG. 5), the rivet 24 is moved.
The guide plate 20 and the latch lock 30 are displaced in the pulling direction (left direction in FIG. 5) via
The locking latch 31 is locked by the latch 13, and the latch plate 10 is similarly displaced in the pulling direction. This allows
The cable 2 is pulled, and the brake device is driven against the urging force to perform a braking operation. At this time, the brake lever A is locked at a position where the brake device is pulled to the braking state.

When the lock of the brake lever A is released and the brake lever A is pushed back (Y direction in FIG. 5), the guide plate 20 and the latch lock 30 are returned to the cable 2 side, and are moved to the latch 13 by the locking latch 31. Is released. Then, the cable 2 is pulled from the brake device side by the urging force of the brake device, and displaces the latch plate 10 toward the cable 2 together with the displacement of the guide plate 20 and the latch lock 30.

If the length of the cable 2 is longer than the initial length due to long-term use, the guide plate 20 and the latch lock 30 must be connected by the cable 2 before returning to the release position of the brake device. When the latch plate 10 has been pulled back, the latch plate 1
The guide plate 20 and the latch lock 30 are excessively displaced toward the cable 2 by the urging force of the coil spring 40 while the zero is stopped. At this time, latch lock 3
The latching latch 31 of 0 is separated from the side 13a on the cable 2 side of the latch 13 that was in contact at that time, and is continuously displaced while rubbing on the tension side 13b of the adjacent latch 13.

The displacement (displacement length) of the guide plate 20 and the latch lock 30 after the displacement of the latch plate 10 has stopped is determined by the arrangement interval of the latches 13 (here, 5 m).
m), the locking latch 31 stops on the side 13b of the latch 13, and then when the brake lever A is operated, the side on the side 13b of the latch 13 moves in the pulling direction. After rubbing, the side 13a is locked, and the cable 2 is similarly pulled through the latch plate 10 to drive the brake device.

If the amount of displacement (displacement length) of the guide plate 20 and the latch lock 30 after the extension of the cable 2 is large and the displacement of the latch plate 10 is stopped exceeds the arrangement interval (5 mm) of the latches 13, The stop latch 31
When the user overcomes the adjacent latch 13 and then operates the brake lever A, the side 13a on the pulling side of the new latch 13 that has been overridden is locked to drive the brake device. Therefore, even when the length of the cable 2 is extended, the brake device can be reliably driven when the next brake lever A is operated by sequentially overcoming the plurality of latches 13 arranged. As a result, the brake device can be reliably operated for a long period of time without performing special inspection and maintenance.

As described above, according to the present invention, even when the cable 2 is elongated by use for a long time and becomes longer than the length in the initial state, the brake device is reliably driven by the normal operation. be able to. The length of the cable 2 is adjusted by switching the latch 13 to be locked by the locking latch 31 according to the relative displacement between the latch plate 10 and the guide plate 20 due to the urging force of the coil spring 40. Since the switching operation does not need to be performed by a separate member, the installation position of the automatic cable length adjustment mechanism 1 is not limited to the vicinity of the brake lever A or the like. Since it can be provided in the middle, it can be excellent in versatility.

In the above embodiment, the guide plate 20 is provided on the brake lever side, and the latch plate 1 is provided on the brake device side.
0, but instead of the brake lever A on the guide plate 20, for example, a U-shaped cable holder bypassing the terminal member 16 is connected to the rivet 24, and a brake is attached to a corresponding portion of the end holder 11 of the latch plate 10. The brake lever side and the brake device side may be connected in reverse by connecting a lever or the like. In the above embodiment, the latch member is formed by the latch plate 10 and the terminal member 1.
6 is combined, but may be configured as a single member. In the above embodiment, the guide plate 20 is integrated by using rivets, but a bolt and a nut may be used. In the above embodiment, the automatic cable length adjusting mechanism 1 is provided between the brake lever and the brake device of the motorcycle.
It may be provided between the brake lever of the four-wheeled vehicle and the parking brake device. In this case, the guide plate 20 may be connected to a cable connected to the brake lever at a stage preceding the equalizer without operating the guide plate 20 by the brake lever. In the above embodiment, the purpose is to absorb the elongation of the cable for driving the parking brake. Is also good. Also, as a cable,
The present invention is not limited to automobiles, and may be used for absorbing the elongation of a cable in a window opening / closing device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an automatic cable length adjusting mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an assembly diagram showing a main configuration of the automatic cable length adjusting mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 3A is a plan view showing an automatic cable length adjusting mechanism of the present invention, and FIG. 3B is a plan sectional view showing a position of a long hole of a latch plate.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a latch lock support portion in the automatic cable length adjusting mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view for explaining an operation by a brake lever in a parking brake using the automatic cable length adjusting mechanism of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cable length automatic adjustment mechanism 2 Cable 10 Latch plate (latch member) 13 Latch (plural latches) 14 Long hole 15 Flange (end of latch member) 20 Guide plate (latch support member) 21 Flange portion (of latch support member) Ends) 24, 25 Rivet (sliding restricting portion, connecting member) 30 Latch lock (oscillating latch) 31 Latch for locking (contact portion with latch member) 40 Coil spring (relaxation biasing means) A Brake lever (Tension operation means)

Claims (8)

[Claims] An automatic cable length adjusting mechanism provided in connection with a cable between a tension object urged to return to a tension release position and a tension operation means for tensioning the tension object. A member connected to either the object to be pulled or the pulling operation means, wherein the member can be locked against a displacement during a pulling operation of the cable and locked against a displacement during a relaxing operation of the cable; A latch member provided with a plurality of latches formed incapable of being arranged along the pulling direction; and a member connected to a side of the pulling target or the pulling operation means that is not connected to the latch member. A latch support member that slidably supports the latch member along a pulling direction; and a latch support member disposed on the plurality of latch sides of the latch member.
A swing member oscillatingly urged to abut on the latch arrangement portion of the latch member and swingably supported by the latch support member, wherein the contact portion with the latch member includes: A swinging latch provided with a locking latch that can be locked to one of the latches during a pulling operation of the cable; and the latch support member and the latch member slidably supported by the latch support member. And a tension urging means for constantly urging the cable to relatively pull the cable. 2. The latch support member is formed so as to sandwich the latch member, and the latch member has an elongated hole formed in at least a portion sandwiched by the latch support member along the sliding direction. 2. The automatic cable length adjusting mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said latch support member is provided with a slide restricting portion which is slidably displaced in said elongated hole to restrict a sliding direction of said latch member. . 3. The latch support member is disposed so as to sandwich the latch member and the swing latch from both sides.
The sliding restricting portion comprises two connecting members arranged at a predetermined interval along a longitudinal direction of the long hole to connect the two members. The automatic cable length adjusting mechanism according to claim 2. 4. An end of the latch member protrudes from an end of the latch support member, and the tension urging member is provided between an end of the latch member and an end of the latch support member. The automatic cable length adjusting mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the compression spring is a biased spring that biases an end of the latch member away from an end of the latch support member. 5. The pulling operation means according to claim 1, wherein the pulling operation means is an operation lever provided such that an action point acts on one of the two connection members. The automatic cable length adjustment mechanism according to any one of the above. 6. A parking brake device, wherein the automatic cable length adjusting mechanism according to claim 1 is used for a parking brake of a vehicle. 7. The parking brake device according to claim 6, wherein the vehicle is a two-wheeled vehicle. 8. The parking brake device according to claim 6, wherein the vehicle is a four-wheeled vehicle.