JP2000355246A - Vehicular turn signal lamp - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable an operator to safely perform driving operation of a vehicle without drawing attention to a turn signal lamp operation by putting out a lighted turn signal lamp by a first lights-out means or a second lights-out means. SOLUTION: For example, in steering wheel turning steering in the right direction, a left turn signal lamp 9a is put out by detection by a torque sensor 19. Since this torque sensor 19 can detect torque while performing turning steering on a steering wheel but cannot detect the torque when losing the turning steering of the steering wheel, a total timer 17 is arranged for complementing this. The total timer 17 always starts to measure time when an ON signal of a left or right limit switch 15a, 15b is inputted regardless of the turning steering direction of the steering wheel, and puts out a left or right turn signal lamp 9a, 9b after a prescribed time passes. The left or right turn signal lamp 9a, 9b is also put out even when the torque cannot be detected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a vehicular turning indicator, and more particularly to a vehicular turning indicator suitable for industrial vehicles such as forklifts.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Normally, in order to indicate the direction of a vehicle, an operator operates a direction indicating switch to turn on a left or right direction indicating lamp. The direction indicator switch is locked in a state of being tilted left or right by a manual input operation, and while locked, the direction indicator lamp in the tilt direction is turned on. In order to turn off the lit direction indicator lamp, a manual input operation for returning the direction indicator switch locked in the left or right direction to the neutral state has been performed. That is,
The operator has manually operated both the operation of turning on the direction indicator lamp and the operation of turning off the turned-on direction indicator lamp by the direction indicator switch.

[0003]

According to the above-mentioned prior art, the direction indicating switch requires the operator to manually turn on and off the direction indicating lamp by a manual input operation. Meanwhile, in a forklift or the like, an operator needs to perform a traveling operation of a vehicle and a fork operation at the same time, and frequently changes a traveling direction of the vehicle. Nevertheless, it is extremely troublesome for the operator to directly operate both the turning-on and turning-off operations of the direction indicator lamp each time as in the related art. It was easy to cause accidents, forget to turn on or turn off the direction indicator lamp, etc.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicular turning indicator that enables an operator to safely perform a driving operation of a vehicle without paying attention to the turning operation.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned object, the present invention has the following technical means. That is, this will be described using reference numerals in the accompanying drawings corresponding to the embodiments. According to the present invention, a direction indicator lamp that is turned on or off according to the left or right turning direction of the vehicle, and the direction indicator lamp is turned on In a direction indicator comprising: a direction instructing unit, and a light-out unit that extinguishes a lit direction-indicating lamp, the light-out unit detects a steering direction of the vehicle, and the steering direction is a direction input by the direction instruction unit. A first light-off means for outputting a light-off signal to turn off the left or right direction indicator lamp when the vehicle turns in the opposite direction; And a second light-off means for turning off the lamp.

Another feature of the invention is that the light-off means includes a third light-off means for forcibly turning off the direction indicator lamp by an input operation of an operator.

Another feature is that the direction instructing means is configured to automatically return to a neutral state after being tilted left or right by an input operation of an operator.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. A forklift 1 is a four-wheel counterbalance type forklift. A pair of left and right masts 3 are erected in front of the vehicle body 2 in the traveling direction, and a pair of forks 4 are provided along the masts 3.
Is provided so as to be able to move up and down. A seat 5 on which an operator sits is provided at the center of the vehicle body 2, and an operating device 6 for the operator to operate the forklift.
Is provided. A head guard 7 is provided above the seat 5 to protect the operator from falling objects.
A pair of head lamps 8a and 8b are fixed to the upper right and left of the front pillar of the head guard 7. A left direction indicator lamp 9 is provided below each of the headlamps 8a and 8b.
a, right direction indicator lamp 9b is fixed.

FIG. 1 shows the left and right direction indicator lamps 9a,
It is an electric circuit diagram for lighting 9b. Direction indicating means operated by an operator is provided near the steering 11 of the operation device 6. The direction indicating means is:
The automatic return type direction switch 10 is configured to automatically return when the left and right direction commands are input by the operator. More specifically, it is a momentary toggle switch provided to be tiltable about the shaft 12 as shown by an arrow, and is biased by springs 13 and 13 to always automatically return to a neutral position. When the direction switch 10 is tilted to the left, the fan-shaped plate 14 fixed to the lower end turns the left limit switch 15a to the O position.
N, the right limit switch 15b is turned on when tilted to the right.

Further, the electric circuit includes first light-off means. The first light-off means is provided with a torque sensor 19 for detecting the steering direction of the steering wheel 11, and a signal from the torque sensor 19, and It has a discriminator 20 for discriminating the steering direction of the steering 11, and a timer 21 that turns on the time measurement when a signal is input from the discriminator 20 and outputs a one-shot signal after a lapse of a predetermined time. Further, a total timer 17, a left RS flip-flop 16a (hereinafter, left FF 16a) and a right RS flip-flop 16b (hereinafter, right FF 16b), a left OR circuit 18a, and a right OR circuit 18b
Is provided.

An ON or OFF signal from the left limit switch 15a is input to a set input pin S of the left FF 16a, and a left OR is input to a reset input pin R.
An ON or OFF signal from the circuit 18a is input. Similarly, an ON or OFF signal from the right limit switch 15b is input to the set input pin S of the right FF 16b, and the right OR circuit 18b is input to the reset input pin R.
ON or OFF signal is input.

The total timer 17 is a timer that turns on the time measurement when an ON signal is input from the left or right limit switch 15a, 15b, and outputs a one-shot signal after a predetermined time has elapsed. The left OR circuit 18a
Is a logic circuit to which the output signal from the right limit switch 15b, the one-shot output signal from the timer 21, the one-shot output signal from the total timer 17, and the output signal from the cancel switch 22 are input. Similarly, the right OR circuit 18b receives an output signal from the left limit switch 15a, a one-shot output signal from the timer 21, a one-shot output signal from the total timer 17, and an output signal from the cancel switch 22. Logic circuit.

The cancel switch 22 is a push-button switch disposed near the direction indicating switch 10, and forcibly turns off the lit left or right direction indicating lamps 9a and 9b. is there. The cancel switch 22 outputs an ON signal to the left and right OR circuits 18a and 18b by an input operation of the operator.

The operation of the electric circuit having the above configuration will be described. In the following description, an example will be described in which 1 indicates that the vehicle 1 has performed a direction instruction input while the vehicle 1 is stopped or traveling straight, and 2 indicates that the vehicle 1 has performed a direction instruction input while the vehicle 1 is turning left or right. I will do it.

First, the case where the left direction instruction is input while the vehicle 1 is stopped or traveling straight ahead as 1 will be described. The direction indicating switch 10 is tilted to the left to turn on the left direction indicating lamp 9a. As a result, the left limit switch 15a is temporarily turned on, and an ON signal is output. The ON signal is output to the left FF 16a, the total timer 17, and the right OR circuit 18b. The left OR circuit 18a is connected to the right limit switch 15b.
Signal from the timer, an ON signal from the total timer 17, an ON signal from the timer 21, and an ON signal from the cancel switch 22.
Unless at least one signal is input, the left FF 16a
FF signal is output.

That is, as a result of adding an ON signal as a set input of the left FF 16a and an OFF signal as a reset input, an ON signal is output from a first output pin Q1 and an OFF signal is output from a second output pin Q2 of the left FF 16a. Then, the left direction indicator lamp 9a is turned on.

At this time, focusing on the right FF 16b, the OFF signal from the right limit switch 15b is input to the set input pin S, and the ON signal from the right OR circuit 18b is input. I have. The right OR circuit 18b outputs an ON signal in response to input of an ON signal from the left limit switch 15a, an OFF signal from the total timer 17, and an OFF signal from the timer 21. Then, the right FF 16b receives the first
An OFF signal is output from the output pin Q1, and an ON signal is output from the second output pin Q2. As a result, the right direction indicator lamp 9b is kept off.

Next, in response to the direction instruction input, the steering wheel 11 is turned leftward from the state where the left direction instruction lamp 9a is turned on. At this time, the left FF 16a
Indicates that the set input pin S has an OFF signal and the reset input pin R
Because the OFF signal is input to the, keep lighting.

Next, the lit left direction indicator lamp 9
The case where a is turned off will be described. Left direction indicator lamp 9a
There are two cases where goes off. As 1, the light is turned off by turning the steering 11 to the right, and as 2, the light is turned off by the total timer 17.

First, turning off by turning the steering 11 to the right will be described. When the steering wheel 11 that has been turned to the left is steered to the right, which is the opposite direction, the steering torque is detected by the torque sensor 19 and a signal is output to the discriminator 20. The discriminator 20
Then, the turning direction of the steering wheel 11 is determined, and when the detected torque value is equal to or larger than a predetermined value, the timer 2 is activated.
1 outputs a rightward rotation detection signal. The discriminator 20
The timer 21 to which the signal has been input starts measuring time at the same time as the input, and outputs a one-shot ON signal when a predetermined time has elapsed. The one-shot ON signal output from the timer 21 is input to the left OR circuit 18a.

This causes the left OR circuit 18a to be turned on.
A signal is output and the left limit switch 1
Since the OFF signal is output from 5a, the left FF1 is output.
An OFF signal is input to 6a as a set input and an ON signal is input as a reset input. The OFF signal is output from the first output pin Q1 of the left FF 16a to the O output from the second output pin Q2.
An N signal is output, and the left direction indicator lamp 9a is turned off. The timing at which the one-shot ON signal is output from the timer 21 is set to a value equal to or more than a predetermined torque value and after a predetermined time has elapsed, so that the steering 1
When turning in the opposite direction temporarily or momentarily during turning steering of No. 1, the left or right direction indicator lamp 9a, which is lit, is turned on.
9b can be prevented from turning off. This condition may or may not be other conditions.

As described above, steering 1 to the right
In one-turn steering, the left direction indicator lamp 9a is turned off by detection by the torque sensor 19. The torque sensor 19 can detect the torque while the steering 11 is being turned, but cannot detect the torque when the steering of the steering 11 is no longer performed.
The operation of the total timer 17 will be described below.

When the left limit switch 15a is turned ON, an ON signal is input to the total timer 17, and the total timer 17 starts measuring time. When this measurement elapses a predetermined time, the one-shot ON signal is output from the total timer 17. The above total timer 17
Is output to the left OR circuit 18a. Thus, the left OR circuit 18a
Output an ON signal from the left limit switch 15a and an OFF signal from the left limit switch 15a.
To 16a, an OFF signal is input as a set input, and an ON signal is input as a reset input.

As a result, the first output pin Q1 of the left FF 16a
, An ON signal is output from the second output pin Q2, and the left direction indicator lamp 9a is turned off. That is, the total timer 17 is controlled by the steering 1
Regardless of the turning steering direction, when the 0N signal of the left or right limit switch 15a, 15b is input, time measurement always starts, and after a predetermined time has elapsed, the left or right direction indicator lamps 9a, 9b are turned off. At the same time, the steering 1
The left or right direction indicating lamps 9a and 9b are turned off even in the neutral state in which the turning steering is lost, that is, when the torque cannot be detected.

When the steering wheel 11 is turned in a direction opposite to the direction instruction input, the lit left or right direction instruction lamps 9a and 9b can be extinguished by the torque sensor 19 or the like as the first extinguishing means. However, even if the first light-off means cannot be detected due to a failure or the like,
By the total timer 17, the left or right direction indicating lamps 9a and 9b can be reliably turned off.

While the left direction instruction input is performed as an initial input while the vehicle 1 is stopped or traveling straight, when the right direction instruction input is performed as the initial input, the above-described left direction lamp 9a is turned on and off. Right direction indicator lamp 9b
Is turned on and off.

Next, the case where the left or right direction instruction input is performed while the vehicle 1 is turning left will be described as 2. When a leftward direction input is performed during a left turn, the leftward direction lamp 9a is turned on in substantially the same manner as in the above-described stop and straight ahead. Then, when the steering wheel 11 is turned rightward from this state, the left direction indicator lamp 9a is turned off by the detection of the torque sensor 19. When a rightward instruction input is performed during a left turn, the rightward instruction lamp 9b is turned on, but is immediately turned off because the torque sensor 19 detects the leftward torque. A right direction indicator lamp 9b when a left or right direction instruction input is made during a right turn.
Lighting and extinguishing of the above-mentioned left direction indicator lamp 9a,
It is almost the same as turning off the light.

Next, the operation of the cancel switch 22 will be described. After turning on the left or right direction indicator lamps 9a, 9b after turning on the left or right direction indicator lamps 9a, 9b, the operator operates the cancel switch 22 if the operator wants to turn off the left or right direction indicator lamps 9a, 9b due to mistake or other reasons.
An ON signal is output to the left and right OR circuits 18a and 18b. An ON signal from the cancel switch 22 is input to the left and right OR circuits 18a and 18b, and an ON signal is output from the left and right OR circuits 18a and 18b. On the other hand, an OFF signal is output from the left and right limit switches 15a and 15b. This allows the left FF
At 16a, if the OFF signal is output from the first output pin Q1 and the ON signal is output from the second output pin Q2, and the left direction indicator lamp 9a is turned on, it is turned off. In addition, the right FF16
b, the OFF signal from the first output pin Q1 is output from the second output pin Q2.
Outputs an ON signal, and turns off the right direction indicator lamp 9b if it is on.

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In this example, portions substantially similar to those of the above-described first embodiment are omitted, and only different portions will be described. In this example, the direction switch 10 is also used as the cancel switch 22 and two ANs in the electric circuit are used.
Equipped with D circuit. The AND circuit includes a left AND circuit 23a and a right AND circuit 23b. The left AND circuit 23a includes:
A first input pin A to which an output signal from the first output pin Q1 of the left FF 16a is input, and a left limit switch 15a
And an output pin Y that receives the input signal and outputs a calculation result as an output signal to the left OR circuit 18a. Similarly, the right AND circuit 23b is connected to the right FF1.
6b to which the output signal from the first output pin Q1 is input.
An input pin A and a second input pin B to which an output signal from the right limit switch 15b is input. The input pin A receives the input signal and outputs a calculation result as an output signal to the right OR circuit 18b. An output pin Y is provided.

The operation of the above configuration will be described. When the operator inputs a leftward instruction with the direction instruction switch 10, the leftward instruction lamp 9a is turned on. Next, when trying to turn off the lit left direction indicator lamp 9a, the operator again inputs a left direction instruction with the direction indicator switch 10. As a result, the ON signal from the left limit switch 15a is output to the left FF 16a and the left AND circuit 23a. The ON signal from the left limit switch 15a is input to the set input pin S of the left FF 16a, and the OFF signal from the left OR circuit 18a is input to the reset input pin R. As a result, the first output pin of the left FF 16a ON from Q1
A signal is output from the second output pin Q2 as an OFF signal.

The ON signal from the left FF 16a is supplied to the first input pin A of the left AND circuit 23a.
An ON signal from the left limit switch 15a is input to B, and an ON signal is output from the output pin Y. Above left AND
The ON signal output from the circuit 23a corresponds to the left OR circuit 1
8a, and an ON signal is output from the left OR circuit 18a. Further, after an ON signal is initially output from the left limit switch 15a, an OFF signal is output. As a result, the set input pin S of the left FF 16a is
An OFF signal is input to the reset input pin R, and an OFF signal is output from the first output pin Q1 of the left FF 16a to the second input pin R.
An ON signal is output from the output pin Q2, and the left direction indicator lamp 9a is turned off.

That is, the direction indicating switch 10
The left direction indicator lamp 9a can be turned on and off. In the example described above, the example of turning on and off the left direction indicator lamp 9a has been described, but the lighting and turning off of the right direction indicator lamp 9b are substantially the same.

The left or right direction indicator lamps 9a, 9b
Lighting includes continuous lighting and blinking.

【The invention's effect】

As described in detail above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the illuminated direction indicating lamp is connected to the first direction lamp.
The light can be turned off by the light-off means or the second light-off means. That is, the operator does not need to perform the operation of turning off the direction indicator lamp by himself, and the operator does not need to directly operate both the operation of turning on and off the direction indicator lamp each time. This makes it difficult for the driver to turn on and turn off the direction indicator lamp and to forget to turn off the direction indicator lamp or the like, so that the traveling operation and the fork operation can be performed safely. Further, according to the second extinguishing means, the left or right direction indicating lamp can be turned off after a predetermined time has elapsed from the input of the direction indicating means, so that the lit left or right direction indicating lamp can be reliably managed by time management. Can be turned off.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, if the pointing direction is wrong, the left or right direction indicating lamp which is turned on for other reasons can be forcibly turned off by the operator's will. Thereby, the left or right direction indicator lamp can be turned off by an input operation of the operator regardless of the continuation, stop, and elapse of time of the left or right turning steering of the steering, and the light is surely and safely turned off. Can be.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the direction instructing means has a structure of automatically returning.
The operation of returning the direction indicating means by hand is unnecessary,
It is possible to save the operator's operation labor, and thus it is possible to safely perform the traveling operation and the fork operation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an electric circuit diagram of a turn signal according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a left side view showing a vehicle mounted state of the turn signal according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a vehicle mounted state of the turn signal according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an electric circuit diagram of a turn signal according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle 2 Body 3 Mast 4 Fork 5 Seat 6 Operating device 7 Head guard 8a Left head lamp 8b Right head lamp 9a Left direction indicator 9b Right direction indicator 10 Direction switch 11 Steering 12 axis 13 Spring 14 Plate 15a Left limit switch 15b Right limit switch 16a Left RS flip-flop 16b Right RS flip-flop 17 Total timer 18a Left OR circuit 18b Right OR circuit 19 Torque sensor 20 Classifier 21 Timer 22 Cancel switch 23a Left AND circuit 23b Right AND circuit S Set Input pin R Reset input pin Q1 First output pin Q2 Second output pin A First input pin B Second input pin Y Output pin

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A direction indicator comprising: a direction indicator lamp for notifying a steering direction of a vehicle; a direction indicator for turning on the direction indicator lamp by an input operation of an operator; In the first aspect, the light-off means detects a steering direction of the vehicle, and outputs a light-off signal to turn off the direction indicator lamp when the steering direction becomes a direction opposite to the direction input by the direction indicator. A vehicular turning indicator comprising: a turning-off device; and a second turning-off device that outputs a turning-off signal after a lapse of a predetermined time from an input of the direction indicating device to turn off the direction indicator lamp. 2. The vehicular turning indicator according to claim 1, wherein said turning off means includes third turning off means for forcibly turning off the direction indicator lamp by an input operation of an operator. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said direction instructing means is configured to automatically return to a neutral state after tilting to the left or right by an input operation of an operator. Vehicle turn signal indicator.