JP2001322488A - Direction indicating operation lever return device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a large stroke and high load for surely returning a direction indicating operation lever by a compact-sized actuator and to cancel a left-turn indication signal or right-turn indication signal emitted by the operation of the direction indicating operation lever by manually returning the operation lever. SOLUTION: This direction indication operation lever return device comprises a motor 8 actuated based on a return command signal when the direction indicating operation lever 2 is in the lift-turn indication position or the right-turn indication position, a gear mechanism 9 deceleratingly transmitting the rotation power of the motor 8, engagement counterparts 13 and 14 engaged with engagements 10 and 11, when the direction indicating operation lever 2 is in the left-turn indication position or the right-turn indication position. This constitution enables the direction indicating operation lever 2 to return from the left-turn indication position or the right-turn indication position to the neutral position.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a return device for a direction indicator operation lever of a vehicle for electrically returning a direction indicator operation lever of a vehicle operated to a left turn instruction position or a right turn instruction position to a neutral position. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a return device of a vehicle direction indicating operation lever for electrically returning a direction indicating operation lever of a vehicle operated to a left turn instruction position or a right turn instruction position to a neutral position, One using a solenoid is provided. According to this device, the solenoid is operated based on the return of the vehicle from turning after the operation lever for direction indication of the vehicle is operated to the left turn instruction position or right turn instruction position, and the direction indication operation lever is neutralized by its electromagnetic force. Return to position.

[0003] In addition, the operation of the operating lever for direction indication of the vehicle is performed by operating the operating lever by automatically returning the operating lever by the force of a spring or the like when the operating force is released. There is also provided a signal in which the left turn instruction signal or the right turn instruction signal is separately released by an electric circuit based on the return of the vehicle from turning.

[0004]

According to the former, the size of the solenoid is small even if it has a small stroke and a low load, so that the return of the operation lever for direction indication is more reliable. To be able to
If the stroke and the load are increased, the size of the solenoid is further increased, and there is a problem that it is difficult to install the solenoid in a limited place of the vehicle.

Further, according to the latter, it is impossible to cancel a left turn instruction signal or a right turn instruction signal issued by operating the direction indicating operation lever by returning the operation lever by hand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a large stroke, high load, and compact size actuator for more securely returning the direction indicating operation lever. The left-turn instruction signal or the right-turn instruction signal issued by operating the direction-indicating operation lever, which can be canceled by returning the operation lever by hand, can be desirably released. Providing a return device.

[0007]

In order to attain the above object, the present invention provides a return device for a vehicle direction indicator operating lever, wherein the vehicle direction indicator operating lever is shifted from a neutral position to a left turn instruction position or a right turn instruction position. The bracket is displaced and held by being operated in accordance with the operation, the engaged portion provided on the bracket, and the return command signal when the direction indicating operation lever is in the left turn instruction position or the right turn instruction position. A gear mechanism for transmitting the rotational power of the motor at a reduced speed, and an output gear of the gear mechanism. Or an engagement portion that, when rotated to the right turn instruction position, engages with the engaged portion and returns the direction indicating operation lever to the neutral position together with the bracket. And wherein the door. According to this, the direction indicating operation lever can be returned by the structure including the motor, the gear mechanism, the engaging portion, and the engaged portion.

[0008] In this case, the engaged portion allows the engaging portion to turn the direction instructing lever by rotating the motor in one direction, regardless of whether the direction instructing lever is in the left turn instructing position or the right turn instructing position. It is good to provide in the position which engages in the direction which returns to a neutral position. According to this configuration, the return of the direction instructing operation lever from the left turn instructing position and the return from the right turn instructing position can be performed in one direction without switching the rotation direction of the motor.

In addition, between the output gear and the engaging portion, the rotation of the output gear is transmitted to the engaging portion with a rotation resistance less than a predetermined value of the engaging portion, and the rotation of the engaging portion is equal to or more than the predetermined value. It is preferable to provide a transmission mechanism that idles the output gear without transmitting the resistance to the engaging portion. According to this, the output gear continues to rotate even if the engaging portion engaged with the engaged portion cannot rotate because the direction indicating operation lever is fixed by hand or the like, and the gear mechanism continues to rotate. And locking of the motor can be avoided.

Further, a second engaging portion which rotates integrally with the output gear is provided between the output gear and the engaging portion, and a second engaging portion which engages with the output gear to rotate the engaging portion integrally. And an elastic holding means for elastically holding the second engaged portion at a position away from the second engaging portion at all times. According to this, when operating the direction indicating operation lever from the neutral position to the left turn instructing position or the right turn instructing position, even if the engaging portion is in the position to be engaged with the engaged portion, it is restricted by the gear mechanism. It is possible to rotate the engaging portion without operating the operating lever for direction indication.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. First, FIG. 3 shows an entirety of a returning device of a direction indicating operation lever provided around a steering column of a vehicle, for example, an automobile, and has a body 1 as a base.

A bracket 3 to which a direction indicating operation lever 2 is attached is pivotally attached to the body 1 by a shaft 4 so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction shown by arrows A and B in the figure. The direction in which the direction indicating operation lever 2 is selectively operated from the neutral position shown in FIG. 3 to the left turn instruction position shown in FIG. 1 and the right turn instruction position shown in FIG.
Is rotated by the operation.

The body 1 also has a direction indicating operation lever 2.
A moderation wall 5 having a valley and a mountain-like uneven portion is provided at the front of the bracket 3 on the opposite side to the side, whereas a moderation piece 6 is shown at the tip of the bracket 3. A detent spring is provided so as to urge against the detent wall 5 so as to be pressed against the detent wall 5, and the detent mechanism 7 is constituted by these. , And a right turn instruction position.

Further, although not shown, the body 1 is provided with a turn signal switch whose contacts are switched according to the rotational displacement of the bracket 3, and the turn signal switch is used to instruct the direction indicating operation lever 2 to turn left. When operated to the left position, the vehicle's left turn indicator (left turn indicator)
Is operated, and when the vehicle is operated to the right turn instruction position, the right turn indicator (right turn signal) is operated.

A small motor 8 is attached to the body 1 at a certain distance from the bracket 3.
A gear mechanism 9 is provided from the motor 8 to the bracket 3. In this case, the worm 9 attached to the rotating shaft 8a of the motor 8 in this case, as shown in FIG.
a and the worm wheel 9 meshed with the worm 9a
b, a spur gear 9c coaxially integrated with the worm wheel 9b, a spur gear 9d meshed with the spur gear 9c, a spur gear 9e coaxially integrated with the spur gear 9d, and a spur gear 9f meshed with the spur gear 9e. Thus, the rotational power of the motor 8 is transmitted at a reduced speed.

The flat gear 9f, which is the output gear of the gear mechanism 9, has its lower surface facing the upper surface of the front end of the bracket 3 (the end opposite to the direction indicating operation lever 2). The lower surface of the spur gear 9f has an engaging portion 10,
11 are protruding. In this case, the engaging portions 10 and 11 are provided in a protruding manner together with a cylindrical convex portion 12 concentric with the spur gear 9f. I have.

On the other hand, engaged portions 13 and 14 project from the upper surface of the front end of the bracket 3. Each of the engaged portions 13 and 14 has a projection shape,
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the operation lever 2 (bracket 3) for direction indication is operated to the left turn instruction position and the right turn instruction position, both are located on the rotation locus of the engaging portions 10 and 11. Things.

In addition, among these, as shown in FIG. 1, when the operation lever 2 (bracket 3) for direction indication is at the left turn instruction position, the engaged portions 13 are flat. The gear 9f is located at a position where the gear 9f is engaged in a direction for returning the direction indicating operation lever 2 to the neutral position by, for example, a clockwise rotation in one direction indicated by an arrow C and a rotation in one direction of the motor 8.

The engaged portion 14 is, as shown in FIG.
When the operation lever 2 for direction indication is in the right turn instruction position,
The engaging portions 10 and 11 are also located at positions where the rotation of the spur gear 9f in one direction (arrow C) and thus the rotation of the motor 8 in one direction causes the direction indicating operation lever 2 to return to the neutral position. are doing. In addition, although not shown, the vehicle has a vehicle speed sensor for detecting the traveling speed of the vehicle and a steering sensor for detecting the steering angles (steering angle, return angle) of the direction indication operation lever. An angle sensor is provided,
Further, a control device for controlling the motor 8 based on the input of these detection signals as described below is provided.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. First, the control device outputs a return command signal based on the detection signal (vehicle traveling speed) from the vehicle speed sensor, regardless of whether the direction instruction operation lever 2 is operated to the left turn instruction position or the right turn instruction position. However, the steering condition angle (threshold value) is set. This is because the steering angle of the vehicle steering varies depending on the traveling speed of the vehicle. The steering angle of the steering is large at a low speed, but the steering angle of the steering is small at a high speed. The steering condition angle at which the command signal is output is set large, and conversely, at high speeds, the steering condition angle is set small.

Then, based on the setting, the control device, based on the detection signal from the steering angle sensor, returns the steering angle of the vehicle or the steering angle (the direction opposite to the operation direction of the operation lever 2 for direction indication). When the steering angle in the direction coincides with the condition angle, a return command signal is output.

Then, based on this, the motor 8 is energized to rotate the worm 9a of the gear mechanism 9. The direction of this rotation is clockwise, for example, as indicated by the arrow D in FIGS. 1 and 2, and accordingly, the worm wheel 9b and the spur gear 9
c, the spur gear 9d and the spur gear 9e are rotated as indicated by arrows E and F, respectively, and the spur gear 9f is rotated as indicated by the arrow C, and the engaging portions 10, 11 are integrally formed therewith.
Is rotated.

Here, if the direction indicating operation lever 2 is at the left turn indicating position shown in FIG. 1, the engaging portion 10 or 11 (the engaging portion 10 in the illustrated example) rotated as described above is The engaged portion 13 engages with the engaged portion 13 located in the rotation locus and displaces the same in the rotational direction. Therefore, the bracket 3 is rotated about the shaft 4 in the direction indicated by the arrow G, and the operation lever 2 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow. By rotating as shown by H, it is returned to the neutral position shown in FIG.

At this time, the engaged portion 14 is
0, 11 are located outside the rotation locus,
0 and 11 do not engage. When the bracket 3 is returned to the neutral position, the turn signal switch is also returned, and the operation of the left turn indicator of the vehicle is stopped.

On the other hand, if the direction indicating operation lever 2 is at the right turn instruction position shown in FIG.
(In the illustrated example, the engaging portion 11) engages with the engaged portion 14 located in the rotation locus and displaces the same in the rotation direction, so that the bracket 3 is In this case, the operation lever 2 is turned in the direction indicated by the arrow I opposite to the above, and the operation lever 2 is turned as indicated by the arrow J, thereby returning to the neutral position shown in FIG.

At this time, the engaged portion 13 is
0, 11 are located outside the rotation locus,
0 and 11 do not engage. When the bracket 3 is returned to the neutral position, the turn signal switch is also returned, and the operation of the right turn indicator of the vehicle is stopped.

As described above, according to this configuration, the motor 8, the gear mechanism 9, the engagement portions 10 and 11, and the engaged portion 1
With the configuration composed of 3 and 14, the operation lever 2 for direction indication can be returned. In this case, if the motor 8 is small, the output load is small, but the load (torque) can be amplified by the gear mechanism 9. Further, the output stroke of the motor 8 is a rotational movement and can be freely set, so that the direction indicating operation lever 2 can be more reliably returned with a large stroke and a high load. Moreover, since it can be made by a compact actuator (motor 8), it can be easily installed in a limited place of the vehicle.

Further, the left turn instruction signal (the operation of the left turn signal) or the right turn instruction signal (the operation of the right turn signal) issued by operating the direction operation lever 2 is released by returning the operation lever 2 by hand. It can also be desired.

In addition, the engaged portions 13 and 14 are rotated by the motor 8 in one direction regardless of whether the direction indicating operation lever 2 is in the left turn instruction position or the right turn instruction position.
Reference numerals 0 and 11 are provided at positions where the direction indicating operation lever 2 is engaged in a direction of returning to the neutral position, whereby the direction indicating operation lever 2 is returned from the left turn instruction position and from the right turn instruction position. Can be performed in one direction without switching the rotation direction of the motor 8, so that there is no need for a complicated control circuit or the like for the switching.

5 to 7 show a second embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted. Only the part will be described. That is, in this case, the spur gear 9f of the gear mechanism 9 and the engaging portions 10 and 11 are separated from each other. A circular enclosure 22 is formed concentrically, and holding claws 23 project downward from several places of the enclosure 22.

On the other hand, the engaging portions 10 and 11
A flat circular container portion 24 is formed above these and the convex portion 12, and a protruding portion 25 is formed at one place on the inner peripheral side portion thereof. This projection 25 is in the rotation direction of the spur gear 9f (arrow C).
The opposite side is an upright surface, and the opposite side is a relatively gentle slope.

Two transmission pieces 27 urged by a compression coil spring 26 in a direction away from each other are arranged between the enclosure 22 and the container 24, as shown in FIG. As shown, the upper half of the transmission piece 27 is fitted in the elongated hole 21 while the container 24 is rotatably fitted to the enclosure 22 and held by the holding claws 23, and the lower half is connected to the container 24. Is rotatably housed.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 7A, the transmission piece 27 is normally in a free state with respect to the projection 25, and from this state, the motor 8 is operated as described above. As a result, when the spur gear 9f is rotated, the transmission piece 27 is rotated integrally with the spur gear 9f by the engagement structure of the elongate hole 21 with the spur gear 9f, and as shown in FIG. Contact the part 25. At this time, if no restraining force is applied to the operation lever 2 for direction indication, the transmission piece 27 holds the projection 25 as it is, and
4 is rotated, that is, the engaging portions 10 and 11 are rotated, whereby the operation lever 2 is returned to the neutral position.

On the other hand, the transmission piece 27 is
When the operation lever 2 for direction indication is restrained and fixed by the driver's hand when it comes into contact with the engaging portion 13, the engaging portion 10 or 11 cannot rotate while being engaged with the engaged portion 13 or 14. ,
Therefore, the container part 24 cannot rotate. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7C, the transmission piece 27 is
As shown in (d) of FIG. 7, the vehicle continues to rotate as shown in FIG. Therefore, the spur gear 9f also keeps rotating.

That is, the elongated hole 21, the enclosure 22,
Holding claw 23, container part 24 (projection part 25), spring 2
6. The transmission piece 27 controls the rotation of the spur gear 9f
Rotational resistance less than a predetermined value of 0, 11 (the direction indicating operation lever 2 is not restrained) is transmitted to the engaging portions 10, 11, and a rotational resistance (direction When the operation lever 2 for instruction is restrained), the engaging portion 1
This constitutes a transmission mechanism 28 for causing the spur gear 9f to idle without transmitting to the gears 0 and 11, whereby the gear mechanism 9 and the motor 8 can be prevented from being locked.

FIGS. 8 to 10 show a third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment, the same parts as those in the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. Only different parts will be described. That is, in this case, the engaging portions 10, 1
The lower surface of the spur gear 9f, which is separate from
Instead of 1, a second engagement portion 31 having a convex shape that is long in the radial direction is formed.

Further, the second engaging portion 31 and the engaging portions 10, 1
1, a low-load torsion coil spring 32 is disposed in place of the above-described coil spring 26 and transmission piece 27, and one end 32a of the second engagement portion 31 The other end 32b is housed in a groove 33 (see FIG. 9A) formed in the container portion 24 and engaged with the container portion 24.

As a result, in the normal state, the container portion 24 is rotated by the torsion spring force of the spring 32 as shown in FIG.
Of the container portion 24 is separated from the second engaging portion 31.
Function as elastic holding means for holding the elastic member in such a manner. Further, in this case, the projection 25 of the container 24 functions as a second engaged portion corresponding to the second engagement portion 31.

Here, in the case of the first embodiment, when the direction indicating operation lever 2 is operated from the neutral position to the left turn instruction position or the right turn instruction position, as shown in FIG. In the illustrated example, if the engaging portion 10) is at a position where it engages with the engaged portion 13 or 14 (in the illustrated example, the engaged portion 13), the engaged portion 13 or 14 is engaged with the engaging portion 10 or 14.
Alternatively, the gear mechanism 9 is rotated by the operation lever 2 for direction indication.

However, it is difficult to rotate the gear mechanism 9 from the direction indicating operation lever 2 side because of the resistance of the gear mechanism 9, and as a result, the engagement portions 10 and 11 are restrained by the gear mechanism 9. Can not be rotated, and the operation of the direction indicating operation lever 2 may not be possible. On the other hand, according to the third embodiment, in the same situation, even if the gear mechanism 9 cannot be rotated, as shown by the arrow K in FIG. 3
The engagement portion 10 or 11 can be rotated while bending the second lever 2, whereby the operation of the direction indicating operation lever 2 can be performed.

From this state, when the spur gear 9f is rotated by operating the motor 8 as described above,
As shown in FIG. 9C, the second engagement portion 31 abuts on the projection 25 (second engaged portion) while bending the spring 32 in the rotation direction opposite to the above. Then, the entire container portion 24 is rotated as shown in FIG. 9D, that is, the engagement portions 10 and 11 are rotated, whereby the operation lever 2 is returned to the neutral position. After that, when the spur gear 9f stops, the spring 32 is restored, so that the container portion 24 is rotated and advanced as shown by the arrow L in FIG. 9E, that is, the engaging portions 10 and 11 are moved. The rotation proceeds.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the same parts as those in the third embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. Only different parts will be described. . That is, in this case, a slot 21 in the transmission mechanism 28 of the second embodiment is formed on the lower surface of the spur gear 9f in place of the above-described second engagement portion 31, and a compression coil spring The upper halves of two transmission pieces 27 urged in a direction away from each other at 26 are fitted. Therefore, in this case, the transmission piece 27
Function as a second engaging portion, and one end 32a of the spring 32 is engaged with one surface of the transmission piece 27 on one side thereof. The rest is the same as the third embodiment.

Therefore, in this case, the same operation and effect as the third embodiment can be obtained, and also the same operation and effect as the second embodiment can be obtained. In addition, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and shown in the drawings, and can be implemented with appropriate modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0044]

The present invention is as described above.
The following effects are obtained. According to the returning device for the direction indicating operation lever of the vehicle according to the first aspect, the direction indicating operation lever can be returned by the configuration including the motor, the gear mechanism, the engaging portion, and the engaged portion, thereby enabling the direction to be returned. A large stroke and high load to more securely return the operation lever
It is also desirable that a left-turn instruction signal or a right-turn instruction signal, which is obtained by a compact-sized actuator and is issued by operating the direction-indicating operation lever, be released by returning the operation lever by hand.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the return direction of the direction instructing lever is changed from the left turn instructing position to the right turn instructing position by switching the direction of rotation of the motor. It can be done in one direction without any rotation. According to the returning device for the direction indicating operation lever of the vehicle according to the third aspect, the engaging portion engaged with the engaged portion cannot be rotated because the direction indicating operation lever is fixed by hand or the like. However, it is possible to prevent the gear mechanism and the motor from being locked.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the direction instructing lever is operated from the neutral position to the left turn instructing position or the right turn instructing position, the engaging portion is engaged. Therefore, the engagement portion can be rotated without being restricted by the gear mechanism, and the operation of the direction indicating operation lever can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional front view of a left turn instruction operation state of the entire apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional front view of a right turn instruction operation state of the entire apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal front view of the entire apparatus in a neutral state.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a main part.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a main part showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a main part.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part shown in the order of operation by a to d.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a main part showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part shown in a to e in the order of operation.

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional front view of the entire device in the middle of a left turn instruction operation.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a main part showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 is a direction indicating operation lever, 3 is a bracket, 4 is a shaft,
7 is a moderation mechanism, 8 is a motor, 9 is a gear mechanism, 9f is a spur gear (output gear), 10 and 11 are engaging portions, 13 and 14 are engaged portions, and 25 is a protrusion (second engaged portion). Joint portion), 26 is a compression coil spring, 27 is a transmission piece (second engagement portion),
28 is a transmission mechanism, 31 is a second engaging portion, 32 is a torsion coil spring (elastic holding means).

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A bracket which is displaced and held in accordance with an operation lever for direction indication of a vehicle being operated from a neutral position to a left turn instruction position and a right turn instruction position, and an engaged portion provided on the bracket. A motor that is actuated based on a return command signal when the direction indicating operation lever is at a left-turn instruction position or a right-turn instruction position; a gear mechanism that reduces and transmits the rotational power of the motor; An output gear is provided so as to rotate integrally with the output gear. When the operation lever for direction indication is in a left turn instruction position or a right turn instruction position, the operation lever engages with the engaged portion and the direction together with the bracket. An engagement portion for returning the operation lever to the neutral position. 2. The engaged portion is moved when the operation lever for direction indication is in either the left turn instruction position or the right turn instruction position.
2. The return device for a direction indication operation lever of a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the engagement portion is provided at a position where the engagement portion engages in a direction for returning the direction indication operation lever to a neutral position by rotation of the motor in one direction. . 3. The rotation of the output gear is transmitted to the engagement portion between the output gear and the engagement portion with a rotation resistance less than a predetermined value of the engagement portion, and the rotation resistance of the engagement portion is equal to or more than a predetermined value. 3. The return device for a direction indicating operation lever of a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a transmission mechanism for causing the output gear to idle without transmitting to the engaging portion. 4. A second engaging portion that rotates integrally with the output gear between the output gear and the engaging portion, and a second engaging portion that engages with the output gear to rotate the engaging portion integrally. And an elastic holding means for elastically holding the second engaged portion at a position separated from the second engaging portion at all times. 3. The return device for a direction indicating operation lever of a vehicle according to claim 3.