JP2002120588A - Shift switch device for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a shift switch device with operating switches on a steering wheel for operating up-shift and down-shift of a transmission, minimizing errors in the operating switches for up-shift and down-shift. SOLUTION: A variable steering angle ratio mechanism is assembled in a steering device 3 for varying the ratio of the steering angle of dirigible road wheels 2 to the rotating angle of the steering wheel 1 to be larger with a reduction in speed, whereby a frequency at which the steering wheel 1 should be rotated at 90 deg. or more during running is greatly reduced. An up-shift operating switch 81 which is operable with one hand in the state of gripping the steering wheel 1 with both hands and a down-shift operating switch 82 which is operable with the other hand are provided on portions of the steering wheel 1 located on both right and left sides in a straight running condition.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a shift switch device for an automobile, which is provided with an operation switch for performing an upshift and a downshift of a transmission on a steering wheel of the automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission, a manual transmission range is added as a select range of the transmission, and when the manual transmission range is selected, an upshift and a downshift of the transmission are performed by operating a switch. So that this switch operation can be performed without releasing the hand from the steering handle, a pair of operation switches for upshift and downshift are provided on one side of the steering handle, for example, near a portion to be gripped with the right hand. What is provided in a line up and down is known.

[0003]

In an automobile using a normal steering device, the steering wheel is moved 180 degrees while the vehicle is running.
Frequent rotation of more than °. When the steering wheel is turned by 180 °, the operation switch installation part is reversed left and right, so the operation switch must be operated with the hand on the opposite side of the normal, and the operation switch for upshift and the operation switch for downshift Since the positional relationship with the operation switch is turned upside down, the operation may be confused, and the operability is not always good.

Recently, a steering device has been developed which incorporates a variable steering angle ratio mechanism for varying the ratio of the steering angle of the steered wheels to the rotation angle of the steering wheel in accordance with the vehicle speed.
In this system, the steering angle ratio can be reduced during high-speed running to prevent excessive steering, and the steering angle ratio can be increased during low-speed running to improve the steering response. The frequency of having to rotate more than ° is greatly reduced as compared with the normal one.

In view of the above, the present invention provides a shift switch device for an automobile in which the operability is improved by minimizing the possibility of mistakes in upshift and downshift operation switches. The challenge is to do.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems,
The present invention provides an operation switch for performing an upshift and a downshift of a transmission on a steering wheel of an automobile. A steering device that steers a steering wheel of the automobile in conjunction with the steering handle is provided with a rotation angle of the steering handle. A variable steering angle ratio mechanism that changes the ratio of the steering angle of the steered wheels to the larger as the vehicle speed decreases is incorporated. An upshift operation switch operable by one hand in a gripped state and a downshift operation switch operable by the other hand are provided.

According to the present invention, the upshift operation switch is operated with one hand, and the downshift operation switch is operated with the other hand. Then, by using the variable steering angle ratio mechanism, the frequency of having to rotate the steering wheel by 90 ° or more during traveling, that is, the frequency of needing to operate the steering wheel by holding hands is greatly reduced, Each operation switch can be operated with almost fixed hands, and the possibility of mistakes can be reduced as much as possible.

Each of the operation switches can be provided on the front side of the steering handle so as to be operated by the thumb of each hand. However, the thumb serves to hold the steering handle to secure the handle operation force. It is better to keep. Therefore, it is desirable to provide each operation switch on the rear side of the steering handle so that each operation switch can be operated with a finger other than the thumb of each hand.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a steering wheel, which is a steering device 3 for steering steering wheels (front wheels) 2 and 2 of an automobile in conjunction with the steering wheel 1.
Is provided. The steering device 3 includes a universal joint 3 on a steering shaft 31 connected to the steering handle 1.
An input shaft 33 connected to the steering wheel 2 via a tie rod 34;
5 and a pinion 36 (see FIG. 2)
And a motor 37 for applying thrust to the input shaft 3.
The rack 35 is driven by assisting the motor 37 by rotating the pinion 36 in conjunction with the rack 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the pinion 36 is pivotally supported in a fixed housing 30 of the steering device 3, and is located between the input shaft 33 and the pinion 36 in the housing 30 to provide a steering handle. A variable steering angle ratio mechanism 4 for varying the ratio of the steering angle of the steered wheels 2 to one rotation angle is provided. The mechanism 4 includes a movable housing 41 pivotally supported in the fixed housing 30, a first rotating body 42 pivotally supported eccentrically with respect to the movable housing 41, and an eccentricity with respect to the pinion 36 as shown in FIG. Second rotating body 4
3 is provided. Then, an internal gear 42 a that meshes with a small-diameter input gear 45 connected to the input shaft 33 via a torsion bar 44 is formed on the first rotating body 42, and the first rotating body 42 is rotated by the rotation of the input shaft 33. The first rotating body 42 and the second rotating body 43 are engaged with the first rotating body 42 and the second rotating body 43 through a plurality of balls 46 so as to be relatively movable in the radial direction. The movable housing 41 includes a motor 47.
The rotation is controlled via the worm shaft 47a (see FIG. 1), and the rotation causes the eccentric distance x between the rotation center A of the first rotating body 42 and the rotation center B of the pinion 36 to rotate. Changes. In the figure, y is the rotation center B of the pinion 36
And the eccentric distance between the rotation center C of the second rotating body 43 and the rotation center C.

Referring to FIG. 3B, when the first rotating body 42 rotates by an angle α about the point A, the second rotating body 42 revolves around the point B while rotating, and revolves around the point B. The second rotating body 42 is displaced to an intersection C 'between an orbital locus of radius y centered on and a line having an angle α centered on the point A, and the pinion 36 forms a line connecting the points A and C'. Rotate by an angle β. Here, the ratio of β to α, that is, the steering wheel 1
The ratio of the steering angle of the steered wheels 2 to the rotation angle becomes larger as x becomes smaller. VGS for controlling the motor 47
A signal from the vehicle speed sensor 49 is input to the (registered trademark) controller 48, and the rotation of the movable housing 41 is controlled so that x decreases as the vehicle speed decreases, so that the steering characteristics shown in FIG. I made it. According to this,
The handlebar rotation angle from the straight position to the stroke end when the rack 37 reaches the stroke end is approximately 540 ° at the time of high-speed running, and is approximately 250 ° at the time of low-speed running.

Referring again to FIG. 1, reference numeral 5 denotes a transmission, and reference numeral 6 denotes a transmission controller for controlling the transmission 5. The range selected by a select lever (not shown) is a P range for parking, and an R range for reverse. , N range for a neutral, D-range for the automatic transmission, manual and the signal from the position sensor 7 for detecting which one of the transmission of the M range, the operation switch 8 ₁ for upshift and downshift, 8 ₂
And a signal from the input to the transmission controller 6, when the M range is selected, to perform the upshift and downshift of the transmission 5 in conjunction with the operation switch 8 _1, 8 ₂ operation I have. Then, one of left and right side straight traveling state, for example, provided a partial upshift operation switch 8 to ₁ of the steering wheel 1 positioned on the right side, a portion for downshift operation switch 8 to ₂ of the steering wheel 1 on the left side The upshift operation switch 8 is held by the right hand while holding the steering handle 1 with both hands.
_1, are adapted to operate the operation switch ₈₂ for downshifting the left hand.

In this case, the operation switches 8 ₁ and 8 ₂ can be provided on the front (the surface facing the driver) of the left and right portions of the steering handle 1 so that they can be operated with the thumb of each hand. But the thumb is the shortest of the five fingers,
Due to the characteristics of the finger, it is desirable that the thumb be used to hold the steering handle 1 in order to secure the steering operation force. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the operation switches 8 are provided on the rear side of the left and right portions of the steering handle 1.
₁ and 8 ₂ are provided so that each operation switch 8 ₁ and 8 ₂ can be operated with a finger other than the thumb of each hand (basically, the index finger or the middle finger having the characteristic of being easy to press). Incidentally, the operation of the operation switch 8 _1, 8 ₂ to facilitate, and to prevent the erroneous operation during steering, as shown in FIG. 4, within the upper and lower 60mm from the center line of the steering wheel 1,
20 mm from the left and right outer tangents of the steering handle 1
As described above, each operation switch 8 is set in the shaded area of 80 mm or less.
_1, it is desirable to install a 8 _2.

Here, considering the case where the steering wheel 1 is turned to the right or left, for example, to the right, the steering wheel rotation angle exceeds 90 ° shown in FIG. 5A and approaches 120 ° shown in FIG. 5B. When the right hand is reached, the right and left hands cross the centerline of the torso, and the muscles near the right wrist become quite nervous and the movement of the fingers becomes inconvenient. operating the switch 8 ₁ becomes difficult. Until the handle rotation angle 90 ° degree is relatively comfortably limit can operate the operation switch 8 _1, 8 _2.

The steering device 3 has a variable steering angle machine as in this embodiment.
When the structure 4 is installed, the steering handle 1 is
Normal steering is required to rotate more than 0 °
Significantly reduced compared to those using equipment. So running
In most situations during the line, the steering wheel
Upshift operation switch 8 while holding 1 with both hands ₁
Is right hand, downshift operation switch 8_TwoIs the left hand
As shown in FIG.₁, 8_TwoControl with each hand
And reduce the possibility of making mistakes as much as possible.
Can be Also, at low speed, 90 ° right as shown in FIG.
When folding, the steering wheel rotation angle is 43
It reaches about 0 °, and the steering wheel rotation angle reaches 90 ° at the beginning of turning
Reach at point a ', steering wheel turning angle is 90 ° when turning back
Is returned to point b '. On the other hand, the hand in the present embodiment
The turning angle is about 200 °,
The turning angle reaches 90 ° at point a beyond point a ′,
It is point b 'that the handle rotation angle returns to 90 ° by turning back
This is point b in front of you. Therefore, when cornering
The range in which the angle of rotation of the
Switch 8₁, 8_TwoMore opportunities to operate each with a fixed hand
You.

[0016]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, in almost all situations during driving, the operation switches for upshift and downshift are operated while holding the steering wheel with both hands. Each of them can be operated with a fixed hand, and the possibility of making a mistake is reduced as much as possible, thereby improving operability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a steering device having a steering handle provided with an operation switch according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part of the steering device.

3A is a sectional view taken along the line IIIA-IIIA of FIG. 2, and FIG.
Diagram showing the operating principle of the variable steering angle ratio mechanism, (C) Steering characteristic diagram

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an installation range of an operation switch with respect to a steering handle.

5A is a view showing a state in which the steering handle is rotated by 90 °, and FIG.
Diagram showing a state rotated by 0 °

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a point at which a steering wheel rotation angle becomes 90 ° during cornering.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Steering handle 2 Steering wheel 3 Steering device 4 Steering angle ratio variable mechanism 8 ₁ Upshift operation switch 8 ₂ Downshift operation switch

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hideharu Koga 1-4-1 Chuo, Wako-shi, Saitama Pref. Inside Honda Research Laboratory, Inc. (72) Haruhiko Yoshikawa 1-4-1 Chuo, Wako-shi, Saitama F-term in Honda R & D Co., Ltd. (reference) 3D032 CC50 DA23 DB11 EB05 EC31 FF02 GG01 3D033 CA03 CA13 CA21 3D040 AA01 AA13 AB01 AC00 AD15 AE11 AE14 AE19 AF07

Claims (2)

[Claims] A steering device for operating an upshift and downshift of a transmission is provided on a steering wheel of an automobile. A steering angle ratio variable mechanism that changes the ratio of the steering angle of the steered wheels to the angle so that it increases as the vehicle speed decreases is incorporated. A shift switch device for an automobile, comprising: an upshift operation switch operable by one hand in a state of being held by a hand; and a downshift operation switch operable by the other hand. 2. The vehicle shift switch device according to claim 1, wherein each of the operation switches is provided on a rear side of a steering handle.