JP2002283964A - Steering lock device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve assembling workability of a steering lock device provided with a housing fixed to a steering column, a lock pin capable of engaging with a steering shaft, a slider connected to the lock pin, an electric motor fixed and supported on the housing and a power conversion means converting a rotary motion into a linear motion and interposed between the electric motor and the slider. SOLUTION: The housing 13 is constituted of a housing main body 24 which has a shape opening the opposite side of the steering column and is fixed to the steering column and a cover plate 15 coupled with the housing main body 14 by closing an open end of the housing main body 14. An insertion body 26 held between the housing main body 14 and the cover plate 15 and stored within the housing 13 and an interpolation unit 25 including the lock pin 16 assembled into the insertion body 26, the slider 17, the electric motor and the power conversion means are stored within the housing 13.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a steering lock device for a vehicle, and more particularly, to a housing fixed to a steering column surrounding a steering shaft;
A lock pin supported by the housing for enabling linear reciprocating movement between a position engaging with the steering shaft and a position releasing the engagement, and reciprocating sliding in the same direction as the reciprocating direction of the lock pin. A slider supported by the housing and connected to the lock pin, an electric motor fixed to and supported by the housing, and an interposition between the electric motor and the slider so as to convert rotational motion into linear motion. The present invention relates to an improvement in a steering lock device suitably used in a smart entry system which is capable of switching between locking and unlocking without a key.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, such a steering lock device is known, for example, from Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-59903. In this device, for example, a planetary gear mechanism for reducing the output of an electric motor, and a planetary gear mechanism Power conversion means, an electric motor, a slider and a lock pin, which are constituted by a final gear of the mechanism and a cam mechanism provided between the slider, are directly supported by the housing, respectively.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional device, the power conversion means, the electric motor, the slider, and the lock pin must be assembled one by one to the housing, which is said to be excellent in assemblability. hard.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has as its object to provide a steering lock device for a vehicle with improved assemblability.

[0005]

According to one aspect of the present invention, a housing fixed to a steering column surrounding a steering shaft is provided.
A lock pin supported by the housing for enabling linear reciprocating movement between a position engaging with the steering shaft and a position releasing the engagement, and reciprocating sliding in the same direction as the reciprocating direction of the lock pin. A slider supported by the housing and connected to the lock pin, an electric motor fixed to and supported by the housing, and an interposition between the electric motor and the slider so as to convert rotational motion into linear motion. A power conversion means, wherein the housing has a housing main body fixed to the steering column with a shape opened on the side opposite to the steering column, and an open end of the housing main body. A cover plate that is closed and coupled to the housing body. An insert unit that is sandwiched between the cover plates and accommodated in the housing, and an insert unit that includes the lock pin, the slider, the electric motor, and the power conversion unit assembled to the insert, It is characterized by being housed in a housing.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, an insertion unit constituted by assembling a lock pin, a slider, an electric motor, power conversion means, and the like to an insert outside the housing is mainly provided in the housing. It is sufficient to insert the lock pin, the slider, the electric motor, and the power conversion means into the housing to improve assemblability.

[0007] The invention according to claim 2 provides the above-described claim 1.
In addition to the configuration of the invention described, the interpolation unit includes an electronic control unit mounted on the insert so as to control the operation of the electric motor, and an electric control unit between the electronic control unit and the electric motor. The insertion unit in a state where the connection is completed is inserted into the main body of the housing. According to this configuration, the electronic control unit for controlling the electric motor is housed in the housing, and the steering lock is provided. After the apparatus is made compact, the electric connection between the electric motor and the electronic control unit can be easily performed outside the housing, so that the assemblability can be further improved.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on one embodiment of the present invention shown in the attached drawings.

1 to 6 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a steering lock device, and is a sectional view taken along line 1-1 of FIG. 2, and FIG. 1 of 2-2
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the steering lock device, FIG. 4 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 3 before the insertion unit is inserted into the housing, and FIG. 5 is a view different from FIG. FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 to 3, this steering lock device enables a steering shaft 11 to be turned in response to a vehicle user carrying a portable transmitter / receiver getting into the vehicle, for example, in a smart entry system. In order to prevent the turning of the steering shaft 11 when the vehicle user carrying the portable transmission / reception device leaves the vehicle, the lock operation is performed to release the lock state as much as possible.

The steering lock device includes a housing 13 fixed to a cylindrical steering column 12 surrounding the steering shaft 11, a straight line between a position at which the steering shaft 11 is engaged and a position at which the engagement is released. A lock pin 16 supported on the housing 13 so as to allow a reciprocating movement
The slider 17 is supported by the housing 13 and connected to the lock pin 16 so as to enable reciprocating sliding in the same direction as the reciprocating movement direction of the motor. A power conversion means 19 interposed between the electric motor 18 and the slider 17 to enable the conversion, a solenoid 20 for determining a timing of starting the operation of the slider 17 to the lock side, and an electronic device for controlling the electric motor 18 and the solenoid 20 And a control unit 21.

The housing 13 includes the steering column 1
2. A bottomed cylindrical housing main body 14 having an open side opposite to 2.
And a cover plate 15 coupled to the housing main body 14 so as to close the open end of the housing main body 14. The housing main body 14 is fixed to the steering column 12.

On the end wall of the housing main body 14 on the steering column 12 side, a projection 14a that fits into a fitting hole 22 formed in the side wall of the steering column 12 is integrally provided. In the part including the end wall,
A sliding hole 23 for slidably fitting the lock pin 16 is provided, and an engagement recess 24 for engaging the lock pin 16 is provided on the outer periphery of the steering shaft 11.

Referring to FIG. 4 as well, the housing 13 accommodates an insertion unit 25, which is sandwiched between the housing main body 14 and the cover plate 15 so as to be inserted into the housing 13. Insert 2 to be stored
6, lock pin 16, slider 17, electric motor 1
8, the solenoid 20, the power conversion means 19, the electronic control unit 21, and the bus bar assembly 27 are assembled.

The insert 26 has a case 30 in which the first and second case members 28 and 29 are connected to each other, and a substantially flat surface formed integrally with the first case member 28 on the side opposite to the second case member 29. And a storage wall portion 32 formed in a tubular shape having a rectangular cross section and integrally provided with the support wall portion 31 at a substantially right angle.
6 is housed in the housing 13, the support wall 3
An operating hole 33 connected to the sliding hole 23 provided in the housing main body 14 is formed between the main body 1 and the housing main body 14 so as to slidably fit the lock pin 16 and the slider 17, The storage wall 32 is disposed in the housing 13 at a position where the support wall 31 is interposed between the support wall 31 and the operation hole 33.

The power conversion means 19 includes a worm gear 36 fixed to the output shaft 18a of the electric motor 18, a worm wheel 37 meshing with the worm gear 36, a screw shaft 38 rotating with the worm wheel 37, The power conversion means 19 and the electric motor 18 are provided with a nut 39 screwed to the screw shaft 38 while being restricted in rotation and allowed to move in the axial direction. Is stored in.

The electric motor 18 is fixedly supported by at least one of the first and second case members 28 and 29 and is housed in a case 30.
The electric motor 18 is fixedly supported by being sandwiched between the second case members 28 and 29. The electric motor 18
Worm gear 36, one end of which is coaxial with the output shaft 18a
Is rotatably supported by being sandwiched between the first and second case members 28 and 29.

A worm wheel 37 meshing with the worm gear 36 and a screw shaft 38 having, for example, a double-threaded screw engraved on its outer periphery are integrally formed, and the first and second case members 28 and 29 are integrated. Worm wheel 37
The screw shaft 38 is mutually connected so as to sandwich the screw shaft 38 from both sides in the axial direction.

Referring also to FIG. 5, the first case member 2
In FIG. 8, a bottomed cylindrical guide cylinder 40 having a rectangular cross-sectional shape is provided integrally so as to accommodate the nut 39 so as to be axially movable while preventing rotation of the nut 39 around its axis. The worm wheel 37 and the screw shaft 38 are rotatably supported by a support shaft 41 whose both ends are supported by the end wall of the guide cylinder 40 and the second case member 29.

The guide cylinder 40 is provided with the first case member 28.
The guide cylinder 40 is disposed on both sides of the nut 39 on the side wall of the guide cylinder 40. A pair of connecting holes 42, 42
Are provided so as to extend along the axial movement direction. On the other hand, the nut 39 is provided with a pair of connecting portions 43 facing the connecting holes 42 respectively.

The slider 17 is formed in a box shape having an open side opposite to the support wall portion 31 and is housed in the operating hole 33.
At the end on the second side, a locking wall 44 is provided for engaging a substantially L-shaped hook portion 16a provided integrally with the lock pin 16. Thus, when the slider 17 and the lock pin 16 are outside the housing 13, the engagement and disengagement of the hook 16a with the locking wall 44 can be freely operated. The slider 17 and the lock pin 16 engaged with the
When housed inside, as shown in FIG.
Is in sliding contact with the inner surface of the housing main body 14, so that it is impossible to release the engagement between the hook 16 a and the locking wall 44.

The slider 17 accommodates a spring 45 interposed between the slider 17 and the lock pin 16. The spring 45 is attached to the locking wall 44 of the slider 17 by a hook of the lock pin 16. It exerts a spring force for urging the lock pin 16 in the direction in which the portion 16a is engaged. When the slider 17 moves close to the steering shaft 11, the lock pin 16 moves in a direction in which the lock pin 16 engages with the steering shaft 11 by the spring force of the spring 45, and the slider 17 moves to the side away from the steering shaft 11. When the lock pin 16 is moved, the lock pin 16 moves in a direction away from the steering shaft 11 by the hook portion 16 a being pressed by the locking wall 44. Thus, the engagement recess 24 of the steering shaft 11
When the slider 14 moves closer to the steering shaft 11 when the slider 14 is shifted from the sliding hole 23, the lock pin 16 resiliently contacts the outer periphery of the steering shaft 11 by the spring force of the spring 45. The lock pin 16 engages with the engagement recess 24 in response to the rotation of the steering shaft 11 to a position where the engagement recess 24 corresponds to the sliding hole 23.

A pair of connecting arms 17a, 17a are provided integrally with the slider 17 on the opposite side of the lock pin 16 so as to sandwich the guide tube 40 from both sides. On the inner side of the distal ends of the arms 17a, 17a, a substantially U-shaped engagement is provided so as to be removably engaged with the connecting portions 43, 43 of the nut 39 arranged to face the connecting holes 42, 42 of the guide cylinder 40. Engaging portions 46, 46 are provided.

Referring further to FIG. 6, the solenoid 20 is housed in the housing wall 32.
The stay 47 provided on the solenoid 20 is
8, the solenoid 20 is fastened to the storage wall 32.
Is fixed in the storage wall portion 32.

A through hole 49 is provided in the support wall 31 at a position corresponding to the center of the solenoid 20, and a rod 50 of the solenoid 20 is inserted into the through hole 49. On the other hand, when the lock pin 16 is in the unlocked position where the lock pin 16 is disengaged from the engagement recess 24 of the steering shaft 11, the engagement recess 51 corresponding to the through hole 49 is provided in the slider 17. Is engaged with the engaging concave portion 51 at the tip of the rod 50 protruding from the through hole 49. In this state, the lock pin 16 is engaged with the engaging concave portion 24 of the steering shaft 11. The movement of the slider 17 in the direction is prevented. Thus, when the solenoid 20 is energized, the rod 50 operates in a direction to disengage from the engagement recess 51, thereby causing the slider 17 to engage the lock pin 16 with the engagement recess 24 of the steering shaft 11. It is possible to move.

The bus bar assembly 27 includes a storage wall 32
Are formed by embedding most of a plurality of metal busbars 56 in a support plate 55 made of synthetic resin formed to have a substantially L-shaped cross-sectional shape so as to surround the support plate 55. It is resiliently engaged with the wall 31. Thus, the necessary bus bars 56 of the bus bars 56 are electrically connected to the electric motor 18 in a state where the support plate 55 is elastically engaged with the support wall portion 31.

The rod 50 of the solenoid 20 has an operating arm 52 that projects through a slit 54 provided in the storage wall 32 and projects toward the support plate 55 of the bus bar assembly 27.
The microswitch 53 having a detector 53a having a base end fixed and capable of contacting the distal end of the operating arm 52
Are fixed to the support plate 55. Thus, the microswitch 53 puts the solenoid 20 into an energized state and the rod 5
0 is sufficiently operated in the direction to disengage from the engagement recess 51, that is, the lock pin 16 is
When the slider 17 can move in the direction of engagement with the first engagement recess 24, the operating arm 52 is moved to the detector 5
It is fixed to the support plate 55 at the position detected by 3a.

A slit 58 extending parallel to the operating direction of the slider 17 is provided in the support wall 31 between the support plate 55 and the storage wall 32 of the bus bar assembly 27, and is provided integrally with the slider 17. The operating arm 59 is inserted through the slit 58. On the other hand, on the support plate 55 of the bus bar assembly 27, micro switches 60, 6 having detectors 60a, 61a capable of contacting the tip of the operating arm 59
1 is fixed, and one microswitch 60 is
When the slider 17 is located at a position where the lock pin 16 is engaged with the engagement recess 24 of the steering shaft 11, the support plate 55 is located at a position where the operating arm 59 is detected by the detector 60a.
When the slider 17 is located at a position where the lock pin 16 is disengaged from the engagement concave portion 24 of the steering shaft 11, the operation arm 59 is fixed.
Is fixed to the support plate 55 at a position where the signal is detected by the detector 61a. That is, a pair of micro switches 60 and 61
Thus, it can be determined whether the slider 17 and the lock pin 16 are at the locked position or the unlocked position.

The electronic control unit 21 is formed by mounting electric parts such as microchips (not shown) on a substrate 62 made of synthetic resin and performing printed wiring for connecting the electric parts. Substrate 6 arranged to cover support plate 55 and storage wall portion 32
2 are connected to some of the bus bars 56 of the bus bar assembly 27 by resiliently fitting the connecting bosses 55a of the support plate 55 and the connecting bosses 32a of the storage wall portion 32. Thus, the electronic control unit 21 is assembled to the insert 26.

In addition, the board of the electronic control unit 21 includes
The connector 63 is provided integrally with the housing 13.
An opening 64 is provided at the open end of the housing main body 14 so that the connector 63 faces when the insertion unit 25 is housed in the housing 13.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The power conversion means 19 interposed between the electric motor 18 and the slider 17 so as to convert the rotary motion into the linear motion is provided on the output shaft of the electric motor 18. A worm gear 36 fixed to the worm gear 18a, a worm wheel 37 meshing with the worm gear 36, a screw shaft 38 rotating with the worm wheel 37, a rotation around the axis is restricted, and a movement in the axial direction is allowed. Shaft 38
And a nut 39 screwed into the nut 39.
Is engaged with the slider 17.

In such a power conversion means 19, the output of the electric motor 18 is reduced by the engagement of the worm gear 36 and the worm wheel 37, and the nut 39 is screwed into the screw shaft 38 which rotates together with the worm wheel 37, thereby the electric motor 18 is converted into a linear motion of the slider 17.
By including the three components, that is, the worm gear 36, the worm wheel 37, the screw shaft 38, and the nut 39, it is possible to reduce the number of components,
The power conversion means 19 and the housing 13 can be made compact, and the degree of freedom in arrangement when the steering lock device is mounted on the vehicle can be increased.

The screw shaft 38 and the worm wheel 3
7 are integrally formed, the power conversion means 1
9 can be further reduced, and the connection rigidity of the screw shaft 38 and the worm wheel 37 can be increased.

The housing 13 houses a case 30 comprising first and second case members 28 and 29 which are connected to each other.
The power conversion means 19 has the electric motor 18 fixedly supported by at least one of the first and second case members 28 and 29, in this embodiment, and the worm gear 36 which is a component of the power conversion means 19; The worm wheel 37, the screw shaft 38, and the nut 39 are housed in the case 30 so as to be operably supported on at least one of the first and second case members 28, 29, and the first case member 28 includes a slider. 17 power conversion means 1
9 are provided with a pair of connection holes 42, 42 that enable connection to the connection hole 9.

Therefore, by assembling the case 30 in which the electric motor 18 and the power conversion means 19 are stored in advance in the housing 13, the electric motor 18 and the power conversion means 1 are connected while the power conversion means 19 and the slider 17 are connected.
9 to the housing 13 is completed,
The assemblability can be improved. Moreover, the electric motor 18
In addition, since the operation sound of the power conversion means 19 is doubly shielded by the case 30 and the housing 13, excellent noise reduction can be obtained.

Case 3 for accommodating power conversion means 19
0, the first and second case members 28 and 29
The worm wheel 37 and the screw shaft 38 are sandwiched from both sides in the axial direction.
9 is provided integrally with a bottomed cylindrical guide cylinder 40 for accommodating 9 so as to be movable in the axial direction while preventing rotation about its axis.
The worm wheel 37 and the screw shaft 38 are rotatably supported by a support shaft 41 whose both ends are supported by the end wall of the guide cylinder 40 and the second case member 29, so that the support structure of the components of the power conversion means 19 is supported. Can be simplified.

Further, a pair of connecting holes 42, 42 for facing a pair of connecting portions 43, 43 provided on the nut 39 are provided in the guide cylinder 40, and the slider 17 can be disengaged from the two connecting portions 43, 43. , The nut 39 and the slider 17 can be easily connected.

The housing 13 has a shape which is open on the side opposite to the steering column 12 and is fixed to the steering column 12.
A cover plate 15 connected to the housing main body 14 by closing an open end of the housing main body 14. An insertion unit 25 is inserted into the housing main body 14 in an open state. Are accommodated in the housing 13 when the cover plate 15 is connected to the housing main body 14.

The insertion unit 25 is inserted between the housing main body 14 and the cover plate 15 and housed in the housing 13 with the lock pin 16,
The slider 17, the electric motor 18, the solenoid 20, the power conversion means 19, the electronic control unit 21, and the bus bar assembly 27 are assembled.
Lock pin 16, slider 17, electric motor 18, solenoid 20, power conversion means 19, electronic control unit 21
And the bus bar assembly 27 may be assembled to the insert 26 outside the housing 13, so that the lock pin 16, the slider 17, the electric motor 18, the solenoid 20, the power conversion means 19, the electronic control unit 21, and the bus bar assembly 2
The assemblability when assembling the housing 7 to the housing 13 can be improved.

Further, a bus bar assembly 27 for electrically connecting the electronic control unit 21 and the electric motor 18 also constitutes a part of the insertion unit 25, and the electronic control unit 21 is accommodated in the housing 13. Thus, the steering lock device can be made compact, and the electric connection between the electric motor 18 and the electronic control unit 21 can be easily performed outside the housing 13 to further improve the assemblability. it can.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various design changes can be made without departing from the present invention described in the appended claims. It is possible.

[0042]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to improve the assemblability when assembling the lock pin, the slider, the electric motor and the power conversion means to the housing.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the electronic control unit is housed in the housing to make the steering lock device compact, and the electric connection between the electric motor and the electronic control unit is made. The work can be easily performed outside the housing, so that the assemblability can be further improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a steering lock device, which is a sectional view taken along line 1-1 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the steering lock device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 3 in a state before the insertion unit is inserted into the housing.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a part of the insertion unit in a different viewing direction from FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Steering shaft 12 ... Steering column 13 ... Housing 14 ... Housing main body 15 ... Cover plate 16 ... Lock pin 17 ... Slider 18 ... Electric motor 19 ... Power conversion means 21 ・ ・ ・ Electronic control unit 25 ・ ・ ・ Interpolation unit 26 ・ ・ ・ Inserted body

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A straight line between a housing (13) fixed to a steering column (12) surrounding a steering shaft (11), a position engaging with the steering shaft (11) and a position releasing the engagement. A lock pin (16) supported on the housing (13) to enable reciprocal movement, and a reciprocating sliding in the same direction as the reciprocating direction of the lock pin (16) is provided to the housing (13). A slider (17) supported and connected to the lock pin (16); and the housing (13).
Electric motor (18) fixedly supported on the motor, and an electric motor (18) capable of converting rotational motion into linear motion
And a power conversion means (19) interposed between the slider and the slider (17), wherein the housing (13) has a shape in which the opposite side to the steering column (12) is opened. Housing (14) fixed to the steering column (12)
And a cover plate (15) connected to the housing main body (14) by closing an open end of the housing main body (14), and is sandwiched between the housing main body (14) and the cover plate (15). Insert (26) housed in the housing (13), the lock pin (16) attached to the insert (26), and the slider (1).
7) A steering lock device for a vehicle, wherein an insertion unit (25) including the electric motor (18) and the power conversion means (19) is housed in the housing (13). 2. An electronic control unit, comprising: an electronic control unit (21) mounted on the insert (26) so as to control the operation of the electric motor (18). (21) and the electric motor (1)
The steering lock device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the insertion unit (25) in a state where the electrical connection between (8) and (8) is completed is inserted into the housing main body (14).