JP2003172603A - Detecting sensor for rotating position - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a detecting sensor for a rotating position having high quality that can maintain the good detection for a rotating position for a long term. <P>SOLUTION: The detecting sensor is provided with a rotating axis 6 projecting from a case 1, a detecting means 10 detecting the rotation of the rotating axis 6 installed in the case 1, and a lever member 9 outside the case 1 fixed to the rotating axis 6. A locking member 1b is installed on the external wall of the case 1, which is superposed with the lever member 9 in the axis direction of the rotating axis 6 and locks the lever member 9 at the external prescribed position of an actual working angle range B in the rotatable range A of the lever member 9. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rotational position detecting sensor, and more particularly to a rotational position detecting sensor used in an actual use angle range narrower than a rotatable range.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional rotational position detecting sensor of this type is
A lever member is fixed to a rotating shaft protruding from the case, and a detecting means for detecting the rotation of the rotating shaft is housed in the case. When the lever member is rotated, the rotating shaft integrally rotates to prevent the rotation. The detection means detects, and the detection means converts the rotation amount of the rotating shaft into an electric signal and outputs the electric signal.

In this case, the detecting means often uses a variable resistor in which a slider fixed to a rotary shaft is made to slide on a resistor provided in a case.

Such a rotational position detecting sensor is used, for example, for controlling the vehicle height of a vehicle or for controlling the opening of a throttle valve of an internal combustion engine. At that time, the operating range of the rotational position detecting sensor which is the rotatable range of the lever member is used. On the other hand, the actual use angle range is as narrow as a fraction of that and is rarely used in full scale.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned rotational position detecting sensor, the lever member is liable to be violated during transportation after manufacturing is completed and careless in the assembling process to a vehicle or the like. When an impact force is applied to the lever, there is a problem that the lever member rotates.

This problem appears when the variable resistor is used as the detecting means, as a phenomenon of wear of the resistor due to sliding contact with the slider, and particularly when this wear phenomenon occurs in the actual use angle range. Will adversely affect the product life.

The problem that the lever member rotates due to this impact force also appears as a wear phenomenon of the rotating shaft and the bearing portion that rotatably holds the rotating shaft, which also adversely affects the product life. Furthermore, when the rotational position detection sensor is attached to the vehicle, it is necessary to engage the lever member with the link to attach it, but the impact force causes the lever member to take various angles within the rotatable range. Therefore, there is also a problem that the angle of the lever member is not constant and the work of attaching the lever member to the link becomes complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances of the prior art, and an object thereof is to provide a high-quality rotational position detection sensor capable of maintaining good rotational position detection for a long period of time. .

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a rotational position detecting sensor of the present invention comprises a rotating shaft projecting from a case and a detecting means provided in the case and detecting the rotation of the rotating shaft. And a lever member fixed to the rotary shaft on the outside of the case, the locking member locking the lever member within the rotatable range of the lever member and outside the actual use angle range. Is provided on the outer wall of the case.

Further, the rotation position detecting sensor of the present invention is characterized in that the locking member is engaged with a surface of the lever member facing the case.

Further, the rotation position detecting sensor of the present invention is characterized in that the locking member is formed by a projection integrally formed on the outer wall of the case.

Further, the rotational position detecting sensor of the present invention is characterized in that the lever is brought into a non-contact state with the case after the locking by the locking member is released.

Further, in the rotational position detecting sensor of the present invention, a stopper member that defines the rotatable range of the lever member is provided on the outer wall of the case so that the height of the stopper member is greater than the height of the locking member. It is also characterized by being set high.

Further, in the rotational position detection sensor of the present invention, the detection means is composed of a substrate having a resistor formed on the surface thereof and a slider slidingly contacting the resistor, and the substrate and the slider are One of them is fixed to the case, and the other is fixed to the rotary shaft.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a rotational position detecting sensor of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 7 are for explaining one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a plan view of a rotational position detection sensor according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of the rotational position detection sensor, 3 is a bottom view of the rotational position detection sensor, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory view of the rotational position detection sensor, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a locked state, and FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a main part thereof.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the rotational position detecting sensor according to this embodiment is fixed to the case 1, the rotary shaft 6 protruding from the case 1, and the rotary shaft 6 outside the case 1. It is composed of a lever member 9 and the like, and a detection means 10 for detecting the rotation of the rotary shaft 6 is provided in the case 1.

Next, the concrete constitution of each member constituting the rotational position detecting sensor will be sequentially explained.

The case 1 is made of a plastic material and is formed in a cylindrical shape having an opening at the top and bottom. A metal bearing 2 is mounted inside by insert molding, and a cutout hole 1a is provided at the lower end. A protrusion 1b serving as a locking member and a stopper member 1c having a height higher than this are integrally formed on the outer wall of the upper end. A back cover 3 is fitted into the lower end of the case 1, and a housing portion 3b having a through hole 3a communicating with the cutout hole 1a is formed in the back cover 3 so as to project upward. Also, one end portion of the lead wire 4 introduced into the accommodation portion 3b through the through hole 3a is embedded with the adhesive 5. Further, three mounting portions 1d are provided on the side surface, and a concave portion 1e having a thread formed on the inner side surface is formed on the lower surface of each mounting portion 1d.

The rotating shaft 6 is formed of a metal material in a cylindrical shape, and is rotatably supported by the bearing 2 of the case 1. The rotating shaft 6 has a metal reinforcing member 7 having an L-shaped cross section. A rubber-made shielding member 8 in which is embedded is inserted and the airtightness inside the case 1 is maintained.

The lever member 9 is made of a metal material and is formed into a flat plate shape. The lever member 9 is attached to the upper end of the rotary shaft 6 by caulking with a gap C between the case and the rotary shaft 6, and the rotary shaft 9 is sandwiched between the lever member 9 and the case 1. A long hole 9a is provided on one end side, and an arcuate cutout portion 9b capable of contacting the stopper member 1c is formed on the other end side so as to extend to one end side, and by this cutout portion 9b and the stopper member 1c. The rotatable range A of the lever member 9 is restricted.

The detection means 10 includes a substrate 11 fixed to the case 1, a resistor 12 and a conductor 13 formed on the surface of the substrate 11, and a rotor 14 fixed to the lower end of the rotating shaft 6.
And a slider 15 held by a rotor 14 and a variable resistor.
Has a circular arc shape centered at, and has a resistor 12 and a conductor 13.
The slider 15 is in sliding contact with both of them.

Then, one end of the resistor 12 and the conductor 1
Terminals 16 (only one is shown in the figure) are fixed to both ends of the terminal 3, and these terminals 16 are soldered to the lead wires 4 on the opposite sides of the surface of the substrate 11 on which the resistor 12 and the conductor 13 are formed. .

The rotational position detecting sensor according to this embodiment is constructed as described above, and its operation will be described below.

This rotational position detecting sensor is used, for example, for controlling the vehicle height of a vehicle or for controlling the opening degree of a throttle valve of an internal combustion engine, and as shown in FIG. 5, a vehicle height change and a throttle valve provided in the vehicle and the internal combustion engine. Link 17 which is displaced according to the opening degree of
The joint 17a is used by engaging with the long hole 9a of the lever member 9.

When the link 17 is displaced, the lever member 9 rotates with a gap C between the lever member 9 and the case 1, and the rotary shaft 6 rotates in conjunction with this and the slider 15 causes the resistor 12 to rotate.
Also, the resistance value varied by sliding on the conductor 13 is taken out from the lead wire 4 via the terminal 16 as an electric signal corresponding to the rotation amount of the lever member 9.

At this time, the lever 17 is connected by the link 17
The actual use angle range B in which is rotated is sufficiently smaller than the rotatable range A shown in FIG.

After the manufacturing is completed, the rotational position detecting sensor which operates in this manner, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, abuts the notch 9b of the lever member 9 against the stopper member 1c to make the lever member 9 The surface of the side facing the case 1 of the projection 1
b is engaged with the rotary shaft 6 in the axial direction, and the protrusion 1b locks the lever member 9 within the rotatable range A and outside the actual use angle range B.

Therefore, until the lever member 9 is rotated counterclockwise to release the locking by the projection 1b,
By carrying and handling in this locked state, it is possible to suppress rotation of the lever member 9 when an impact force acts on the lever member 9 and prevent damage to the detection means 10. Since 9 is held at a predetermined angle, it is possible to standardize the attachment work to the link 17 and improve its workability.

Until the lever member 9 is unlocked, the lever member 9 is always kept outside the actual use angle range B. This is the case when the detecting means 10 is composed of a variable resistor. Is particularly effective in preventing wear of the resistor 12. Further, since the rotary shaft 6 and the bearing 2 do not slide until actually used, this portion is prevented from being worn.

Next, a specific mounting operation when the rotational position detecting sensor of the present invention is used as a vehicle height sensor will be described.

First, the tire is lifted off the ground, and the vehicle body is held so that the damper such as the coil spring of the suspension is not bent. Next, the joint 17a of the link 17 connected to the suspension is engaged with the elongated hole 9a of the lever member 9 held at a predetermined position. Then, in this state, the recess 1 formed in the mounting portion 1d of the case 1
"e" is designed to be located in the mounting hole of the vehicle body, and the case 1 is screwed and held in the mounting hole of the vehicle body.

When the tire is attached to the ground, the suspension bends due to the weight of the vehicle body and the link 17 is displaced, and the lever member 9 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, so that the protrusion 1b is disengaged. When actually used, the lever member 9 operates within the actual use angle range B that does not relate to the protrusion 1b, so that there is no hindrance to the operation when used for vehicle height detection.

It should be noted that when the tire is installed on the ground in this manner, the locking by the projection 1b may be automatically released, but after the link member 17 is engaged with the lever member 9, the case 1 is rotated clockwise. Alternatively, the protrusion 1b may be unlocked by rotating in the direction, and the protrusion 1b may be attached to the vehicle body. In this case, the lever member 9 operates in the actual use angle range B in which the protrusion 1b is not covered even when the tire floats from the ground.

As described above, the rotational position detecting sensor is used by being mounted on a vehicle or the like. Since the case 1 is provided with the stopper member 1c, the rotatable range A of the lever member 9 can be defined. When the detection means 10 is composed of a variable resistor, it is possible to prevent the slider 15 from riding on the terminal 16 due to the rotation of the lever member 9.
The rotatable range A of the lever member 9 can be matched with the detectable range of the detection means 10.

Further, since the projection 1b integrally formed on the case 1 constitutes the locking member, it is possible to provide an inexpensive rotational position detecting sensor while suppressing an increase in the number of parts.

Further, the height of the protrusion 1b is set to the stopper member 1c.
Since the lever member 9 can be locked with a simple structure, the rotatable range A of the lever member 9 can be restricted, and when the detecting means 10 is composed of a variable resistor, It is possible to prevent the slider 15 from riding on the terminal 16 as the lever member 9 rotates.

Further, since the protrusion 1b and the stopper member 1c are arranged side by side on the outer wall of the upper end of the case 1, the lever member 9 can be locked by the protrusion 1b while being in contact with the stopper member 1c. The locking position of the protrusion 1b can be accurately adjusted, and the unlocking direction of the lever member 9 can be set to always be the same direction.

Further, since the lever member 9 is made of a metal material and the projection 1b is made of the same plastic material as that of the case 1, the lever 9 is not damaged by the locking by the projection 1b. Further, since the stopper member 1c is provided on the outer wall of the case 1 and is not in the space for accommodating the detecting means 10,
Even if the stopper member 1c is scraped or falls off, it does not affect the output signal of the detection means 10.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, a protrusion 9c that engages with the protrusion 1b is formed on the lower surface of the lever member 9 by press working. With this configuration, when the lever member 9 and the protrusion 1b are overlapped with each other, the protrusion 9c rides on the protrusion 1b, so that the lever member 9 can be locked more firmly.

Further, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the protrusion 1b is provided.
The shape of the above is slightly changed, and a recess 9d that engages with the protrusion 1b is formed on the lower surface of the lever member 9 by press working. With this configuration, when the lever member 9 and the protrusion 1b are overlapped with each other, the protrusion 1b fits into the recess 9d, so that the lever member 9 can be reliably locked.

Incidentally, in these embodiments, the detecting means 10 was described as being constituted by a variable resistor, but the detecting means 10
For this, an angle sensor, an optical encoder, or the like that detects the rotation angle of the rotary shaft 6 by detecting the magnetic field of the permanent magnet attached to the rotary shaft 6 with a magnetic detection element can be used.

Further, in this embodiment, the resistor 12 and the conductor 13 are formed on the substrate 11, and the rotor 1 is provided on the rotor 14.
5 is held, it is also possible to hold the slider 15 on the substrate 11 and form the resistor 12 and the conductor 13 on the rotor 14.

[0043]

The present invention is carried out in the form as described above, and has the following effects.

In the rotational position detecting sensor of the present invention, a locking member for locking the lever member within the rotatable range of the lever member and outside the actual use angle range is provided on the outer wall of the case. Therefore, by carrying and handling the lever member while the lever member is locked by the locking member, it is possible to prevent damage to the detection means when an impact force acts on the lever member. It is possible to prevent the rotation of the rotary shaft in the operating angle range from being undetectable. Further, even if the locking member comes off from the case, it does not enter the case. Therefore, it is possible to take measures against the failure of the detection means due to the locking member coming off. .

Further, since the locking member is engaged with the surface of the lever member facing the case, the lever member can be securely held outside the actual use angle range.

Further, since the locking member is composed of the projection integrally formed on the outer wall of the case, the structure can be simplified, the increase in the number of parts can be suppressed, and the cost reduction of the rotational position detection sensor can be promoted.

Further, since the lever is brought into a non-contact state with the case after the locking by the locking member is released, the lever unlocked by the locking member is smoothly rotated. be able to.

Further, since the stopper member for defining the rotatable range of the lever member is provided on the outer wall of the case so that the height of the stopper member is set higher than the height of the locking member, the lever member is The rotatable range can be defined by the stopper member, and the lever member can be locked by the locking member.

The detecting means is composed of a substrate having a resistor formed on the surface thereof and a slider slidingly contacting the resistor, and one of the substrate and the slider is placed in the case and the other is placed in the case. Since the rotary shafts are fixed to the rotary shafts respectively, the rotation of the rotary shafts can be detected while the wear of the resistors due to the impact force is eliminated by using the variable resistor.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a rotational position detection sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the rotational position detection sensor.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the rotational position detection sensor.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory view of the rotational position detection sensor.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a state in which the locking member locks the lever member.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a main part thereof.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a main part showing a modified example of the invention.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a main part showing another modification of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 case 1a Notched hole 1b Projection (locking member) 1c Stopper member 1d mounting part 1e Recess 2 bearings 3 case back 3a through hole 3b accommodation 4 lead wire 5 adhesive 6 rotation axes 7 Metal reinforcement 8 Shielding member 9 Lever member 9a long hole 9b Notch 9c protrusion 9d recess 10 Detection means 11 board 12 resistor 13 conductor 14 rotor 15 Slider 16 terminals 17 links 17a joint A rotatable range B Actual use angle range C gap

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A rotating shaft projecting from a case, and a detection means provided inside the case for detecting rotation of the rotating shaft,
A lever member fixed to the rotating shaft outside the case, and a locking member that locks the lever member within a rotatable range of the lever member and outside an actual use angle range, A rotational position detection sensor provided on the outer wall of the case. 2. The rotational position detecting sensor according to claim 1, wherein the locking member is engaged with a surface of the lever member facing the case. 3. The rotational position detection sensor according to claim 1, wherein the locking member is formed by a protrusion integrally formed on an outer wall of the case. 4. The rotational position detecting sensor according to claim 1, wherein the lever is brought into a non-contact state with the case after the locking by the locking member is released. 5. A stopper member for defining a rotatable range of the lever member is provided on an outer wall of the case so as to project, and a height of the stopper member is set to be higher than a height of the locking member. The rotational position detection sensor according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4. 6. The detection means is composed of a substrate having a resistor formed on a surface thereof and a slider slidingly contacting the resistor, and one of the substrate and the slider is provided in the case and the other is provided. The rotational position detection sensor according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein the rotational position detection sensor is fixed to each of the rotational shafts.