JP2003291680A - Switch for handlebar - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a switch for handlebar capable of improving operability of related switches for operating an automatic transmission, and capable of restraining the cost accompanying alternation in design for newly providing a switch related to the automatic transmission. <P>SOLUTION: This switch for handlebar formed in a switch case 1 fixed on a left side of a handlebar (a left side handlebar 2) of a motorcycle so as to operate a various kinds of electrical components is provided with an automatic transmission automatic switch button 8 for automatically shifting up or down the automatic transmission mounted on the motorcycle, a shifting up manual switch lever 9 for manually shifting up the automatic transmission or a shifting down manual switch lever 10 for manually shifting down the automatic transmission, and a power switch 7 for forcibly shifting down the automatic transmission. Thus, the related switches for operating the automatic transmission are collectively arranged in the switch case 1 fixed on the left side handlebar 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a handlebar switch for operating various electric components, which is formed in a switch case fixed to the left side of a handlebar of a vehicle, and more particularly in a vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission. Regarding handlebar switches.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, an automatic transmission for a motorcycle has been selected in which an automatic mode in which a shift operation is automatically performed and a manual mode in which a shift up or down is performed according to a driver's shift operation can be selected. It is proposed to be installed, and in order to operate such an automatic transmission,
It has been proposed that a switch case attached to the left side of the handlebar is provided with a shift-up push button and a shift-down pushbutton, and an auto switch is provided on the right side of the handlebar.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional handlebar switch, the auto switch is arranged on the right side of the handlebar, while the manual switch is arranged on the left side of the handlebar.
The related switches for operating the automatic transmission (the auto switch and the manual switch) are dispersedly arranged in the left and right switch cases, which causes a problem of poor operability. That is, when the automatic transmission is set to the automatic mode, the switch on the right side is used, and when the shift operation is performed in the manual mode, the switch on the left side is used, which makes it difficult to operate.

In addition, in order to newly install the switch related to the automatic transmission, both the left and right switch cases must be changed, which causes a problem that the cost for changing the design is deteriorated. . That is, when it is attempted to provide the related switch to the existing switch case that does not have the automatic transmission related switch, the design of the switch case itself must be changed, and when the automatic transmission related switch covers both the left and right switch cases. In, both switch cases must be changed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and improves the operability of the related switches for operating the automatic transmission, and at the time of newly disposing the switches related to the automatic transmission. It is an object of the present invention to provide a handlebar switch capable of suppressing the costs associated with the change.

[0006]

The invention according to claim 1 is
A handlebar switch formed on a switch case fixed to the left side of a vehicle handlebar for operating various electrical components, in which an automatic transmission for manually upshifting or downshifting an automatic transmission mounted on the vehicle A machine manual switch and a mode changeover switch for changing over the mode of the automatic transmission are provided.

According to this structure, in addition to the operation of the predetermined electrical equipment, the operation related to the automatic transmission is performed by the switch case provided on the left side of the handlebar. That is,
The operations related to the automatic transmission (manual operation, mode switching operation, etc.) are performed only by operating the switch provided on the switch case on the left side of the handlebar, and by the switch provided on the switch case on the right handlebar. Not done

According to a second aspect of the present invention, as the mode changeover switch, an automatic transmission automatic switch for changing over the automatic transmission between an automatic mode and a manual mode, and forcibly shifting the automatic transmission. At least one of a power switch for downshifting and an economy switch for upshifting or downshifting the automatic transmission so as to approximate traveling with ideal fuel consumption is provided.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 6, the handlebar switch according to the present embodiment is adjacent to the grip 3 formed at the tip of the left side of the handlebar 2 of the motorcycle (hereinafter, that portion is referred to as the left handlebar 2). The switch case 1 fixed to the left handlebar 2 is provided. A throttle grip 3'is formed at the tip of the right side 2 '(the right side handle bar 2') of the handle bar, and a switch case 1'is formed adjacent to this.

Such a two-wheeled vehicle is equipped with an automatic transmission, and an automatic mode in which the automatic transmission automatically shifts up or down by shifting (shifting up or down) the automatic transmission, and a driver runs. It is possible to switch between manual mode in which shift up or shift down is appropriately performed depending on the situation.

Here, the automatic transmission is a transmission whose gear ratio can be continuously controlled. In the present embodiment, a mechanical type that operates by belt drive is applied, but a hydraulic type is used. May be In addition, in the present embodiment, an electronically controlled transmission in which an electronic control unit such as an ECU mounted in a vehicle performs a shift operation of an automatic transmission is used, but other control forms may be used.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the switch case 1 is formed by sandwiching the left handlebar 2 between the front switch case 1a and the rear switch case 1b, which have a half-split shape, while sandwiching them. ing. That is, the switch case 1 is fixed to the tip end side of the left-hand handlebar 2 of the two-wheeled vehicle on which the grip grip 3 is provided, and is provided so that the driver can operate the switch while gripping the grip grip 3 while traveling.

The rear switch case 1b has a dimmer switch button 4 for switching the vehicle headlight, a left turn signal switch button 5, and a horn button 6.
A power switch button 7, an automatic switch button 8 for an automatic transmission, and a shift-up manual switch lever 9 are provided, and a shift-down manual switch lever 1 is provided in the front switch case 1a.
0 is set.

These switch buttons and levers are connected to fixed terminals arranged in the switch case 1 and movable terminals which can be brought into contact with and separated from each other, so that various electric components of the vehicle and an automatic transmission can be operated. It is configured.

The power switch button 7 constitutes a push-type switch button formed in the right center of the rear switch case 1b, and is operated when a large driving force is required on a slope or the like to shift down the automatic transmission by a predetermined number of steps. It is what makes me.

The automatic switch button 8 for the automatic transmission is
The push-type switch is provided on the upper right side of the rear switch case 1b as a mode changeover switch for changing the mode of the automatic transmission, and the automatic transmission mounted on the motorcycle can be set to the automatic mode. It is a thing. While setting a manual mode and driving a motorcycle,
When the driver presses the automatic switch button 8 for the automatic transmission with his / her finger, the manual mode is switched to the automatic mode, and the shift is automatically performed.

To switch from the automatic mode to the manual mode, the manual switch lever 9 for shift-up or the manual switch lever 10 for shift-down is used.
Operate either. That is, if the shift-up manual switch lever 9 is operated in the automatic mode, the automatic mode can be released and the automatic transmission can be shifted up, while the shift-down manual switch lever 10 can be operated in the automatic mode. ,
When the automatic mode is released, the automatic transmission can be downshifted, and then the manual mode is set.

The shift-up manual switch lever 9 constitutes an operating lever of an oscillating switch formed on the lower surface of the switch case 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the oscillating shaft 9a is centered in the arrow direction. It can be rocked to. Manual switch lever 9 for such shift up
Is brought into the state shown in the same drawing by an urging means (not shown). The terminal comes into contact with the fixed terminal fixed in the switch case 1 to conduct electricity, and the automatic transmission is shifted up.

The downshift manual switch lever 10 constitutes an operating lever of a rocking type switch formed on the front switch case 1a (the rear side of the switch case 1 when viewed from the driver), and is shown in FIG. Thus, it can be swung in the direction of the arrow around the swing shaft 10a.

Like the above-mentioned manual switch lever 9 for shift up, the shift down manual switch lever 10 is brought into the state shown in the figure by the biasing means not shown, and resists the biasing force by this biasing means. Then, when it is swung in the direction of the arrow, the movable terminal formed at the tip of the downshift manual switch lever 10 comes into contact with the fixed terminal fixed in the switch case 1 to conduct, and the automatic transmission is downshifted. .

Then, while the driver grips the grip grip 3 while traveling, the left thumb holding the grip grip 3 extends to the lower surface of the switch case 1 according to the traveling speed,
The manual switch lever 9 for shift-up is rocked to the side away from the driver to shift up.
On the other hand, in order to shift down according to the traveling speed, the index finger of the left hand holding the grip grip 3 is extended to the back surface (front side) of the switch case 1, and the downshift manual switch lever 10 is moved to the front side as seen from the driver. Perform rocking operation.

The various switches provided on the switch case 1 side have been described above, but all the related switches for operating the automatic transmission are provided on the switch case 1, and the driver exclusively uses the left hand. It is configured so that the machine can be operated (switching from manual mode to auto mode, manual upshift or downshift of an automatic transmission, and downshift operation by a power switch button).

Incidentally, the switch case 1'fixed to the right handlebar 2'is, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5,
The front switch case 1'a and the rear switch case 1'b each having a half-split shape are fitted and fixed while sandwiching the right handlebar 2 '. In the figure, the switch case 1'is provided with the right turn signal switch button 5 ', the engine stop button 11 for stopping the engine, and the starter switch button 12 for starting the engine. .

Therefore, according to the above embodiment, the power switch button 7, the automatic switch button 8 for the automatic transmission, the switch case 1 fixed to the left handlebar 2,
Since the shift up manual switch lever 9 and the shift down manual switch lever 10 are provided,
The switches related to operating the automatic transmission can be concentrated exclusively on the left switch case, and the switches related to the automatic transmission are distributed over the left and right switch cases 1 and 1 '. Therefore, the operability can be remarkably improved.

On the other hand, in the motorcycle, the right grip 3 '(see FIG. 4) is a throttle grip which is rotatable with respect to the right handlebar 2', so that the driver can operate the accelerator with his right hand. While it is necessary to operate (rotation of the throttle grip), the operation of the automatic transmission is performed with the left hand during traveling, so it is possible to facilitate a series of operations of the automatic transmission while operating the accelerator. Of.

That is, when the throttle grip is rotated, the driver's right hand moves relative to the switch case 1'and the switch provided in the switch case 1'is operated. Requires sequential visual confirmation, but since the driver's left hand does not rotate and is held in a certain state, the relative position with respect to the switch case 1 does not move, and it is sensuous regardless of visual observation. It is possible to carry out operations.

Further, because of the above-mentioned operations, it is extremely difficult to operate the switch of the switch case while rotating the throttle grip when the two-wheeled vehicle is traveling, which may reduce safety during traveling. Therefore, it is possible to avoid this and improve safety during traveling.

Further, when it is attempted to provide the relevant switch to the existing switch case which does not have the switch related to the automatic transmission, it suffices to change the design of only the switch case 1 to be fixed to the left handlebar 2 and the right handle. The switch case 1 ′ to be fixed to the bar can be left as it is. Therefore, when the design of the switch case is changed to form the switch related to the automatic transmission, only the left side can be changed in design and the right side can be left as it is, and the cost associated with the design change can be suppressed.

Although the handlebar switch according to the present embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this, and the related switch for operating the automatic transmission is a switch case fixed to the left handlebar. The operation switches of the other electrical components may be of any form if they are arranged centrally.

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the switch case 1 fixed to the left handlebar 2 includes a dimmer switch button 4, an automatic switch button 8 for an automatic transmission, and a power switch button 7 which are the same as those in the above embodiment. A turn signal switch knob 1 that has and is the same as the conventional one
3 (a type in which the left or right winker is selectively blinked by swinging to the left or right), a horn button 14 may be provided.

Further, the shape and arrangement position of each switch are arbitrarily determined, and any push type switch may be a swing type switch, or the swing type switch may be a push type switch. be able to. For example, instead of the dimmer switch button 4, a seesaw type rocking switch which has been generally used conventionally may be used.
The shift-up manual switch lever 9 and the shift-down manual switch lever 10 are constituted by one seesaw-type rocking switch, and when they are rocked to one side, the automatic transmission is shifted up, and when they are rocked to the other side, they are shifted. You may make it down.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the automatic transmission switch button 8 and the power switch button 7 are provided as mode switching switches, but other mode switching switches (for example, depending on ideal fuel consumption) An economy switch for upshifting or downshifting the automatic transmission may be appropriately provided so as to approximate traveling.

In this embodiment, the operation switch of the automatic transmission mounted on the motorcycle is used.
It can be applied to an operation switch of an automatic transmission mounted on various vehicles equipped with a handlebar such as a TV or a snowmobile.

[0034]

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, the operability of the related switch for operating the automatic transmission is improved, and the design for newly disposing the automatic transmission-related switch is made. The costs associated with the changes can be suppressed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a switch case fixed to a left handlebar in a handlebar switch according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a left side view of the same.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a switch case fixed to a right handlebar of a motorcycle to which a handlebar switch according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 5 is a left side view of the same.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a motorcycle to which a handlebar switch according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing a switch case fixed to a left handlebar in a handlebar switch according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Switch case 1 (fixed on the left side of the handle bar) Switch case (fixed on the right side of the handle bar) 2 ... Left handle bar (left side of the handle bar) 2 '... Right handle bar (of the handle bar) Right side) 3 ... Grip grip 3 '... Throttle grip 4 ... Dimmer switch button 5 ... Left turn signal switch button 5' ... Right turn signal switch button 6 ... Horn button 7 ... Power switch button 8 ... Automatic switch button for automatic transmission 9 ... Manual switch lever for shift up 10 ... Manual switch lever for shift down 11 ... Engine stop button 12 ... Starter switch button 13 ... Turn signal switch knob 14 ... Horn button

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A handlebar switch formed on a switch case fixed to the left side of a vehicle handlebar for operating various electrical components, wherein an automatic transmission mounted on the vehicle is manually upshifted or A handlebar switch, comprising: a manual switch for an automatic transmission that shifts down; and a mode switching switch that switches a mode of the automatic transmission. 2. An automatic switch for an automatic transmission that switches the automatic transmission between an automatic mode and a manual mode, and a power switch that forcibly shifts down the automatic transmission, as the mode switching switch. 2. The handlebar switch according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of an economy switch for upshifting or downshifting the automatic transmission so as to approximate to traveling with ideal fuel consumption.