JP2005106577A - Position detection sensor device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce discomfort that a user feels by suppressing the occurrence of foreign sound, and to convert the movable position of a section to be engaged to an electric signal smoothly for maintaining detection precision. <P>SOLUTION: Friction stress cannot be generated easily at the outer periphery section of a sensor lever 22 engaged to at least a pedal lever 14a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a position detection sensor device for detecting a movable position of an engaged member.

  A conventional position detection sensor device is provided with an engaging member that engages with a movable engaged member, and the engaging member is provided with an electric signal conversion element. The engaging member can move with the movement of the engaged member, and includes an interlocking member that is integrally interlocked. An energizing member is provided in the interlocking member, and the energizing member is in sliding contact with the electric signal conversion element. A metal terminal is connected to the electric signal conversion element, and the metal terminal is connected to an external device (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  Such a position detection sensor device can be used in a vehicle brake device as a pedal stroke sensor that outputs a signal corresponding to the pedal stroke of the brake pedal. Specifically, a brake pedal and a pedal arm connected to the brake pedal are provided, and a pedal lever extends on the pedal arm. Thus, the engaged member is constituted by the brake pedal, the pedal arm, and the pedal lever. A sensor lever as an engaging member is engaged with the pedal lever. The sensor lever is integrated with the interlocking member. The interlocking member is provided with an energizing member. The energizing member is an electrical signal element. The resistor element is in sliding contact. The resistor element can be connected to a metal terminal, and an electronic control unit (hereinafter referred to as ECU) as a device is connected to the metal terminal. The ECU is connected to a brake motor disposed on each wheel of the vehicle. Thus, the pedal stroke sensor includes a sensor lever, a resistor element, a metal terminal, and the like. Moreover, the vehicle brake device includes a brake pedal, a pedal arm, a pedal lever, a pedal stroke sensor, an ECU, a brake motor, and the like.

In such a vehicular brake device, the brake pedal and the pedal arm are moved when a passenger of the vehicle depresses the brake pedal. And the pedal lever extended from a pedal arm will move. At this time, since the pedal lever is engaged with the sensor lever, the sensor lever is also movable. Then, the interlocking member integrated with the sensor lever moves, and the energization member provided on the interlocking member also moves. When the energizing member moves, an electrical signal having a predetermined resistance value is generated in the resistor element that is in sliding contact with the energizing member. Therefore, in the vehicle brake device, an electric signal having a predetermined resistance value generated by the resistor element is output to the ECU via the metal terminal depending on the movable position of the brake pedal that the passenger steps on. Thus, the ECU detects the stroke of the brake pedal, and calculates the depression position of the brake pedal based on the stroke. When the depressed position exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the ECU moves the brake motor, and the brake of each wheel of the vehicle is controlled by the brake motor. For this reason, the brake device for vehicles using the pedal stroke sensor mentioned above can be utilized as an electronically controlled brake system.
JP 2000-171208 A

  However, in the position detection sensor device described above, for example, a countermeasure against inconvenience transmitted from the engaged member has not been taken into consideration.

  That is, when the position detection sensor device is used in a vehicle brake device or the like, vibrations or vibrations generated in the vehicle are directly transmitted from the engaged member of the vehicle brake device to the engagement member of the position detection sensor device. End up. At that time, a collision, a slide, or the like occurs between the engaged member and the engaging member. For this reason, abnormal noise is generated between them, and a person who uses the position detection sensor device such as a vehicle occupant directly or indirectly is uncomfortable. Such a phenomenon can occur not only in the vehicle but also when the attachment target of the engaged member vibrates or receives an impact from the outside. And when such a phenomenon arises extremely, a distortion will arise in an engaging member and it will become difficult to perform interlocking of the interlocking member integrated with the engaging member smoothly. Thus, if the interlocking member is not smoothly interlocked, the energizing member provided on the interlocking member may not slide properly on the electric signal element. In this case, the movable position of the engaged member transmitted to the engaging member may not be easily converted into an electric signal by the electric signal element. For this reason, the detection accuracy of the position detection sensor device is deteriorated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional situation, and can suppress the occurrence of abnormal noise to reduce discomfort felt by the user, and can smoothly move the engaged position of the engaged portion. It is an object to be solved to provide a position detection sensor device that can convert to an electrical signal and maintain detection accuracy.

  As a result of diligent research to solve the above problems, the inventors have focused on a structure that makes it difficult to be affected by vibrations generated in the vehicle and that can effectively detect the degree of depression of the brake pedal of the occupant. It was.

In other words, the technical means taken in the present invention to solve the above-described problems engages with a movable engaged member and transmits the movable position of the engaged member as described in claim 1. An engaging member, an interlocking member interlocked with the engaging member, an energizing member provided on the interlocking member, a sliding contact with the energizing member, and the object transmitted to the engaging member. In the electric signal conversion element that converts the movable position of the engaging member into an electric signal, and the position detection sensor device that outputs the electric signal converted by the electric signal conversion element to the outside,
Friction stress is unlikely to occur at least in the outer peripheral portion of the engaging member that engages with the engaged member.

  Further, the technical means taken in the present invention is characterized in that, as described in claim 2, the engaging member is coated with a resin that hardly generates frictional stress.

  Further, the technical means taken in the present invention is characterized in that, as described in claim 3, the engaging member is made of a resin which is less liable to generate a frictional stress.

  The technical means taken in the present invention is characterized in that, as described in claim 4, the entire engaging member is coated with the resin.

  Further, the technical means taken in the present invention is characterized in that, as described in claim 5, the resin is coated on the engaging member by surface coating treatment.

  Here, examples of the surface coating treatment include electrodeposition coating such as baking coating, spray coating, and cationic coating, or chemical reaction processing such as nitriding processing and plating processing, and baking coating is most preferable.

  The technical means taken in the present invention is characterized in that, as described in claim 6, the resin is a solid lubricant.

  Here, as the solid lubricant, fluororesin (for example, polytetrafluoroethylene, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, fluororubber, etc.), disulfide molybdenum-containing resin, graphite-containing resin, epoxy-based resin, phenol-based resin , Nitride compounds or nickel-phosphorous plating, and the like, and may contain at least one of them.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the engagement between the engaged member and the engaging member, it is difficult for friction stress to be generated at least on the outer periphery of the engaging portion of the engaging member. Even if it occurs, abnormal noise is unlikely to occur. For this reason, it can be avoided that a person who uses the position detection sensor device directly or indirectly feels uncomfortable. And since it becomes difficult to produce such a phenomenon, the distortion which arises in an engagement member can be reduced. Thus, if the distortion generated in the engaging member is reduced, the interlocking member integrated with the engaging member is smoothly interlocked. If the interlocking member is smoothly interlocked, the energization member provided on the interlocking member continues to be properly slidably contacted with the electric signal element. For this reason, the movable position of the engaged member transmitted to the engaging member is smoothly converted into an electric signal by the electric signal element. For this reason, the detection accuracy of the position detection sensor device can be maintained.

  Therefore, in the position detection sensor device of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the discomfort felt by the user by suppressing the occurrence of abnormal noise, and smoothly convert the movable position of the engaged portion into an electrical signal, Detection accuracy can be maintained.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the engaging member is coated with a resin that hardly generates frictional stress, the above-described effects can be achieved. Moreover, if it is such resin, it can coat | cover only in the required part of the engaging member engaged with a to-be-engaged member.

  Further, according to the third and fourth aspects of the present invention, the engaging member is made of a resin that hardly generates frictional stress, or is entirely coated with a resin that hardly generates frictional stress. Can be demonstrated reliably. In particular, with such an engagement member, distortion caused by engagement with the engaged member can be reliably reduced. In this way, it is difficult to affect the interlocking member that is integrated with the engaging member, and the energization member provided on the interlocking member properly comes into sliding contact with the electric signal conversion element. For this reason, the movable position of the engaged member transmitted to the engaging member is reliably converted into an electric signal by the electric signal element.

  According to the invention described in claim 5, the resin having an appropriate thickness can be coated around the engaging member by the surface coating treatment. Here, as surface coating treatment, it is possible to perform surface coating treatment relatively inexpensively by adopting baking coating among chemical reaction processing such as electrodeposition coating such as baking coating, spray coating, cationic coating or nitriding. It can be carried out. And the resin coated by baking is hard to peel off.

  Furthermore, according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the resin is a solid lubricant, it is difficult for friction stress to occur, and the above-described effects can be reliably exhibited.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 1, the position detection sensor device according to the embodiment is provided in the vehicle brake device 10 as a pedal stroke sensor 20 that can convert a movable position of the brake pedal 12 into an electric signal and output the electric signal.

  Specifically, the vehicle brake device 10 is provided at the feet of the passenger in the vehicle interior. A brake pedal 12 is provided at the foot, and a pedal arm 14 extends from the brake pedal 12. The pedal arm 14 is swingably provided on the brake pedal bracket 16, and the brake pedal bracket 16 is fixed to the inner wall 5 of the vehicle.

  At the front end of the brake pedal bracket 16 fixed to the inner wall 5 of the vehicle, as shown in FIG. 2, both side surfaces 16a of the brake pedal bracket 16 are projected while maintaining a predetermined gap. A cylindrical collar 18 is interposed in the gap between the side surfaces 16a, and bolts 19 are inserted between the side surfaces 16a and the collar 18. Both ends of the bolt 19 are clamped by nuts 17 outside the both side surfaces 16a of the brake pedal bracket 16. Thus, the above-described pedal arm 14 is fixed to the collar 18 positioned between the both side surfaces 16a of the brake pedal bracket 16 by welding, caulking, or the like, and the pedal arm 14 fixed to the collar 18 can swing. ing. Here, a pedal lever 14a is welded to the pedal arm 14, and an engaged member is constituted by the brake pedal 12, the pedal arm 14, and the pedal lever 14a. The pedal lever 14a is engaged with a sensor lever 22 of a pedal stroke sensor 20 described later.

  The pedal stroke sensor 20 has a first opening 21a on the pedal lever 14a side, a second opening 21b at a position facing the first opening 21a, and is orthogonal to the first and second openings 21a and 21b. A housing 21 having a third opening 21c at a position is provided. A substantially L-shaped sensor lever 22 as an engaging member is located outside the first opening 21a of the housing 21, and one end of a shaft 23 inserted into the housing 21 is caulked to the sensor lever 22. It is fixed. Thus, the tip end side of the sensor lever 22 to which the shaft 23 is fixed extends so as to be engaged with the pedal lever 14a described above while being bent at a right angle.

  In particular, in the pedal stroke sensor 20, as shown in FIG. 3, the sensor lever 22 is made of metal, and the entire circumference of the sensor lever 22 is coated with a fluorine-based resin 22a as a solid lubricant. The fluorine resin 22a is coated by baking coating as a surface coating treatment.

  The other end of the shaft 23 inserted into the housing 21 of the pedal stroke sensor 20 is inserted into the center of the disc-shaped rotor 24, and the rotor 24 is integrated with the sensor lever 22 via the shaft 23. Thus, the shaft 23 and the rotor 24 constitute an interlocking member. For this reason, as the sensor lever 22 swings, the shaft 23 and the rotor 24 can rotate in conjunction with each other. A torsion spring 25 is inserted around the shaft 23 surrounded by the housing 21 and the rotor 24, one end of the torsion spring 25 is locked in the housing 21, and the other end is locked to the rotor 24. ing. Thus, the torsion spring 25 allows the shaft 23 and the rotor 24 to rotate within a predetermined rotation angle.

  On the back surface of the rotor 24 fixed to the shaft 23, an energizing member 26 is fixed. As shown in FIG. 2, the rotor 24 and the energization member 26 are located in the second opening 21 b of the housing 21. The second opening 21b of the housing 21 is sealed by press-contacting a resistor element 27 as an electric signal conversion element. Thus, the rotor 24 and the resistor element 27 are separated from each other while maintaining a predetermined gap, and the energizing member 26 provided on the rotor 24 is in sliding contact with the resistor element 27. A metal terminal 28 is connected to the resistor element 27 via a metal spring 28 a, and the metal terminal 28 extends into the third opening 21 c of the housing 21.

  As shown in FIG. 4, an electronic control unit 30 (hereinafter referred to as ECU) as a device is connected to the metal terminal 28 extending into the third opening 21c. The ECU 30 is connected to brake motors 41 to 71 disposed on the wheels 40 to 70 of the vehicle.

  Thus, as shown in FIG. 2, the pedal stroke sensor 20 includes the sensor lever 22, the shaft 23, the rotor 24, the energizing member 26, the resistor element 27, the metal terminal 21, and the like. The vehicle brake device 10 includes a brake pedal 12, a pedal arm 14, a pedal lever 14a, a pedal stroke sensor 20, an ECU 30, brake motors 41 to 71, and the like, as shown in FIGS.

  In the vehicle brake device 10 as described above, as shown in FIG. 1, the brake pedal 12 and the pedal arm 14 swing when a vehicle occupant steps on the brake pedal 12. In the pedal stroke sensor 20, the pedal lever 14a extending from the pedal arm 14 swings as shown in FIG. Since the pedal lever 14a is engaged with the sensor lever 22, the sensor lever also swings.

  At that time, since the fluororesin 22a is coated around the sensor lever 22, it has been confirmed that even if the pedal lever 14 is engaged, an abnormal sound that causes discomfort is eliminated. This is because the fluorine-based resin 22a exhibits a function of reducing frictional stress as a solid lubricant.

  Further, the sensor lever 22 coated with the fluororesin 22a is less likely to be distorted by the engagement of the pedal lever 14a. For this reason, the shaft 23 and the rotor 24 fixed to the sensor lever 22 are not easily affected, and the shaft 23 and the rotor 24 are smoothly interlocked with the sensor lever 22. And if those interlocking | linkages are performed smoothly, the electricity supply member 26 provided in the rotor 24 will continue to slidably contact the resistor element 27 appropriately. For this reason, the movable position of the brake pedal 12 is smoothly converted into an electric signal by the resistor element 27 via the pedal arm 14, the pedal lever 14 a, the sensor lever 22, the shaft 23, the rotor 24 and the energizing member 26. At that time, the electric signal converted by the resistor element 27 has a predetermined resistance value. For this reason, in the vehicle brake device 10, an electric signal having a predetermined resistance value generated in the resistor element 27 is output to the ECU 30 via the metal terminal 28 depending on the movable position of the brake pedal 12 that the passenger steps on. Thus, the ECU 30 detects the stroke of the brake pedal 12, and the depression position of the brake pedal 12 is calculated based on the stroke. When the stepping position exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the ECU 30 moves the brake motors 41 to 71, and the brake motors 41 to 71 control the brakes of the wheels 40 to 70 of the vehicle. .

  Therefore, in the pedal stroke sensor 20 of the embodiment, it is possible to reduce the discomfort felt by the user by suppressing the occurrence of abnormal noise, and smoothly convert the movable position of the brake pedal 12 and the like into an electrical signal, Detection accuracy can be maintained.

  Further, the fluororesin 22a coated on the sensor lever 22 can be coated by limiting only the portions necessary for engagement by baking coating. Thus, if it is surface coating treatment such as baking coating, a fluorine resin 22 a having an appropriate thickness can be coated around the sensor lever 22.

1 is an overall side view of a pedal stroke sensor according to an embodiment. It is II-II arrow sectional drawing of a pedal stroke sensor in connection with embodiment. It is an expanded sectional view of a pedal stroke sensor according to the embodiment. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a vehicle brake device according to an embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

12, 14, 14a ... engaged member (12 ... brake pedal, 14 ... pedal arm, 14a, pedal lever)
22 ... engaging member (sensor lever)
23, 24 ... interlocking member (23 ... shaft, 24 ... rotor)
26 ... Current-carrying member 27 ... Electric signal conversion element (resistor element)
10. Position detection sensor device (pedal stroke sensor)
22a ... Fluorine resin (solid lubricant)

Claims (6)

An engaging member that engages with a movable engaged member and transmits a movable position of the engaged member, an interlocking member that interlocks with the engaging member integrally, and an interlocking member provided on the interlocking member An electric member, an electric signal conversion element that is slidably contacted with the electric supply member and converts the movable position of the engaged member transmitted to the engagement member into an electric signal, and an electric signal converted by the electric signal conversion element In the position detection sensor device that outputs a signal to the outside,
A position detection sensor device, wherein at least an outer peripheral portion of the engaging member that engages with the engaged member is less susceptible to frictional stress.   The position detecting sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the engaging member is coated with a resin that is less likely to generate frictional stress.   The position detection sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the engagement member is made of a resin that is less susceptible to frictional stress.   The position detecting sensor device according to claim 2, wherein the engaging member is entirely coated with the resin.   The position detection sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the resin is coated on the engaging member by a surface coating process.   6. The position detection sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the resin is a solid lubricant.

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