JP2006097407A - Automatic opening/closing device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic opening/closing device for a vehicle which reduces the calorific value of an electromagnetic clutch when an opening/closing member is retained at a halfway position. <P>SOLUTION: The automatic opening/closing device comprises an electric motor for driving a sliding door to open and close, and the electromagnetic clutch for connecting a rotary shaft of the electric motor with an output shaft interlocked with the sliding door when the power is supplied. A control device switches the electromagnetic clutch to be in a connecting state by supplying the power to a clutch coil when the electric motor is actuated, and keeps the electromagnetic clutch to be in the connecting state when the sliding door stops at the halfway position. When a predetermined time passes after the sliding door stops at the halfway position, the power supplied to the electromagnetic clutch is reduced to be lower than that of the time of operation of the electric motor, by which the calorific value of the electromagnetic clutch is restrained. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic opening / closing device for a vehicle that automatically opens and closes an opening / closing member provided in a vehicle, and in particular, interrupts a power transmission path between an electric motor and the opening / closing member when the opening / closing member stops at a midway position. The present invention relates to an electromagnetic clutch that is maintained in a connected state so that an opening / closing member is held at an intermediate position.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a technique is known in which an opening / closing member such as a door, a back door, and a trunk lid provided in a vehicle such as an automobile is automatically opened and closed by an automatic opening / closing device using an electric motor as a drive source.

  In such an automatic opening / closing device, an electromagnetic clutch is provided between the electric motor and the opening / closing member, and when the opening / closing member is manually opened / closed, the electromagnetic clutch is switched to a disconnected state to manually open / close the opening / closing member. A device that reduces the force is known. For example, an automatic opening / closing device disclosed in Patent Document 1 has an armature connected to an output shaft that rotates in conjunction with an opening / closing member by disposing a clutch coil inside a worm wheel that meshes with a worm provided on a rotating shaft of an electric motor. The plate is opposed to the side surface of the worm wheel, and the energization to the clutch coil is controlled to switch between the electric motor and the opening / closing member between the connected state and the disconnected state. Then, when the electric motor is activated, the clutch coil is energized to switch the electromagnetic clutch to the connected state, the power of the electric motor is transmitted to the opening / closing member to perform the automatic opening / closing operation, and when the electric motor stops, the electromagnetic clutch is turned on. By switching to the shut-off state, manual opening and closing operations can be easily performed.

On the other hand, in such an automatic opening and closing device with an electromagnetic clutch, when the opening and closing member stops at a midway position, the electromagnetic clutch is switched to the shut-off state along with the stop of the electric motor. There is a risk. Therefore, for example, in the automatic opening / closing device disclosed in Patent Document 2, when the opening / closing member stops at an intermediate position, even if the electric motor stops, the electromagnetic clutch is maintained in the connected state and the opening / closing member is held at the intermediate position. Like to do.
Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 62-22008 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-317795

  However, in the conventional automatic opening / closing device, when the opening / closing member is stopped at a halfway position for a long time, the clutch coil of the electromagnetic clutch is maintained in the energized state during that time. Adjacent members such as the worm gear mechanism and the output shaft are thermally expanded, and the smooth operation of the electromagnetic clutch may be hindered or abnormal noise may be generated during operation. In particular, when the worm wheel is formed of a resin material and the clutch coil is disposed in the vicinity of the worm wheel in order to reduce the size of the automatic opening / closing device, the influence of heat generated by the clutch coil has been increased.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic opening / closing device for a vehicle that can reduce the amount of heat generated by an electromagnetic clutch when an opening / closing member is held at a midway position.

  An automatic opening and closing device for a vehicle according to the present invention is an automatic opening and closing device for a vehicle that automatically opens and closes an opening and closing member provided in the vehicle, and is used for opening and closing the opening and closing member and an opening and closing operation of the opening and closing member. An output shaft that rotates in conjunction, an electromagnetic clutch that is provided between the rotation shaft of the electric motor and the output shaft, and that connects the rotation shaft and the output shaft when power is supplied; The electromagnetic clutch is switched to a connected state at the time of operation, and has a control means for holding the electromagnetic clutch in a connected state when the opening / closing member stops at an intermediate position, and the power is reduced after the opening / closing member stops at an intermediate position. The mode determination means reduces the power supplied to the electromagnetic clutch as compared to when the electric motor is operated.

  The automatic opening / closing device for a vehicle according to the present invention generates a magnetic attractive force by power supply from a resin worm wheel meshed with a worm provided on the rotating shaft, an armature plate rotating with the output shaft, and the control means. The electromagnetic clutch is provided with a clutch coil for engaging the armature plate with the worm wheel so as to transmit power.

  The automatic opening / closing device for a vehicle according to the present invention is characterized in that the clutch coil is disposed in the vicinity of the worm wheel.

  The automatic opening / closing device for a vehicle according to the present invention is characterized in that the clutch coil is fixed to the worm wheel.

  The automatic opening / closing device for a vehicle according to the present invention is characterized in that a tooth portion that meshes with and engages with the worm wheel and the armature plate is provided.

  According to the present invention, since the electric power supplied to the electromagnetic clutch is reduced when a predetermined time has elapsed after the opening / closing member stops at the intermediate position, the amount of heat generated by the electromagnetic clutch when the opening / closing member is held at the intermediate position. Can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the thermal expansion of the electromagnetic clutch and the members disposed around the electromagnetic clutch, thereby suppressing the smooth operation of the electromagnetic clutch and abnormal noise during operation.

  In addition, according to the present invention, the amount of heat generated by the electromagnetic clutch when holding the opening / closing member in the middle position can be reduced, so a resin worm wheel is disposed in the vicinity of the clutch coil constituting the electromagnetic clutch, Or even if it is a case where a clutch coil is fixed to a worm wheel, the deformation | transformation of the worm wheel by the heat_generation | fever of a clutch coil can be suppressed.

  Furthermore, according to the present invention, the electromagnetic clutch is a meshing type that is switched to a connected state by meshing the teeth provided on the worm wheel and the armature plate, so even if the power supplied to the clutch coil is reduced. Slip does not easily occur between the worm wheel and the armature plate, and the electromagnetic clutch can be reliably maintained in the connected state.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a vehicle provided with a vehicle automatic opening / closing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a sliding door 12 as an opening / closing member is provided on a side portion of the vehicle 11. The sliding door 12 has a roller assembly 13, and the sliding door 12 is guided by a guide rail 14 fixed to the vehicle 11, so that the sliding door 12 is fully opened and indicated by a one-dot chain line in the drawing. It can be opened and closed in the vehicle longitudinal direction between the closed position. Further, a curved portion 14 a that curves toward the vehicle interior side is provided on the vehicle front side of the guide rail 14, and the roller door 13 is guided to the curved portion 14 a so that the slide door 12 is the same as the side surface of the vehicle 11. It is drawn into the inside of the vehicle 11 and closed so as to fit within the surface.

  The vehicle 11 is provided with a vehicle automatic opening / closing device 21 (hereinafter referred to as an automatic opening / closing device 21) for automatically opening and closing the slide door 12. This automatic opening / closing device 21 is adjacent to a substantially central portion of the guide rail 14 in the vehicle front-rear direction and is connected to the drive unit 22 and the drive unit 22 fixed in the side panel of the vehicle 11 and the slide door 12 to the drive unit 22. These cables 23 are connected to the slide door 12 via the roller assembly 13 from the vehicle front side and the rear side, respectively. Further, reversing pulleys 24 and 25 are provided at the front and rear end portions of the guide rail 14, and the cable 23 is guided to the drive unit 22 via the reversing pulleys 24 and 25. The sliding door 12 is opened and closed by pulling one of the cables 23 by the drive unit 22.

  2 is a cross-sectional view showing details of the drive unit shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 (a) is a cross-sectional view showing an engaging portion between the worm wheel and the armature plate shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 3 (b). These are sectional drawings which show the state which each tooth | gear part shown to the same figure (a) meshed | engaged.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the drive unit 22 includes an electric motor 26 that generates a driving force for opening and closing the slide door 12 and a speed reducer 27 fixed to the electric motor 26. As the motor 26, a so-called brushed DC motor in which the rotating shaft 26a is freely rotatable forward and backward is used. A control device 28 is connected to the electric motor 26, and the operation control of the electric motor 26 is performed by the control device 28.

  The control device 28 has a function as a so-called microcomputer having a CPU and a memory (not shown), and is connected to a power source 29 such as a battery mounted on the vehicle 11 and a slide door opening / closing switch (not shown). The controller 28 supplies a direct current in a predetermined direction from the power source 29 to the electric motor 26 in accordance with a command signal from the slide door opening / closing switch to control its operation.

  In the present embodiment, the electric motor 26 is a DC motor with a brush, but is not limited thereto, and may be another electric motor such as a brushless motor.

  The speed reducer 27 has a gear case 30 fixed to the electric motor 26 and a worm gear mechanism 31 accommodated in the gear case 30. The worm gear mechanism 31 includes a worm 32 and a worm wheel 33. In the illustrated case, the worm 32 is integrally formed on the outer periphery of the rotating shaft 26a of the electric motor 26. On the other hand, the worm wheel 33 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape in which a cylindrical portion 33a and a bottom wall portion 33b are integrally formed of a resin material, and a worm wheel 33 is provided with a worm wheel 33c provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 33a. 32. Thereby, the rotation of the rotating shaft 26a is decelerated to a predetermined number of rotations and output from the worm wheel 33.

  The speed reducer 27 is provided with an output shaft 34 that is rotatably supported by two bearings provided in the gear case 30. A nut 35 is provided at one end of the output shaft 34 protruding from the gear case 30. Thus, the drum 36 is fixed. The drum 36 is made of resin in which two cable guide grooves 36 a are spirally formed on the outer peripheral surface, and each cable 23 guided by the drive unit 22 is mutually connected to the corresponding cable guide groove 36 a of the drum 36. It is wound several times in the opposite direction. That is, the output shaft 34 is connected to the slide door 12 via the drum 36 and the cable 23, and rotates in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the slide door 12.

  Although not shown, a tensioner mechanism that holds the tension of the cable 23 in a predetermined range may be provided between the drum 36 and the slide door 12.

  Further, the speed reducer 27 is provided with an electromagnetic clutch 37 positioned between the rotary shaft 26 a and the output shaft 34, and a power transmission path between the rotary shaft 26 a and the output shaft 34 by the electromagnetic clutch 37. Is now intermittent. The electromagnetic clutch 37 includes an armature plate 41 and a clutch coil 42 that generates a magnetic attractive force for engaging the armature plate 41 with the worm wheel 33.

  The armature plate 41 is formed in a disk shape from a magnetic material such as steel, and is attached to the output shaft 34 at the axis. A serration portion 34a is formed on the output shaft 34, and the armature plate 41 rotates together with the output shaft 34 by engaging with the serration portion 34a, and is movable in the axial direction with respect to the output shaft 34. Yes. A leaf spring member 43 is provided between the armature plate 41 and the output shaft 34, and the armature plate 41 is always urged by the leaf spring member 43 in a direction away from the worm wheel 33.

  On the other hand, a clutch yoke 44 formed in an annular shape by a magnetic material such as steel is fixed to the inside of the worm wheel 33, and the clutch coil 42 is wound on the inside of the clutch yoke 44 while being wound around the coil bobbin 45. It is fixed. That is, the clutch coil 42 is fixed inside the worm wheel 33. The clutch yoke 44 is supported by the output shaft 34 via a sliding bearing 46 so as to be rotatable relative to the output shaft 34, whereby the worm wheel 33 and the clutch coil 42 are rotatable relative to the output shaft 34. Therefore, when the worm wheel 33 rotates, the clutch coil 42 rotates together with the worm wheel 33 and the clutch yoke 44.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, a plurality of teeth 41 a projecting toward the worm wheel 33 are formed on the outer peripheral end side of the armature plate 41 in the circumferential direction, and on the outer peripheral end side of the worm wheel 33. The teeth 33d corresponding to these teeth 41a are formed side by side in the circumferential direction. As shown in FIG. 3B, these tooth portions 41a and 33d are engaged with each other when the armature plate 41 moves in a direction approaching the worm wheel 33. The worm wheel 33 and the armature plate 41 are integrally rotated by engaging with the worm wheel 33. In other words, the electromagnetic clutch 37 is of a so-called meshing type in which the worm wheel 33 and the tooth portions 41a and 33d formed on the armature plate 41 mesh with each other to be connected to transmit power.

  In the illustrated case, the electromagnetic clutch 37 is a so-called meshing type in which teeth 41a and 33d are formed on the worm wheel 33 and the armature plate 41. However, the invention is not limited to this, and the electromagnetic clutch 37 is not limited to the worm wheel 33 and the armature plate 41. You may make it be a friction type which provided the friction surface which carries out friction engagement mutually. Further, the tooth portion 33d formed on the worm wheel 33 may be configured by integrating the worm wheel 33 and a member formed separately.

  Both coil ends (not shown) of the clutch coil 42 are electrically connected to a pair of slip rings 51a and 51b fixed to the bottom wall portion 33b of the worm wheel 33, and these slip rings 51a and 51b are attached to the gear case 30. The pair of contactors 52a and 52b are in sliding contact. These contacts 52a and 52b are electrically connected to a control device 28 as control means by electric wires (not shown), and the worm wheel is supplied from the control device 28 via these contacts 52a and 52b and slip rings 51a and 51b. It is possible to supply power to the clutch coil 42 that rotates together with the clutch 33. When electric power is supplied from the control device 28 to the electromagnetic clutch 37, that is, the clutch coil 42, the clutch coil 42 generates a magnetic attractive force, and the armature plate 41 is drawn toward the worm wheel 33, and the worm wheel 33 and the armature plate 41 are drawn. The tooth portions 41a and 33d formed in the first and second gears mesh with each other so that the electromagnetic clutch 37 is switched to a connected state in which the rotary shaft 26a and the output shaft 34 are connected. That is, the electromagnetic clutch 37 is connected when power is supplied to the clutch coil 42. On the other hand, when the power supply to the clutch coil 42 is stopped, the armature plate 41 is moved away from the worm wheel 33 by the spring force of the leaf spring member 43, and the meshing of the tooth portions 41a and 33d is released and the electromagnetic clutch 37 is Switch to the shut-off state.

  In this automatic opening / closing device 21, the electromagnetic clutch 37 is basically switched to a connected state by being supplied with electric power from the control device 28 when the electric motor 26 is operated, whereby the power of the electric motor 26 is transferred to the slide door 12. It is transmitted and automatically opened and closed. Further, when the electric motor 26 is stopped, the electric motor 26 is switched to the cut-off state, and the operation force when the slide door 12 is manually operated is reduced.

  On the other hand, in the automatic opening / closing device 21, when the slide door 12 stops at a midway position between the fully open position and the fully closed position, the electromagnetic clutch 37 is held in the connected state even though the electric motor 26 is stopped. The sliding door 12 is prevented from opening and closing due to its own weight. However, if the state where the slide door 12 is stopped at an intermediate position is continued for a long time, the heat generation of the clutch coil 42 causes the components of the electromagnetic clutch 37, the resin worm wheel 33 and the like to thermally expand, and the electromagnetic clutch 37 and automatic opening and closing are performed. There is a risk that the smooth operation of the device 21 may be hindered or abnormal noise may be generated during operation.

  Therefore, in this automatic opening / closing device 21, after the sliding door 12 stops at a midway position, the power reduction mode determination means sets the power reduction mode for reducing the power supplied to the clutch coil 42, and the clutch coil 42 generates heat. The amount is controlled.

  Therefore, the control device 28 is provided with a timer function that counts the elapsed time since the sliding door 12 stopped at the middle position as the power reduction mode determination means, and the sliding door 12 stops at the middle position by this timer function. It is possible to detect that a predetermined time has passed. Further, a reduced power value corresponding to the power reduction mode is stored in a memory (not shown) of the control device 28, and when it is detected by the timer function that a predetermined time has elapsed since the sliding door 12 was stopped, the control means. The control device 28 reduces the power supplied to the clutch coil 42 to a value that matches this reduced power value.

  This reduced power value is set in advance by experiment or the like as power that can generate the clutch coil 42 with a magnetic attraction force required to hold the slide door 12 in the stop position. The clutch coil 42 is operated when the electric motor 26 is operated. It is set to a value lower than the power supplied to. In addition, as a method of reducing the power in the power reduction mode, for example, a method of reducing the duty ratio by PWM control, a circuit method by switching of a relay, etc., reducing voltage, current, or both, etc. It doesn't matter how.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the procedure for setting the power reduction mode, and the procedure for setting the power reduction mode will be described below with reference to this flowchart.

  First, when the sliding door opening / closing switch is turned on when the sliding door 12 is stopped in step S1, predetermined power is supplied from the control device 28 to the clutch coil 42 in step S2, and the electromagnetic clutch 37 is in the connected state. Then, in step S3, the electric motor 26 is activated and the automatic opening / closing operation of the slide door 12 is started.

  When the sliding door 12 starts the automatic opening / closing operation, it is determined in step S4 whether or not the sliding door 12 has stopped at an intermediate position. If the sliding door 12 does not stop at an intermediate position, the slide door 12 is fully closed or fully opened in step S5. It is determined whether or not the position has been reached. If it is determined in step S5 that the slide door 12 has reached the fully closed position or the fully open position, the electric motor 26 is stopped in step S6 and the electromagnetic clutch 37 is switched to the disconnected state in step S7. Thus, the sliding door 12 stops at the fully closed position or the fully opened position in a state where manual operation is possible.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S4 that the slide door 12 has stopped at an intermediate position, the electromagnetic clutch 37 is maintained in the connected state in step S8 with the electric motor 26 stopped. Next, in step S9, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the sliding door 12 stopped halfway. In step S9, if it is determined that the predetermined time has elapsed since the sliding door 12 stopped halfway, power is supplied in step S10. The reduction mode is set, and the electric power supplied to the electromagnetic clutch 37, that is, the clutch coil 42 is set to a reduced electric power value lower than that when the electric motor 26 is operated.

  Therefore, even when the sliding door 12 is stopped at an intermediate position for a long time, the amount of heat generated is reduced by reducing the power supplied to the clutch coil 42, and the sliding door 12 is disposed in the vicinity of the clutch coil 42. The thermal expansion of the member such as the worm wheel 33 to be performed can be suppressed, and the reliability of the operation of the electromagnetic clutch 37 and the automatic opening / closing device 21 and the generation of abnormal noise can be suppressed.

  As described above, in the automatic opening / closing device 21, since the electric power supplied to the electromagnetic clutch 37 is reduced when a predetermined time has elapsed since the sliding door 12 stopped at the midway position, the slide door 12 is placed at the midway position. The amount of heat generated by the electromagnetic clutch 37 to be held can be reduced. Therefore, the thermal expansion of the electromagnetic clutch 37 and its peripheral members can be suppressed, and the operation reliability of the electromagnetic clutch 37 and the generation of abnormal noise can be suppressed.

  Further, in this automatic opening / closing device 21, the amount of heat generated by the electromagnetic clutch 37 that holds the slide door 12 in the middle position can be reduced, so that a resin worm wheel 33 is provided in the vicinity of the clutch coil 42 that constitutes the electromagnetic clutch 37. Even if the clutch coil 42 is fixed to the resin worm wheel 33, deformation of the worm wheel 33 due to heat generated by the clutch coil 42 can be suppressed.

  Further, in this automatic opening / closing device 21, the electromagnetic clutch 37 is of a meshing type that can be switched to the connected state by meshing the tooth portions 41a, 33d provided on the worm wheel 33 and the armature plate 41. Even if the power supplied to the coil 42 is reduced, slippage hardly occurs between the worm wheel 33 and the armature plate 41, and the electromagnetic clutch 37 can be reliably maintained in the connected state.

  Furthermore, even when the slide door 12 is stopped at a midway position by fail-safe control or the like and the clutch coil 42 is energized for an indefinite period of time, heat generation of the clutch coil 42 is suppressed, Operation reliability and generation of abnormal noise can be suppressed.

  It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the opening / closing member is the sliding door 12 that opens and closes in a sliding manner. However, the opening / closing member is not limited to this, and may be other opening / closing members such as a laterally opening door and a back door for getting on and off. .

  In the embodiment, the clutch coil 42 is fixed to the worm wheel 33. However, the clutch coil 42 is not limited to this, and the clutch coil 42 is fixed to the gear case 30 so as to be positioned in the vicinity of the worm wheel 33. Also good.

  Furthermore, the power reduction mode determination means is not limited to the timer function of the present embodiment, and for example, a temperature sensor or a current sensor may be used. In that case, it is preferable to reduce the power supplied to the clutch coil 42 by comparing the detected value with a determination value stored in the memory of the control device 28.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the vehicle provided with the automatic opening / closing apparatus for vehicles which is one embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the detail of the drive unit shown in FIG. (A) is sectional drawing which shows the engaging part of the worm wheel and armature board shown in FIG. 2, (b) is sectional drawing which shows the state which each tooth | gear part shown to the same figure (a) meshed | engaged. It is a flowchart figure which shows the setting procedure of electric power reduction mode.

Explanation of symbols

11 Vehicle 12 Sliding door (opening / closing member)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 13 Roller assembly 14 Guide rail 14a Bending part 21 Vehicle automatic opening / closing device 22 Drive unit 23 Cable 24, 25 Reversing pulley 26 Electric motor 26a Rotating shaft 27 Reduction gear 28 Control device 29 Power supply 30 Gear case 31 Worm gear mechanism 32 Worm 33 Worm wheel 33a Cylindrical portion 33b Bottom wall portion 33c Gear portion 33d Tooth portion 34 Output shaft 34a Serration portion 34b Retaining ring 35 Nut 36 Drum 36a Cable guide groove 37 Electromagnetic clutch 41 Armature plate 41a Tooth portion 42 Clutch coil 43 Leaf spring member 44 Clutch yoke 45 Coil bobbin 46 Sliding bearing 51a, 51b Slip ring 52a, 52b Contact

Claims (5)

An automatic opening and closing device for a vehicle that automatically opens and closes an opening and closing member provided in a vehicle,
An electric motor for opening and closing the opening and closing member;
An output shaft that rotates in conjunction with the opening and closing operation of the opening and closing member;
An electromagnetic clutch provided between the rotating shaft of the electric motor and the output shaft, and connecting the rotating shaft and the output shaft when power is supplied;
Control means for switching the electromagnetic clutch to a connected state when the electric motor is operated and holding the electromagnetic clutch in a connected state when the opening / closing member stops at a midway position;
An automatic opening / closing device for a vehicle, wherein after the opening / closing member stops at an intermediate position, the electric power supplied to the electromagnetic clutch by the power reduction mode determination means is reduced as compared with the operation of the electric motor.   2. The automatic opening and closing device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a magnetic traction force is generated by power supply from said control means, a resin worm wheel that meshes with a worm provided on said rotating shaft, an armature plate that rotates together with said output shaft, and An automatic opening and closing device for a vehicle, wherein a clutch coil for engaging the armature plate with the worm wheel so as to transmit power is provided in the electromagnetic clutch.   3. The automatic opening / closing device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the clutch coil is disposed in the vicinity of the worm wheel.   4. The automatic opening / closing device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the clutch coil is fixed to the worm wheel. The automatic opening and closing device for a vehicle according to any one of claims 2 to 4, further comprising a tooth portion that meshes with and engages with the worm wheel and the armature plate. .

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