JP2006306323A - Operation dial device and ventilator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an operation dial device of a ventilator which can realize a favorable feeling of operation for the long term, and reduce manufacturing costs. <P>SOLUTION: An attachment receiving part 45 is formed integrally with the case body 11 of the ventilator 10, and a bushing 44 is formed separately from the attachment receiving part 45 and a dial body 43. Then the bushing 44 is formed by a polyacetal resin which has larger elasticity than the resin constituting the attachment receiving part 45, and which has minor change in characteristics with the elapse of time. Then an engagement piece 44e projected from the bushing 44 is inserted into an axial hole 45c of the attachment receiving part 45, and an engagement part 44f is engaged with an engagement surface 45e, thus the bushing 44 is attached to the attachment receiving part 45. Then the dial body 43 is pressed against a sliding contact part 45g by the bushing 44, and a sliding torque is obtained. Then an abutting part 44h projected from the engagement piece 44e is brought into contact with the inner surface of the axial hole 45c, and rattling can be prevented. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to, for example, an operation dial device and a ventilator that adjust the flow rate and blowing direction of conditioned air supplied from an air conditioner of an automobile.

  Conventionally, a ventilator that is attached to an instrument panel of an automobile and adjusts the flow rate and blowing direction of conditioned air supplied from an air conditioner has been used. In such a ventilator, a damper is rotatably supported inside the cylindrical case body, and an operation dial can be rotated on the front side of the case body to rotate the damper. The operation dial and the damper are supported by a link. Here, in the configuration in which the operation dial is attached to the case body using a fastening tool such as a screw screw, the number of parts and manufacturing man-hours increase, the manufacturing cost increases, and the tightening torque management of the fastening tool is complicated. Thus, it is difficult to maintain a good operational feeling.

  In this regard, a pair of elastically deformable support pieces each provided with a locking claw at the tip are integrally projected from the case body, and these support pieces are inserted into a center hole provided in the operation dial. In addition, a configuration is known in which the operation dial is rotatably supported on the case body, thereby reducing the number of parts and the number of manufacturing steps and reducing the manufacturing cost (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  However, with regard to the case body, it is easy to reduce the weight and reduce the manufacturing cost, and the polypropylene resin, which is easy to handle such as easy to obtain with good moldability, is originally low in elasticity and undergoes deformation over time. Since the operating torque changes, there is a problem that it cannot be used.

  On the other hand, for example, a material such as polyacetal (Duracon (registered trademark)), which has a large elasticity and a small change in characteristics over time, has a high specific gravity, is difficult to handle, and difficult to use for the entire case body. Have.

Furthermore, in the structure in which the support piece part protrudes integrally from the case body, since the operation dial is rotatably supported by this support piece part, the projecting dimension of the support piece part becomes large and it becomes easy to bend. Even if a high-performance material is used that has high elasticity and little change in characteristics over time, it has a problem that it is difficult to maintain good characteristics.
JP-A-8-14647 (FIGS. 1 to 3)

  As in the conventional case described above, in the configuration in which the support piece portion protruding integrally from the case body is engaged with the operation dial, it is not easy to achieve both good operability and a reduction in manufacturing cost.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a point, and it aims at providing the operation dial apparatus and ventilator which can maintain favorable operativity and can reduce manufacturing cost.

  The operation dial device according to claim 1 is provided with a dial main body having an operation portion and a rotary shaft hole located on an inner peripheral side of the operation portion, a sliding contact portion provided on the attached member, and slidably contacting the dial main body, An attachment receiving portion having a bearing portion provided with a shaft hole, an engagement piece that is formed of a resin having elasticity larger than that of the attachment reception portion, and is provided on the distal end side of the engagement piece. A holding portion provided with a holding portion that is locked to the bearing portion and a pressing portion that elastically presses the dial body toward the sliding contact portion side.

  In this configuration, the presser body is locked to the attachment receiving portion, so that the dial body is rotatably supported by the attachment receiving portion with a predetermined sliding resistance. Since the presser body is configured separately from the dial main body and the attachment receiving part, a resin having a suitable characteristic that has a large elasticity and a small change with time can be used, and a good operational feeling can be stably realized. Since the presser body is configured separately from the dial body and the mounting receiving part, the entire mounting receiving part is made of a resin having a suitable characteristic even when an expensive resin having a large elasticity and a small change with time is used. Compared with the case where it forms, manufacturing cost is suppressed.

  The operation dial device according to claim 2 is the operation dial device according to claim 1, wherein the presser body includes a ring portion provided with a press portion, and a center portion located inside the ring body and protruding with an engagement piece. And a plurality of spoke portions that connect the ring portion and the center portion.

  And in this structure, a dial main body is stably attached to a sliding contact part by the press part provided in the ring part, when a some spoke part deform | transforms elastically.

  The operation dial device according to claim 3 is the operation dial device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cylindrical receiving surface portion provided in the attachment receiving portion and the presser body are slidably fitted to the receiving surface portion. And an abutting surface portion to be mated.

  In this configuration, the presser body is stably supported by the attachment receiving portion without rattling due to the fitting between the receiving surface portion and the contact surface portion.

  The operation dial device according to claim 4 is the operation dial device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the presser body includes a plurality of engagement pieces, and the engagement pieces are elastic in a direction approaching each other. The locking portion is provided so as to protrude from the distal end side of each engagement piece in a direction away from each other.

  In this configuration, the presser body is configured such that the engagement piece is locked to the bearing portion by press-fitting the engagement piece into the shaft hole from a predetermined direction, and can be easily assembled.

  The operation dial device according to claim 5 is the operation dial device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the bearing portion of the attachment receiving portion has a locking portion at a predetermined rotational position centered on the shaft hole. A locking portion insertion portion that can be inserted is formed.

  And in this configuration, the locking portion is aligned with the locking portion insertion portion, the engaging piece is inserted into the shaft hole, and then the attachment receiving portion and the presser body are relatively rotated, The locking portion is locked to the bearing portion. Since it is not necessary to deform the engaging piece at the time of assembly, the locking portion can be protected and the engaging piece is formed in a shape that is difficult to deform, and the presser body is firmly supported by the attachment receiving portion.

  A ventilator according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is supported by the operation dial device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, a case body as a member to be attached that constitutes an air passage, and a rotatable inside of the case body. The rotating body and link means for connecting the rotating body and the dial body are provided.

  In this configuration, by rotating the operation dial device, the rotating body is rotated to adjust the air volume or the wind direction. And since the operation dial apparatus as described in any one of Claim 1 thru | or 5 is provided, while being able to implement | achieve a favorable operation feeling stably, manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  According to the operation dial device and the ventilator of the present invention, the dial body can be rotatably supported by the attachment receiving portion with a predetermined sliding resistance by locking the presser body to the attachment receiving portion. Since the presser body is configured separately from the dial main body and the attachment receiving portion, a resin having suitable characteristics that has a large elasticity and a small change with time can be used, and a good operational feeling can be stably realized. Since the presser body is configured separately from the dial body and the mounting receiving part, the entire mounting receiving part is made of a resin having a suitable characteristic even when an expensive resin having a large elasticity and a small change with time is used. Compared with the case of forming, manufacturing cost can be suppressed.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an operation dial device and a ventilator according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  1 and 3, reference numeral 10 denotes a ventilator. The ventilator 10 is attached to, for example, an instrument panel of a car and connected to an air conditioner to constitute a vehicle air conditioner that blows air into the passenger compartment and performs air conditioning. That is, it has functions as a wind direction adjusting device (louver device) that adjusts the wind direction and an air volume adjusting device (damper device) that adjusts the air volume. In the following description, the downstream side from which the wind blows, that is, the passenger side, is referred to as the front side, and the upstream side of the wind is referred to as the rear side. Moreover, about the both-sides direction and the up-down direction, the state attached to the motor vehicle is demonstrated as an example. The ventilator 10 includes a case body 11 as a member to be attached. This case body 11 is provided with an upper plate portion 12, a lower plate portion 14, and side plate portions 15 and 16 on both sides of a synthetic resin such as a polypropylene resin which is easy to handle because it has good moldability and is easily available. The air passage 17 is formed on the inner side, the air outlet 17 on the front side, and the connection port 19 connected to the air duct of the air conditioner on the rear side. Each of the upper plate portion 12 and the lower plate portion 14 is provided with a pair of mounting base portions 20, and an elastically deformable clip 20a is fixed by heat caulking or the like.

  Further, a frame-like finisher (not shown) that covers the front end edge of the case body 11 is engaged with and attached to the front surface of the case body 11. The finisher is formed with an opening communicating with the air outlet 18 and a long hole-shaped dial operation port.

  Inside the case body 11, a plurality of wind direction adjusting louvers are arranged vertically and horizontally as wind direction adjusting means, and a shutter valve 27 serving as a rotating body is positioned behind the louvers. Has been placed. The vertical and horizontal louvers are pivotally supported by the support holes 28 formed in the upper plate portion 12, the lower plate portion 14, and the side plate portions 15 and 16 on both sides so as to be pivotable directly or via other members. It is connected by a link and a knob body, and by operating the knob body, the louvers can be rotated in conjunction with each other to change the wind direction vertically and horizontally.

  The shutter valve 27 includes a plate-shaped shutter main body 31, a seal body 32 provided on the outer peripheral portion of the shutter main body 31, and connecting shaft portions 33 and 33 provided at central portions on both sides of the shutter main body 31. It has. The shutter valve 27 is pivotally supported by the connecting shaft portions 33 and 33 on the side plate portions 15 and 16 of the case body 11 directly or via other members, and is mainly outside the case body 11. Is rotated by a drive mechanism 40 disposed in the position to open and close the air passage 17 and adjust the air volume.

  The drive mechanism 40 includes a dial main body 43 constituting the operation dial device 41, a bush 44 serving as a presser body, an attachment receiving portion 45, a first link 48 and a second link 49 constituting the link means 47. It has. The dial body 43, the bush 44, the first link 48, and the second link 49 are separate members, and the attachment receiving portion 45 is formed integrally with one side plate portion 15 of the case body 11. ing.

  The dial body 43 is integrally formed of a synthetic resin such as polypropylene resin, and includes a disk-shaped substrate portion 43a and an operation portion (knob portion) 43b formed on a part of the outer peripheral portion of the substrate portion 43a. And a circular hole-shaped rotation shaft hole 43c formed at the center of the substrate portion 43a. Further, the dial body 43 is formed with a rotation range restricting portion 43d and a link connecting portion 43e so as to cut out a part of the substrate portion 43a.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the bush 44 is entirely made of a synthetic resin such as polyacetal, which is a material that is more elastic than the resin that constitutes the attachment receiving portion 45 and has less change in characteristics over time. A ring-shaped ring part 44a that is integrally formed in a disk shape, a disk-shaped center part 44b that is positioned inside the ring part 44a, and a plurality of main parts that connect the ring part 44a and the center part 44b. In the embodiment, three spoke portions 44c are provided. The ring portion 44a has a substantially circular cross section, and one side portion of the ring portion 44a is an annular pressing portion 44d. Further, a pair of engagement pieces 44e and 44e project from the center of the center portion 44b toward one side. A hook-like locking portion 44f projects from the distal end, which is one side end of each engagement piece 44e, in a direction away from each other, that is, toward the outer peripheral side. Each locking portion 44f has a substantially semicircular shape when viewed from one side, and the tip end surface is formed as an inclined surface that recedes from one side toward the outer peripheral side. Also, on the other side, that is, the base end side of each engagement piece 44e, a contact rib 44g that protrudes to the outer peripheral side is formed, and the outer peripheral surface of each contact rib 44g is a contact surface portion 44h that forms a part of the cylindrical surface. It has become. Further, from the outer peripheral portion of the center portion 44b, the outer peripheral rib portion 44i is provided in a cylindrical shape so as to face one side and surround the engaging pieces 44e and the contact rib 44g with the engaging pieces 44e and 44e as the center. ing. Furthermore, each of the spoke portions 44c is formed so as to be inclined so as to incline to one side from the center portion 44b toward the ring portion 44a.

  Further, the attachment receiving portion 45 is located on the front end side, that is, in the vicinity of the air outlet 18, and is integrally formed with one side plate portion 15 of the case body 11. As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 4, the attachment receiving portion 45 includes a plate-like attachment receiving portion base portion 45a and a cylindrical projecting outward from the attachment receiving portion base portion 45a. Boss-shaped bearing portion 45b and a circular shaft-shaped shaft hole 45c located on the inner side thereof, and a virtual central axis of the shaft hole 45c serves as a rotation axis O of the dial body 43, and this shaft hole 45c The outer peripheral surface of the bearing portion 45b, that is, the inner peripheral surface of the bearing portion 45b is a cylindrical receiving surface portion 45d, and the edge portion on one side of the bearing portion 45b is an annular locking surface 45e. Further, the mounting receiving portion 45 is provided with a cylindrical sliding contact rib 45f that surrounds the bearing portion 45b and protrudes to the other side, and a tip end portion of the sliding contact rib 45f is an annular sliding contact portion 45g. . Further, reinforcing ribs 45h are formed at a plurality of, for example, four locations so as to connect the sliding contact rib 45f and the bearing portion 45b. Further, the attachment receiving portion 45 is provided with a position restricting boss 45i projecting to the other side.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the first link 48 has an elongated plate-shaped first link body 48a, which is connected to one side from both ends of the first link body 48a. A shaft is provided. Further, the second link 49 has a plate-like second link shaft main body 49a that is shorter than the first link 48. One end of the link shaft main body 49a is connected to the first link 48. An inter-link connecting portion that is movably connected is provided, and a valve connecting portion that is fixedly connected to one connecting shaft portion 33 of the shutter valve 27 is provided at the other end.

  The drive mechanism 40 is assembled by inserting the outer peripheral rib portion 44i of the bush 44 into the rotation shaft hole 43c of the dial body 43 in a predetermined direction (the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. 1). Next, in the same direction, the outer peripheral rib portion 44i is fitted to the outer peripheral portion of the bearing portion 45b, and the engagement pieces 44e and 44e are press-fitted into the shaft hole 45b inside the bearing portion 45b. Then, while these arm-shaped engagement pieces 44e, 44e are bent in the inner direction (direction of arrow B shown in FIG. 1) approaching each other, the locking portion 44f at the tip penetrates the shaft hole 45c, and the locking portion 44f The engagement pieces 44e, 44e are deformed to return to the outer circumferential direction in a state where the shaft passes through the shaft hole 45c. In this state, the locking portion 44f is locked to the locking surface 45e on the end surface of the bearing portion 45b and is prevented from coming off, and the bush 44 is attached to the mounting receiving portion 45. In this state, the pressing portion 44d of the bush 44 is pressed against one surface of the substrate portion 43a of the dial body 43 while the spoke portion 44c of the bush 44 is slightly bent. The dial main body 43 is prevented from coming off by the biasing force applied by the bush 44, and the other surface of the base plate portion 43a of the dial main body 43 is linearly pressed against the sliding contact portion 45g. A predetermined torque, that is, a feeling of operation is given to the rotation of the main body 43. Note that the spoke portion 44c and the ring portion 44a of the bush 44 in FIG. 1 are shown in positions when it is virtually assumed that the base plate portion 43a of the dial body 43 does not exist, and actually contact the base plate portion 43a. It is in a state of applying a biasing force to the dial body 43 by bending. Further, in this state, the contact surface portion 44h of the contact rib 44g of the bush 44 is fitted to the receiving surface portion 45d of the inner surface of the bearing portion 45b, and the dial main body 43 is connected via the bush 44 while preventing rattling. It is supported so that it can rotate.

  Further, in this state, the position restricting boss 45 i of the attachment receiving portion 45 is combined with the turning range restricting portion 43 d of the dial body 43 to restrict the turning range of the dial body 43.

  The connecting shaft at one end of the first link 48 is rotatably connected to the link connecting portion 43e of the dial body 43, and the link of the second link 49 is connected to the connecting shaft at the other end of the first link 48. By connecting the connecting portion in a rotatable manner, and further connecting the valve connecting portion at the other end of the second link 49 to one connecting shaft portion 33 of the shutter valve 27, the drive mechanism 40 is Composed.

  Therefore, with the finisher attached to the case body 11, the dial main body 43 is attached to the bush 44 by operating the operation portion 43b of the dial main body 43 protruding forward from the dial operation port of the finisher in the vertical direction with a finger or the like. By rotating the engagement piece 44e as the rotation axis, the first link 48 and the second link 49 are moved, and the shutter valve 27 can be rotated.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the dial structure of the ventilator 10 uses the bush 44 separate from the attachment receiving portion 45 and the dial body 43, and the bush 44 is locked to the attachment receiving portion 45. Because the dial body 43 is supported, the bushing 44 can be made of a resin with suitable characteristics that has large elasticity and little change over time, and can effectively exhibit the characteristics of the material, resulting in a good operational feeling over time, i.e., over a long period of time. It can be realized stably. The bush 44 has a volume smaller than that of the case body 11 and the like, and even if an expensive resin having suitable characteristics can be used, the amount of the resin used can be suppressed, and the entire case body 11 is made of resin having suitable characteristics. Compared with the case where it forms by, manufacturing cost can be suppressed.

  Further, in this configuration, the number of parts and assembly man-hours are small compared to the configuration using screws and the like, and the bush 44 and the dial main body 43 may be assembled into the attachment receiving portion 45 of the case body 11 from a predetermined direction. Therefore, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  Further, the operational feeling of the drive mechanism 40, that is, the operational torque (operation load) for rotating the dial body 43 is locked from the projecting dimension of the bearing portion 45b of the mounting receiving portion 45, that is, the base end portion of the engaging piece 44e of the bush 44. By adjusting the pitch dimension L1 up to the portion 44f, it can be easily managed and the quality can be easily stabilized.

  Further, a contact rib 44g is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the engagement piece 44e protruding from the bush 44, and the contact surface portion 44h of the contact rib 44g is fitted to the receiving surface portion 45d of the inner surface of the bearing portion 45b, that is, a planar shape. Because of the elasticity of the abutment rib 44g of the bush 44, rattling of each member in the direction intersecting the rotation axis O can be suppressed and the operational feeling can be improved.

  The structure for suppressing the rattling of each member is not limited to the structure in which the abutting rib 44g protrudes from the outer periphery of the engagement piece 44e, and the structure provided in the bush 44 and the structure provided in the attachment receiving part 45. This can be realized by fitting around the rotation axis O and bringing it into contact with the surface.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 5, a cylindrical boss portion 51 is provided coaxially with the rotation axis O at the center of the attachment receiving portion 45, and the inner peripheral surface of the boss portion 51 is used as a receiving surface portion 51a. A pin portion 53 that fits into the boss portion 51 protrudes from the bush 44, and the outer peripheral surface of the pin portion 53 can be a contact surface portion 53a that contacts the receiving surface portion 51a in a planar shape.

  Further, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the bearing portion 45b of the mounting receiving portion 45 into which the engaging piece 44e of the bush 44 is inserted and the locking portion 44f is locked is provided. The locking surface 45e is formed with locking portion insertion portions 61, 61 continuous with the shaft hole 45c at a predetermined rotational position around the rotation axis O, and the locking portions 44f, 44f of the bush 44 can be inserted. It is said.

  Therefore, in this configuration, with the locking portion 44f aligned with the locking portion insertion portion 61, the engagement piece 44e of the bush 44 is inserted into the shaft hole 45c of the mounting receiving portion 45 in a predetermined direction, and then mounted. By rotating the bush 44 with respect to the receiving portion 45 in a predetermined engagement direction (the direction of arrow C shown in FIG. 7), the locking portion 44f is locked to the locking surface 45e of the bearing portion 45b to prevent it from coming off. It can be done. Therefore, in this configuration, since it is not necessary to press-fit and deform the engaging piece 44e and the locking portion 44f at the time of assembly, the locking portion 44f can be protected and the engaging piece 44e is formed in a shape that is difficult to deform. Thus, the bush 44 can be firmly attached to the attachment receiving portion 45.

  In the above embodiment, the case body 11 and the dial body 43 are formed of polypropylene resin, and the bush 44 is formed of polyacetal. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the bush 44 has self-lubricating properties and elasticity. It can also be formed of nylon 66 having the same. Further, the case body 11 and the dial body 43 can be formed of ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer) resin. Furthermore, the dial main body 43 can be formed of an elastomer resin for a portion of the operation portion 43b that is touched by a finger during operation. For example, by two-color molding, the olefin elastomer (TPO resin) is in close contact with the polypropylene resin, or the styrene elastomer (SEBS, Lavalon (registered trademark)) is in close contact with the ABS resin, so that the dial body 43 is integrated. It can also be formed.

  In the above embodiment, the link means is configured by connecting the plate-like first and second links 48 and 49. However, the link means can take various configurations, for example, a disk-shaped gear. It can also be configured in combination.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be applied to an operation dial for opening / closing a ventilator shutter valve and adjusting a wind direction provided in a vehicle.

It is a partial sectional view showing one embodiment of an operation dial device and a ventilator of the present invention. It is a one part perspective view of a ventilator same as the above. It is explanatory drawing of the bush of an operation dial apparatus same as the above, (a) is a front view, (b) is a rear view. It is a partial front view of the attachment receiving part of the operation dial apparatus same as the above. It is a partial sectional view showing other embodiments of the operation dial device and ventilator of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing of the bush of an operation dial apparatus same as the above, (a) is a front view, (b) is a rear view. It is explanatory drawing of the attachment receiving part of an operation dial apparatus same as the above, (a) is a front view, (b) is a rear view.

Explanation of symbols

10 Ventilator
11 Case body as mounted member
17 Air passage
27 Shutter valve as rotating body
41 Operation dial device
43 Dial body
43b Operation unit
43c Rotating shaft hole
44 Bushing as a presser
44a Ring part
44b Center part
44c spoke part
44d Pressing part
44e engagement piece
44f Locking part
44h Contact surface
45 Mounting bracket
45b Bearing
45c shaft hole
45d receiving surface
45g sliding part
47 Link means

Claims (6)

A dial body provided with an operating portion and a rotary shaft hole located on the inner peripheral side of the operating portion;
An attachment receiving portion provided on a member to be attached and having a bearing portion provided with a sliding contact portion and a shaft hole which are in sliding contact with the dial body;
An engagement piece that is formed of a resin that is more elastic than the mounting receiving portion and penetrates the shaft hole, a locking portion that is provided on a distal end side of the engagement piece and is locked to the bearing portion, and the dial body An operation dial device comprising: a pressing body including a pressing portion that elastically presses the sliding contact portion side. The presser body includes a ring part provided with a pressing part, a center part located inside the ring body and protruding with an engagement piece, and a plurality of spoke parts that connect the ring part and the center part. The operation dial device according to claim 1. The operation according to claim 1, further comprising: a cylindrical receiving surface portion provided in the attachment receiving portion; and a contact surface portion provided in the presser body and slidably fitted to the receiving surface portion. Dial device. The presser body includes a plurality of engagement pieces, and these engagement pieces are provided so as to be elastically deformable in a direction approaching each other, and the locking portions are separated from each other from the distal end side of each engagement piece. The operation dial device according to claim 1, wherein the operation dial device is protruded. The engaging portion insertion portion into which the engaging portion can be inserted is formed in the bearing portion of the mounting receiving portion at a predetermined rotational position centered on the shaft hole. The operation dial device described. An operation dial device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A case body as a mounted member constituting the air passage;
A rotating body rotatably supported inside the case body;
A ventilator comprising link means for connecting the rotating body and the dial body.

Images