JP2007037348A - Linear actuator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a linear actuator suitably applied to a high humidity environment and an environment having a chance of being spattered by water. <P>SOLUTION: In the linear actuator 12R constituting a linear actuator device 10, an output rod 20 inserted through an insertion hole 122 formed between a front wall 112 and a cover housing 120 expands and shrinks relative to a housing case 40R while sliding with a seal member 126 by the operation of a drive mechanism 14R set in the housing case 40R. A power source circuit 54 for supplying power to a drive motor 16 in the drive mechanism 14R is set in the housing case 40R, and a partition wall 134 stands from between an arrangement space Rt for a transformer 64 constituting the power source circuit 54 at a bottom plate 110 and the front wall 112. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a linear actuator that linearly drives a rod member along a longitudinal direction.

There is known a linear actuator that converts a rotational motion of an electric motor into a linear motion along the longitudinal direction of a rod member (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 describes a configuration in which a linear actuator is used for a medical electric bed.
JP-A-9-190225

  However, in the conventional linear actuator as described above, waterproofing of the control circuit and driving circuit of the electric motor is not considered, and drainage of the waterproof structure is not considered at all. For this reason, the application of the linear actuator to an environment with high humidity or an environment where there is a risk of getting wet has been unsuitable.

  In view of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain a linear actuator suitable for application to an environment with high humidity or an environment where there is a risk of being wet.

  In order to achieve the above object, a linear actuator according to a first aspect of the present invention is inserted into a through hole provided in a wall portion of a housing case, and slides with a sliding portion provided at an edge of the through hole. However, a rod member that can be expanded and contracted with respect to the housing case, a drive mechanism that is disposed in the housing case and that drives the rod member to expand and contract with respect to the housing case, and a rod member that is disposed in the housing case. And an electric circuit for operating or controlling the driving mechanism, and the housing has a partition wall erected from between the wall portion of the bottom plate and a space in which the electric circuit is disposed.

  In the linear actuator according to the first aspect, the drive mechanism operated or controlled by the electric circuit displaces the rod member penetrating the wall portion in the longitudinal direction to extend or shorten the housing case.

  Here, since the drive mechanism and the electric circuit are respectively disposed (stored) in the housing case, it is possible to prevent the drive mechanism and the electric circuit from being in contact with a high humidity atmosphere or being directly exposed to water. Even if water enters the housing case from between the sliding portion provided at the edge of the through hole of the wall portion constituting the housing case and the telescopic rod, the water is supplied to the electric circuit by the partition wall. Contact is prevented.

  Thus, the linear actuator according to claim 1 can be applied to an environment with high humidity or an environment where there is a risk of being wet. In addition, it cannot be overemphasized that the electric circuit in this invention contains the component of an electric circuit.

  A linear actuator according to a second aspect of the present invention is the linear actuator according to the first aspect, wherein a drainage hole is provided between the wall portion and the partition wall in the bottom plate of the housing.

  In the linear actuator according to the second aspect, water is discharged into the housing case from between the sliding portion provided at the edge of the through hole of the wall portion and the telescopic rod, and is discharged out of the housing case through the drain hole. For this reason, water is prevented from staying in the space between the partition wall, the wall portion, and the bottom plate, and the stayed water does not get over the partition wall and reach the installation space of the electric circuit.

  The linear actuator according to a third aspect of the present invention is the linear actuator according to the first or second aspect, wherein the upper end of the partition wall is in the horizontal direction of the electric circuit than the lower edge of the through hole. Is located.

  In the linear actuator according to claim 3, since the upper end of the partition wall is positioned in the horizontal direction in the use space side of the electric circuit with respect to the lower edge of the through hole (sliding portion), in other words, Since the partition wall protrudes from the lower edge of the sliding portion along the vertical direction to the installation space side of the electric circuit, the partition member is disposed so that the expansion and contraction direction of the rod member is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. In this case, water flowing or dripping from the lower edge of the sliding portion into the housing case is prevented from reaching the electric circuit side by the partition wall.

  A linear actuator according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the linear actuator according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the wall portion is below the lower edge of the through hole and below the upper end of the partition wall. A rib is provided on the side of the partition wall so as to extend toward the side portion.

  In the linear actuator according to claim 4, water is prevented from splashing into the housing case from between the sliding portion provided at the edge portion of the through hole of the wall portion and the telescopic rod, and is prevented from scattering. It is guided by the rib and guided to the space between the partition wall and the wall portion.

  The linear actuator according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the linear actuator according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the drive mechanism is a direction in which the telescopic rod extends and contracts from the wall portion of the housing case. A fixing portion inserted into a through hole provided in another wall portion located on the opposite side of the base plate, and the housing is provided between the other wall portion of the bottom plate and a space in which the electric circuit is disposed. It further has the other partition erected from.

  In the linear actuator according to claim 5, the fixed portion of the drive mechanism for expanding and contracting the rod member with respect to the housing case protrudes outside the housing case, and the fixed portion and the through hole edge of the other wall portion in the housing case Water may enter from between. This water is prevented from contacting the electrical circuit by other partitions. In addition, it is desirable to provide a drain hole between another wall part and another partition.

  A linear actuator device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the schematic overall configuration of the linear actuator device 10 will be described, then the detailed configuration of the housing cases 40L and 40R, which are the main parts of the present invention, will be described, and then the linear actuator device 10 applied to the liftable toilet seat device 80 Will be explained. For convenience of explanation, the direction indicated by the arrow A in each drawing is the forward direction, that is, the direction facing the person sitting on the toilet seat 86 of the liftable toilet seat device 80, the direction indicated by the arrow B is the upward direction, When using the direction, the left-right direction for the seated person is used.

(Overall configuration of linear actuator)
As shown in FIG. 3, the linear actuator device 10 includes a pair of linear actuators 12 </ b> L and 12 </ b> R configured separately from each other. Each of the linear actuators 12R and 12L independently corresponds to the linear actuator in the present invention.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the linear actuators 12 </ b> L and 12 </ b> R are provided with drive mechanisms 14 </ b> L and 14 </ b> R, and the drive mechanisms 14 </ b> L and 14 </ b> R have the same configuration in this embodiment. . As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the drive mechanisms 14 </ b> L and 14 </ b> R include a drive motor 16, a rotation / linear motion conversion mechanism 18, an output rod 20 (rod), an end housing 22, a main body housing 24, a front housing 26, and position detection. A substrate 28 is provided.

  The drive motor 16 is composed of a DC motor such as a motor with a brush, for example, and is fixed to the lower end of the end housing 22. In addition, a rotation speed detector 17 is built in the drive motor 16, and the rotation speed detector 17 generates a pulse for each rotation of the drive motor 16. The drive motor 16 is provided with a power supply connector 30.

  The rotation / linear motion conversion mechanism 18 converts the rotational driving force of the driving motor 16 into a linear driving force to move the output rod 20 as a rod member forward and backward. As shown in FIG. The worm 33 formed on the rotating shaft 32 rotated by the worm wheel, the worm wheel 34 meshed with the worm 33, the feed screw shaft 36 coaxially and integrally provided on the worm wheel 34, and the feed screw shaft 36 And a screwed nut 38.

  A guide rail 48 projecting from the inner peripheral surface of the main body housing 24 over substantially the entire length enters the guide groove 46 recessed in the outer peripheral portion of the nut 38 so as to be slidable in the axial direction. In this embodiment, a plurality (three each) of guide grooves 46 and guide rails 48 are provided in the circumferential direction. Thereby, the nut 38 is restricted from rotating around the axis, and only reciprocating along the axis is allowed. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a contact portion 21 that abuts on an all-advance position detection switch 50 or an all-storage position detection switch 52 provided on a position detection board 28 to be described later protrudes from the upper end of the nut 38. ing.

  Fixed to the nut 38 is a rear end 20A of the output rod 20 formed in a cylindrical shape that penetrates the front end of the main body housing 24 and coaxially enters the front end side of the feed screw shaft 36. Further, at the front end of the output rod 20 that is always located outside the main body housing 24, the first link member 96L of the link mechanism portions 94L and 94R provided in the liftable toilet seat device 80 (see FIGS. 7 and 8) described later. , 96R is provided with a movable side connection portion 23 that is rotatably connected and fixed. The movable side connecting portion 23 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and has a link coupling connecting hole 23A, and a relief slit 23B for the first link members 96L and 96R.

  As described above, in the rotation / linear motion conversion mechanism 18, when the drive motor 16 rotates, the worm 33 rotates. When the worm wheel 34 and the feed screw shaft 36 rotate due to the rotation of the worm 33, the nut 38 moves in the axial direction together with the output rod 20. It is supposed to move. In this embodiment, the rotation / linear motion conversion mechanism 18 is configured to convert the rotation of the rotary shaft 32 disposed along the vertical direction of the drive motor 16 into a linear motion of the output rod 20 in a substantially front-rear direction (horizontal direction). It is.

  Further, in this embodiment, the rotation / linear motion converting mechanism 18 moves the output rod 20 forward (extends with respect to the main body housing 24) by forward rotation of the drive motor 16, and retracts the output rod 20 by reverse rotation of the drive motor 16. It has become. That is, the drive mechanisms 14L and 14R housed in the housing cases 40L and 40R, which will be described in detail later, have the output rod 20 in which the movable side connecting portion 23 is positioned outside the housing cases 40L and 40R. It is designed to expand and contract with respect to 40R.

  In the rotation / linear motion conversion mechanism 18, the self-lock is generated in which the linear motion of the nut 38 cannot be converted into the rotation of the feed screw shaft 36. Further, the worm gear composed of the worm 33 and the worm wheel 34 is set to generate a self-lock that cannot transmit rotation on the speed increasing side.

  The end housing 22 houses a worm 33 and a worm wheel 34 that are meshed with each other. In the end housing 22, a bearing 42 for supporting the feed screw shaft 36 so as to be rotatable around the axis is accommodated and held. Further, the end housing 22 is provided with a fixed-side connection portion 44 that is rotatably connected and fixed to fixed leg portions 90L and 90R of a main body base member 88 provided in an elevating toilet seat device 80 described later. The fixed-side connecting portion 44 has a connecting hole 44A for link connection to the fixed leg portions 90L and 90R, and a slit 44B for allowing relative angular displacement.

  A main body housing 24 is fixed to the front end of the end housing 22 by a fixing tool such as a screw (not shown), and a front housing 26 is fixed to the opposite side of the main housing 24 from the end housing 22 by a fixing tool 27. ing. The front housing 26 has a through hole 26A through which the output rod 20 is inserted, and supports the output rod 20 slidably in the axial direction at the hole edge of the through hole 26A. When screws are used to fix the main body housing 24 and the end housing 22, it is preferable to provide a screw hole in each guide rail 48 of the main body housing 24.

  Further, a feed screw shaft 36 whose rear end is held by the end housing 22 is inserted into the main body housing 24, and the front end of the feed screw shaft 36 is connected to the output rod 20 via a bearing 49 (see FIG. 5). It is in contact with the inner surface. That is, the front end of the feed screw shaft 36 is supported by the front housing 26 via the bearing 49 and the output rod 20. As described above, the guide rail 48 that engages with the guide groove 46 of the nut 38 is formed along the longitudinal direction inside the main body housing 24.

  The position detection board 28 detects the fully advanced position and the fully retracted position of the output rod 20, and when the output rod 20 is fully advanced, the fully advanced position detection switch 50 that contacts the contact portion 21 of the nut 38 is provided at the front end. In addition to being provided in the vicinity, an all-storage position detection switch 52 that contacts the contact portion 21 when the output rod 20 is fully stored is provided in the vicinity of the rear end. The position detection board 28 is disposed above the feed screw shaft 36 in the main body housing 24, and one end thereof is supported by the end housing 22 and the other end is supported by the front housing 26.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a communication portion 24 </ b> C is formed in the main body housing 24 to communicate the space 24 </ b> A in which the nut 38 reciprocates and the arrangement space 24 </ b> B of the position detection board 28. The position detection board 28 can be incorporated into the main body housing 24 by passing through the all-advance position detection switch 50 or the all-storage position detection switch 52. The communication portion 24 </ b> C is a space for the contact portion 21 of the nut 38 to move so as to contact the full advance position detection switch 50 or the full storage position detection switch 52.

  In addition, on the rear side of the all-storage position detection switch 52 on the position detection board 28, there is a connector 31 for outputting detection signals of the all-advance position detection switch 50 and the all-storage position detection switch 52 to a control circuit board 66 described later. Is provided. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the connector 31 is exposed from the connector housing portion 22 </ b> A formed integrally with the upper end of the end housing 22.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a power supply circuit portion 54 is housed in the housing case 40R of the linear actuator 12R. The power supply circuit unit 54 receives power supply (for example, AC100V) from the external power supply 60 (see FIG. 6), and supplies power (for example, DC24V) necessary for driving each of the pair of linear actuators 12L and 12R, that is, each drive motor 16. ).

  As shown in FIG. 6, the power supply circuit unit 54 of the present embodiment is provided with a power supply circuit board 56 provided with a power supply circuit. The power supply circuit board 56 is provided with connectors 58 </ b> A to 58 </ b> D. ing. A power cable 62 extending from the external power source 60 is connected to the connector 58A, whereby the power circuit board 56 receives power from the external power source 60.

  Further, the power supply circuit unit 54 is provided with a transformer 64 for transforming the voltage supplied from the external power supply 60. A wiring member extending from the transformer 64 is connected to the power supply circuit board 56 via connectors 58C and 58D. Connected. In the present embodiment, the transformer 64 is also disposed in the housing case 40R.

  On the other hand, a control circuit board 66 provided with a control circuit is housed in the housing case 40L of the linear actuator 12L as shown in FIG. The control circuit of the control circuit board 66 (hereinafter simply referred to as the control circuit board 66) is configured to control each of the pair of linear actuators 12L and 12R based on the power supply from the power supply circuit unit 54.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the control circuit board 66 is provided with connectors 68 </ b> A to 68 </ b> G. The connector 68A is for motor output, and is connected to the connector 30 provided on the drive motor 16 of the linear actuator 12R via a connection cable 72. The connector 68B is for inputting a position detection signal, and is connected to the connector 31 provided on the position detection board 28 of the linear actuator 12R via a connection cable 72. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the connection cable 72 is configured as one wire harness that connects the power circuit board 56 and the control circuit board 66 of the power circuit section 54.

  The connector 68C is for motor output. As shown in FIG. 6, the connector 68C is connected to the connector 30 provided on the drive motor 16 of the linear actuator 12L via a connection cable 73A, and the connector 68D is for position detection signal input. And connected to the connector 31 provided on the position detection board 28 of the linear actuator 12L via the connection cable 73B.

  The connector 68E is for power supply input and is connected to the connector 58B of the power supply circuit section 54 via the connection cable 72. The connectors 68F and 68G are for operation signal input, and are respectively a hand switch 70A and a foot switch 70B. Connected to.

  Control by the control circuit board 66 will be described later together with the configuration of the liftable toilet seat device 80.

(Detailed configuration of housing case)
1 shows the housing case 40R in a side sectional view, and FIG. 2 shows the housing case 40L in a side sectional view.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the housing cases 40R and 40L are separable into a housing body 118 formed in a rectangular parallelepiped container shape that opens upward, and an opening end of the housing body 118 formed in a rectangular container shape. And a cover housing 120 that fits and closes the open end.

  The housing body 118 is configured such that a front wall 112, a rear wall 114, and a pair of left and right side walls 116 are erected from a peripheral edge of a bottom plate 110 formed in a substantially rectangular bottom plate shape in plan view. At the upper opening end of the front wall 112 of each housing case 40R, 40L, a cutout portion 112A cut out in a substantially semicircular arc shape is formed, and this cutout portion 112A is formed symmetrically in the cover housing 120. A through hole 122 through which the output rod 20 is inserted is formed with the notch 120A.

  Each housing case 40R, 40L includes a boss portion 124 formed by joining half bodies 124A, 124B projecting from the hole of the through hole 122 in the front wall 112 and the cover housing 120, respectively. A seal member 126 formed in a ring shape is held on the boss portion 124 so as not to drop off. The seal member 126 is made of a rubber material or the like, and the outer peripheral surface of the output rod 20 is in contact with the inner peripheral surface thereof so as to be slidable in the axial direction.

  Similarly, a notch 114 </ b> A cut out in a substantially plate arc shape is formed at the upper opening end of the rear wall 114 of each housing body 118, and this notch 114 </ b> A is formed symmetrically with the cover housing 120. A through hole 128 through which the output rod 20 is inserted is formed by the notch 120B.

  Each housing case 40R, 40L includes a boss portion 130 formed by joining half bodies 130A, 130B projecting from the hole of the through hole 128 in the rear wall 114 and the cover housing 120, respectively. The fixed side connection portion 44 is fitted to the boss portion 130 via a seal member 132 formed in a ring shape. The seal member 132 is made of a rubber material or the like.

  As described above, the drive mechanisms 14L and 14R are supported by the housing cases 40R and 40L. Therefore, when the drive motor 16 rotates forward or backward, the output rod 20 extends and contracts with respect to the housing cases 40R and 40L as described above.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the housing body 118 of the housing case 40R is provided with three partition walls 134, 136, and 138 in order from the front. Each partition wall 134 is erected from the bottom plate 110 and spans the left and right side walls 116 to define the lower part in the housing main body 118. A drainage space Rd is formed between the front wall 112 and the first partition 134 disposed in the forefront.

  Further, a transformer disposition space Rt in which the transformer 64 is disposed is formed between the first partition 134 and the central second partition 136, and the second partition 136 and the third partition disposed last. A board placement space Rb in which the power supply circuit board 56 is placed is formed between the board 138 and the power supply circuit board 56. Further, a motor disposition space Rm in which a lower portion of the drive motor 16 is disposed is formed between the third partition wall 138 and the rear wall 114. A base rib 139 for supporting the transformer 64 protrudes from a portion of the bottom plate 110 that forms the bottom of the transformer installation space Rt. Further, a support rib 137 for supporting the power supply circuit board 56 protrudes from a portion of the bottom plate 110 that constitutes the bottom of the board arrangement space Rb.

  And the drain hole 140 is formed in the bottom plate 110 which comprises the drainage space Rd in the housing main body 118 of the housing case 40R. In this embodiment, the drain hole 140 is disposed at the rear part of the drainage space Rd so that the rear edge thereof substantially coincides with the front surface of the first partition wall 134 and is disposed at the center in the left-right direction of the drainage space Rd. Yes. Further, the housing main body 118 is provided with a vertical rib 142 projecting over the front wall 112 and the front wall 112 from the drain hole 140 in the bottom plate 110. The upper end of the vertical rib 142 reaches the vicinity of the lower edge of the notch 112A. In this embodiment, a plurality of (for example, three) vertical ribs 142 are formed in parallel along the left-right direction within the left-right width range of the notch 112A.

  Further, a drain hole 144 is formed in the bottom plate 110 constituting the motor installation space Rm in the housing main body 118 of the housing case 40R. In this embodiment, the drain hole 144 is arranged at the foremost part of the motor arrangement space Rm so that the front edge thereof substantially coincides with the rear surface of the third partition wall 138, and the left and right direction of the motor arrangement space Rm. Located in the center. Further, the housing main body 118 is provided with a vertical rib 146 projecting over the rear end portion of the bottom plate 110 and the rear wall 114. The upper end of the vertical rib 146 reaches the vicinity of the lower edge of the notch 114A. In this embodiment, a plurality of (for example, two) vertical ribs 146 are formed in parallel along the left-right direction within the left-right width range of the notch 114A.

  Further, a motor support portion 148 that supports the lower end of the drive motor 16 protrudes from the bottom plate 110 at the lower portion of the motor installation space Rm, and the motor support portion 148 is formed in a circular frame shape in plan view and driven. The lower end of the motor 16 is covered over the entire circumference. Further, the bottom plate 110 is provided with a rectangular frame-shaped connector introduction portion 150 in a plan view for introducing a connector provided at the end of the connection cable 72. As a result, a retention space Rs in which a predetermined amount of water can be retained is formed outside the motor support portion 148 and the connector introduction portion 150 in the lower part of the motor installation space Rm so as not to contact electrical components such as the drive motor 16. Has been.

  On the other hand, the housing main body 118 of the housing case 40L is provided with two partition walls 134 and 138 in order from the front. A portion of the housing body 118 different from the housing body 118 of the housing case 40R will be described. A substrate arrangement space Rc in which the control circuit board 66 is arranged is arranged in the housing main body 118 of the housing case 40L, and the substrate arrangement space Rc is partitioned from the drainage space Rd by the first partition wall 134. ing. Accordingly, the substrate placement space Rc is configured as if the substrate placement space Rb and the transformer placement space Rt are connected in series. Further, the base ribs 139 and the support ribs 137 are not projected from the bottom plate 110 of the housing case 40L, and the support ribs 152 for supporting the control circuit board 66 are projected.

  In this embodiment, each of the partition walls 134, 136, and 138 is set lower than the lower edge of the notch portion 112A of the front wall 112 and the lower edge of the notch portion 114A of the rear wall 114, respectively. Therefore, the virtual straight line L1 connecting the lower edge of the notch 112A in the front wall 112 and the upper end of the partition wall 134 is inclined in the horizontal direction. Similarly, a virtual straight line L2 connecting the lower edge of the notch 114A in the rear wall 114 and the upper end of the partition wall 138 is inclined opposite to the virtual straight line L1 with respect to the horizontal direction.

  Even when the housing cases 40R and 40L are arranged to be inclined backward to an angle that the virtual straight line L1 coincides with the vertical direction, the transformer arrangement space Rt or the board arrangement space Rc of water that flows down or drops by gravity. Intrusion into the wall can be prevented by the partition wall 134. Further, the housing cases 40R and 40L are arranged so that the virtual straight line L2 is tilted forward to an angle less than the angle that coincides with the vertical direction, and the substrate arrangement space Rb or the substrate arrangement space Rc that flows or drops by gravity is dropped. Intrusion into the wall can be prevented by the partition wall 138.

  The housing cases 40R, 40L (housing main body 118, cover housing 120) are each made of a synthetic resin, and are not easily deteriorated by water. Further, at least the component parts located outside the housing cases 40R and 40L in the drive mechanisms 14R and 14L, specifically, the end housing 22 in which the output rod 20 and the fixed side connection portion 44 are formed are made of synthetic resin. Has been.

(Example of application to a liftable toilet seat device)
Next, an example in which the linear actuator device 10 having the above configuration is applied to an elevating toilet seat device 80 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The elevating toilet seat device 80 according to the present embodiment is preferably used for, for example, a western-style toilet 82 and includes an elevating mechanism 84. The linear actuator device 10 described above is used as a driving device for operating the lifting mechanism 84 to raise and lower the toilet seat 86 as a driven member.

  The elevating toilet seat device 80 is provided with a main body base member 88 extending from one side to the other side. The main body base member 88 is fixed to the toilet 82, and fixed leg portions 90L and 90R which are respectively hung from the left and right ends of the main body base member 88 and are located on the outer side in the left and right direction of the toilet bowl 82 are linear. Fixed-side connection portions 44 provided on the linear actuators 12L and 12R of the actuator device 10 are connected so as to be rotatable around an axis along the left-right direction. In this embodiment, the forward and backward movement directions of the output rods 20 in the linear actuators 12L and 12R connected and fixed to the fixed-side connection portion 44 are the same.

  Further, in the liftable toilet seat device 80 of the present embodiment, the mounting table 92 is moved up and down by the operation of the mounting table 92 on which the toilet seat 86 is mounted and the pair of left and right linear actuators 12L and 12R provided in the linear actuator device 10. A pair of left and right link mechanism portions 94L and 94R are provided. The link mechanism portions 94L and 94R include first link members 96L and 96R and second link members 98L and 98R, respectively. In addition, leg plate portions 100L and 100R that are located on the outer sides in the left-right direction of the toilet 82 are suspended from the left and right ends of the mounting table 92, respectively. The leg plate portions 100L, 100R overlap the rear upper portions with the fixed leg portions 90L, 90R in a side view.

  In the link mechanism portion 94L provided on the left side surface of the toilet seat 86, the first link member 96L is connected to the movable side connection portion 23 of the output rod 20 of the linear actuator 12L so as to be rotatable around an axis along the left-right direction. At the same time, it is connected to the fixed leg portion 90L of the main body base member 88 and the leg plate portion 100L of the mounting table 92 so as to be rotatable about an axis along the left-right direction. Further, the second link 98L is connected at both ends in the longitudinal direction thereof to the fixed leg portion 90L of the main body base member 88 and the leg plate portion 100L of the mounting table 92 so as to be rotatable about an axis along the left-right direction.

  Similarly, in the link mechanism portion 94R provided on the right side surface of the toilet seat 86, the first link member 96R is connected to the output rod 20 of the linear actuator 12R so as to be rotatable about an axis along the left-right direction, and the main body. The base member 88 is connected to the fixed leg portion 90R and the leg plate portion 100R of the mounting table 92 so as to be rotatable around an axis along the left-right direction. Further, the second link 98R is connected at both ends in the longitudinal direction to the fixed leg portion 90R of the main body base member 88 and the leg plate portion 100R of the mounting base 92 so as to be rotatable around an axis along the left-right direction.

  Although not shown, the hand switch 70A is attached to one of the leg plate portions 100L and 100R (the portion that moves up and down together with the toilet seat 86), and the foot switch 70B is arranged on the floor on which the toilet 82 is installed. It is installed.

  In the liftable toilet seat device 80 configured as described above, when the hand switch 70A or the foot switch 70B is operated in the upward direction, the control circuit board 66 connects the output rods 20 of the linear actuators 12L and 12R to the housing cases 40L and 40R. The power is supplied to each drive motor 16 so as to be simultaneously slid in the advancing direction (in the direction of the arrow X1) (the drive motor 16 is rotated forward).

  In the liftable toilet seat device 80, when the left and right output rods 20 are simultaneously slid in the arrow X1 direction, the first link members 96L and 96R and the second link members 98L and 98R of the link mechanism portions 94L and 94R are in the R1 and R2 directions. Accordingly, as shown by an imaginary line in FIG. 8, the toilet seat 86 is raised together with the mounting table 92. At this time, the linear actuators 12 </ b> L and 12 </ b> R are configured to rotate around the connection point of the fixed side connection portion 44 so as to incline forward as a whole.

  Furthermore, when the control circuit board 66 detects a full advance position detection signal from any of the left and right full advance position detection switches 50, the control circuit board 66 rotates the drive motors 16 of the pair of drive mechanisms 14L and 14R to the full advance side. Is configured to stop.

  On the other hand, in the liftable toilet seat device 80, when the hand switch 70A or the foot switch 70B is operated in the descending direction, the control circuit board 66 stores the left and right output rods 20 in the housing cases 40L and 40R (in the direction of arrow X2). ) Are simultaneously fed to each drive motor 16 (reverse rotation of each drive motor 16). Further, in the elevating toilet seat device 80, when the output rods 20 are simultaneously slid in the direction of the arrow X2, the toilet seat 86 is lowered by an operation opposite to the upward rising.

  In this lowering operation, the control circuit board 66 rotates each drive motor 16 to the full storage side until the full storage position detection signal is detected by the signal from the corresponding full storage position detection switch 52. It has become. That is, the control circuit board 66 simultaneously stops power supply to each drive motor 16 at the end of the raising operation of the toilet seat 86, and supplies power to each drive motor 16 at the end of the lowering operation. Based on the signal from 52, it is comprised so that it may stop independently.

  In addition, the rotation range of each housing case 40R, 40L accompanying the raising and lowering of the toilet seat 86 is set to a range less than the inclination angle at which the virtual straight lines L1, L2 coincide with the vertical direction in the housing cases 40R, 40L. In other words, the standing height of the partition walls 134, 138 of the housing cases 40R, 40L from the bottom plate 110 enters the housing cases 40R, 40L in the rotation range of the housing cases 40R, 40L as the toilet seat 86 moves up and down. The water can be prevented from flowing down or dripping down the transformer arrangement space Rt and the substrate arrangement space Rc.

  Further, in the liftable toilet seat device 80, the rotation / linear motion conversion mechanism 18 of the linear actuator device 10, and the worm gear including the worm 33 and the worm wheel 34 are both set to cause self-locking. Inconveniences such as the toilet seat 86 moving up and down due to the load associated with this are prevented. Further, by using a worm gear that is a staggered shaft gear, even when an axial load is input from the output rod 20 to the feed screw shaft 36 via the nut 38, the load acts in the axial direction of the drive motor 16. And the rotation of the worm 33 and the drive motor 16 can be maintained smoothly even while a load in the axial direction is applied to the output rod 20. Further, the rotational speed detector (pulse) of the drive motor 16 can be accurately detected by the rotational speed detector 17 disposed on the drive motor 16 side.

  Next, operations and effects of the liftable toilet seat device 80 and the linear actuator device 10 having the above-described configuration will be described.

  In the elevating toilet seat device 80 according to the present embodiment, when the user or an assistant operates the hand switch 70A or the foot switch 70B to the ascending side, the pair of output rods 20 of the linear actuator device 10 slide simultaneously in the arrow X1 direction. The toilet seat 86 rises. When the hand switch 70A or the foot switch 70B is operated to the lowering side while the user is seated on the toilet seat 86, the pair of output rods 20 of the linear actuator device 10 are simultaneously slid in the arrow X2 direction, and the toilet seat 86 is seated. Descent while supporting the user in the state.

  Further, when the hand switch 70A or the foot switch 70B is operated to the ascending side in the seated state of the user, the pair of output rods 20 of the linear actuator device 10 slide simultaneously in the arrow X1 direction, and the toilet seat 86 is used in the seated state. Rise while supporting the person. When the hand switch 70A or the foot switch 70B is operated to the lowering side after the user leaves the toilet seat 86, the pair of output rods 20 of the linear actuator device 10 slide simultaneously in the arrow X2 direction, and the toilet seat 86 is lowered. To return to the initial position.

  As described above, in the liftable toilet seat device 80 to which the linear actuator device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied, the user's seating operation on the toilet seat 86 and the standing operation from the toilet seat 86 are assisted, and these operations are easy. become.

  Here, in the linear actuator device 10, the drive mechanisms 14L and 14R, the power supply circuit unit 54, and the control circuit board 66 of the linear actuators 12L and 12R are housed in the housing case 40, respectively. The power supply circuit unit 54 and the control circuit board 66 are prevented from being directly exposed to water or exposed to high-humidity air.

  In the linear actuator device 10, the front wall 112 (drainage space Rd) in which the through holes 122 are formed in the housing cases 40R and 40L, and the transformer installation space Rt or the board installation space Rc in which the electric circuit is arranged. Since the first partition wall 134 is erected in between, the water that has entered the housing cases 40R, 40L from the sliding portion between the seal member 126 and the output rod 20 is in the transformer arrangement space Rt or the substrate arrangement space Rc. Is prevented. That is, the water that has entered the housing cases 40R and 40L and led to the drainage space through the front wall 112 is prevented from contacting the transformer 64 and the control circuit board 66 by the first partition wall 134.

  Moreover, since the drain hole 140 is provided in the part which comprises the drainage space Rd in the baseplate 110, the water which penetrate | invaded in the housing cases 40R and 40L from the drain hole 140 via the drainage space Rd. It is discharged outside. This prevents water from staying in the drain space Rd and overflowing to the transformer installation space Rt or the substrate installation space Rc.

  Further, in the linear actuator device 10, since the third partition wall 138 is erected between the rear wall 114 (motor arrangement space Rm) and the board arrangement spaces Rb and Rc, the fixed-side connection portion 44 and the seal member It is possible to prevent water that has entered from the space 132 from reaching the substrate placement spaces Rb and Rc. That is, the water that has entered the housing cases 40R and 40L and is guided to the motor installation space Rm through the rear wall 114 is prevented from contacting the transformer 64 and the control circuit board 66 by the first partition wall 134. Further, since the drain plate 144 is provided in the bottom plate 110 in the lower part (retention space) of the motor installation space Rm, the water that has entered the housing cases 40R and 40L passes through the motor installation space Rm. And discharged from the drain hole 144 to the outside.

  In particular, since the vertical rib 142 is erected on the front wall 112, water that has entered the housing cases 40R and 40L from the sliding portion between the seal member 126 and the output rod 20 contacts the vertical rib 142. In addition to being prevented from scattering, the water is guided by the vertical rib 142 and guided to the drainage space Rd and discharged from the drain hole 140. Further, since the vertical ribs 146 are erected on the rear wall 114, the water that has entered the housing cases 40R and 40L from between the seal member 132 and the fixed-side connecting portion 44 contacts the vertical ribs 146. The air is prevented from being scattered and guided by the vertical rib 142 to be guided to the lower part (retention space) of the motor installation space Rm and discharged from the drain hole 144.

  Further, the linear actuators 12L and 12R rotate around the connection point of the fixed side connecting portion 44 as the toilet seat 86 is raised and lowered, but the partition walls 134 and 138 are moved to the housing cases 40R and 40L even at the maximum rotation angle. The intruding water is prevented from flowing down or dripping into the transformer arrangement space Rt and the board arrangement spaces Rb and RC.

  As described above, the linear actuator device 10 according to the present embodiment and the linear actuators 12L and 12R constituting the linear actuator device 10 can be applied to an environment with high humidity or an environment where there is a risk of being wet. Specifically, the linear actuator device 10 can be publicly applied to a liftable toilet seat device 80 for lifting and lowering the toilet seat 86 of the flush toilet 82.

  In the above embodiment, the linear actuators 12R and 12L that convert the rotation of the drive motor 16 into the linear motion of the output rod 20 by the feed screw mechanism are exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a ball screw mechanism Alternatively, the rotation of the drive motor 16 may be converted into the linear motion of the output rod 20 by a rack and pinion mechanism or the like.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the configuration including the two linear actuators 12R and 12L, and it goes without saying that the present invention may be applied to the linear actuator 12R that functions alone.

  Furthermore, the application of the linear actuator 12R and the like according to the present invention is not limited to the liftable toilet seat device 80, and can be used for various applications. In particular, the linear actuator device 10, the linear actuator 12R, or the linear actuator 12L is also suitably applied to water usage in a toilet or the like and outdoors.

It is a sectional side view of one housing case which comprises the linear actuator apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a sectional side view of the other housing case which comprises the linear actuator apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view showing composition of a linear actuator device concerning an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of the linear actuator apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of the drive part of the linear actuator which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the wiring connection of the linear actuator apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the state which mounted | wore the toilet bowl with the raising / lowering toilet seat apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention, Comprising: (a) is a front view, (b) is a side view. It is a figure which shows a mode that the toilet seat of a toilet bowl raises / lowers with the raising / lowering toilet seat apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention, Comprising: (a) is a front view, (b) is a side view.

Explanation of symbols

12L, 12R ... Linear actuator, 14L, 14R ... Drive mechanism, 20 ... Output rod (rod member), 40L, 40R ... Housing case, 44 ... Fixed side connection part (fixed part) 54 ... Power supply circuit (electric circuit), 66 ... Control circuit board (electric circuit), 110 ... Bottom plate, 112 ... Front wall (wall), 114 ... Back wall (others) , 122 ... through hole, 126 ... sealing member (sliding part), 128 ... through hole, 134 ... first partition (partition), 138 ... third partition ( Other partition walls), 140 ... drain holes, 142 ... vertical ribs (ribs), Rb ... substrate arrangement space (electric circuit arrangement space), Rc ... substrate arrangement space (electricity) Circuit placement space), Rt ... Transformer placement space (Electric circuit placement space)

Claims (5)

A rod member that is inserted into a through hole provided in a wall portion of the housing case, and that can be expanded and contracted with respect to the housing case while sliding with a sliding portion provided at an edge of the through hole;
A drive mechanism disposed in the housing case for driving the rod member to extend and contract with respect to the housing case;
An electrical circuit disposed in the housing case for operating or controlling the drive mechanism;
The said housing is a linear actuator which has the partition erected from between the said wall part in the baseplate, and the arrangement | positioning space of the said electric circuit.   The linear actuator according to claim 1, wherein a drain hole is provided between the wall portion and the partition wall in the bottom plate of the housing.   3. The linear actuator according to claim 1, wherein an upper end of the partition wall is positioned closer to a space where the electric circuit is disposed than a lower edge of the through hole in the horizontal direction.   4. The linear device according to claim 1, wherein a rib protrudes from the wall portion to the partition wall side from a lower edge of the through hole to a lower side portion than an upper end of the partition wall. Actuator. The drive mechanism has a fixing portion inserted through a through hole provided in another wall portion located on the opposite side of the expansion / contraction direction of the telescopic rod from the wall portion in the housing case,
5. The linear actuator according to claim 1, wherein the housing further includes another partition wall erected from between the other wall portion of the bottom plate and a space in which the electric circuit is disposed.

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