JP2008094138A - Steering lock device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately detect a locked state and an unlocked state of a steering shaft with a simple and inexpensive structure, and to downsize a device. <P>SOLUTION: The steering lock device10 comprises a lock shaft 30 locking or unlocking the steering shaft 1 by engaging or disengaging with/from the steering shaft 1, two position detecting switches 54. 56 detecting a working position of the lock shaft 30, and a printed board 53 determining the working position of the lock shaft 30 on the basis of a detection signal from the position detecting switches 54, 56. A rocking member 80 is provided, which rocks with the movement to a locked position or an unlocked position of the lock shaft 30 and actuates either one of the position detection switches 54, 56. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a steering lock device for locking a steering wheel of an automobile or the like.

  Conventionally, a steering lock device has been used to lock a steering wheel for the purpose of preventing theft of a vehicle such as an automobile. Normally, in the steering lock device, the lock shaft enters a recessed portion formed in the outer peripheral portion of the steering shaft connected to the steering wheel to enter a locked state, while the lock shaft escapes from the recessed portion to unlock. Become locked.

  For example, in Patent Document 1 below, the lock position and the unlock position of the lock shaft are detected using two detection switches, respectively, and the exact position of the lock shaft in an intermediate region between the lock position and the unlock position is disclosed. There is disclosed a steering lock device that can accurately detect the above using a resistance change measuring instrument.

JP 2004-106750 A

  However, although the steering lock device of Patent Document 1 can accurately detect the position of the lock shaft in the intermediate region by using the resistance change measuring device, the use of the resistance change measuring device and the lock shaft It is necessary to provide a special coating whose resistance value changes continuously or stepwise on the outer peripheral surface, and there is a problem that the configuration becomes complicated and the cost increases.

  Further, in the steering lock device of Patent Document 1, the lock state detection switch is operated by a protrusion protruding in the lateral direction on the side surface on the front end side of the lock shaft, and the lock shaft is moved in the vertical direction (that is, the movement of the lock shaft). Direction) Since the unlocking state detection switch is operated by a protrusion protruding toward the rear side, at least the length of the lock shaft from the position of the locking state detection switch to the tip of the protrusion at the rear end of the lock shaft is It is necessary to dispose the two detection switches at a distance more than a distance to which a stroke is applied, which is a design obstacle when attempting to downsize the steering lock device.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a steering lock device that can accurately detect a locked state and an unlocked state of a steering shaft with a simple and low-cost configuration and can reduce the size of the device. To do.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a lock member that locks or unlocks the movable member by engaging or disengaging the movable member that is interlocked with the operation of the steering wheel, and the operation of the lock member. A steering lock device comprising: first and second position detection means for detecting a position; and position determination means for determining an operating position of the lock member based on detection signals from the position detection means.
A swing member is provided that swings with the movement of the lock member to the lock position or the unlock position to operate one of the first and second position detecting means. is there.

  According to this configuration, the first and second position detections can be performed by causing the swinging member to operate one of the first and second position detecting means at the lock position or the unlock position of the lock member. When one of the means is activated (for example, on), the other is not necessarily activated (for example, off). Therefore, there is no possibility that both the position detecting means are in operation. Therefore, the lock position and the unlock position of the lock member can be accurately detected and the position detection means can be realized with a simple and low-cost configuration in which a swing member that swings as the lock member moves is provided. Can also detect failures. As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent the unlocking signal from being output from the position detecting means even when the engagement of the locking member with the movable member is not completely released, and the engine starting and operation being enabled.

  Further, the movement of the lock member to the lock position or the unlock position (generally linear movement) is converted into the swing motion of the swing member (that is, the angular motion in the circumferential direction) to turn on and off the two position detection means. Therefore, it becomes possible to arrange the two position detecting means regardless of the length of the lock member in the moving direction and at an interval shorter than the linear movement distance of the lock member between the lock position and the unlock position. As a result, it is possible to contribute to downsizing of the apparatus.

  In the steering lock device of the present invention, the swing member is housed in a switch case together with the first and second position detecting means, and the swing member is protruded outwardly by the first elastic member. A member may be provided, and a detent portion may be provided in the switch case for holding the operating position of the swing member in cooperation with the projecting member.

  According to this configuration, the projecting member and the detent portion cooperate to hold the operating position of the swing member, so that the first or second when the lock member is operating at a predetermined position. The operation state of the position detecting means can be maintained.

  In the steering lock device of the present invention, the first position detecting means is a lock position detecting switch, the second position detecting means is an unlock position detecting switch, and the detent portion includes the protruding member. The first detent recess for holding the rocking member may be formed at a position where the lock position detection switch is turned on.

  According to this configuration, by forming the first detent recess that holds the lock position detecting means in the ON state, the lock member is disengaged from the movable member while the lock member moves from the lock position to the unlock position. The lock position detection signal from the lock position detecting means can be continued at the position where the lock is not performed (engagement position). In other words, if the unlock position detection switch fails and is always on, if the lock position detection switch is turned off when the lock member is in the meshing position, the movable member is still in the locked state. Nevertheless, it may be determined that the vehicle is unlocked, and the engine may be started or operated. However, such a situation can be avoided to improve safety.

  In the steering lock device according to the present invention, the protruding member is fitted into the detent portion, so that the swinging member does not turn on either the lock position detection switch or the unlock position detection switch. A second detent recess for holding the swing member is formed, and an inclined surface is formed continuously to the second detent recess, and the swing member turns on the unlock position detection switch. The protruding member that has escaped from the second detent recess may be configured to be in pressure contact with the inclined surface.

  According to this configuration, when the swinging member turns on the unlock position detection switch, the protruding member that has escaped from the second detent recess comes into contact with the inclined surface, so that the protruding by the first elastic member. The reaction force from the inclined surface due to the member being pressed against the inclined surface acts in a direction to return the protruding member to the second detent recess, that is, a direction to return the swinging member to the neutral position. As a result, when the lock member starts moving from the unlock position to the lock position, the swing member released from the restriction by the lock member returns to the neutral position, and as a result, the unlock position detection switch is immediately activated. Can be turned off.

  Furthermore, in the steering lock device of the present invention, a second elastic member is provided that applies a force to return the swing member to the neutral position at a position where the swing member turns on the unlock position detection switch. May be.

  According to this configuration, as described above, the second elastic member is provided so as to immediately turn off the unlock position detection switch as the lock member starts to move from the unlock position to the lock position. This can be performed more reliably, and safety is further improved.

  According to the steering lock device of the present invention, a locked state and an unlocked state of the steering shaft can be accurately detected with a simple and cost-effective configuration, thereby permitting engine start and operation permission when the movable member is locked. It can be surely prevented. Further, the steering lock device can be downsized.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In the following description, the words “up”, “bottom”, “left”, “right”, “front”, “back”, “vertical”, “horizontal” are used for convenience. It is not intended to limit the configuration.

  FIG. 1 shows an electric steering lock device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention with a housing 12 removed from a lid 14. The housing 12 is formed, for example, as an integrally molded product made of metal or resin, and has a lower end portion that is open and includes a housing space inside. A substantially semi-cylindrical curved surface portion 16 is formed at the upper end of the housing 12. In addition, a lock shaft insertion hole 18 made of, for example, a substantially rectangular opening is formed in a substantially central portion of the curved surface portion 16.

  The lid 14 is also made of an integrally molded product made of, for example, metal or resin. A plurality of support portions 15 (see FIG. 2) are erected on the lid 14. The support unit 15 supports a lock unit 20 and a switch case 21 which will be described later, and is integrated (modularized) with the lid 14. The housing 12 is modularized by fixing the lock unit 20 and the switch case 21 etc. to the lid 14, and then, for example, a screw (not shown) is attached to the lid 14 with the lock unit 20 and the switch case 21 etc. accommodated therein. It is fixed by.

  FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the lock unit 20. 1 and 2, the lock unit 20 is generally composed of an electric motor 22 as an actuator, a worm wheel 24, a winder 26 as a cam member, a slider 28, and a lock shaft (lock member) 30. .

  The electric motor 22 is fixed by the support portion 15 on the lid 14. The terminal portion 22b of the electric motor 22 is directly connected to a terminal portion 32 (see FIG. 3) provided in the switch case 21 so that electric power is supplied to the electric motor 22 from an in-vehicle battery (not shown). It has become. As described above, since the electrical connection is completed immediately after the electric motor 22 is fixed to the lid 14, a harness for electrical connection is not required, and assembly work is facilitated by one-touch connection. become.

  A worm gear 23 is fixed to the shaft portion 22 a of the electric motor 22. The worm wheel 24 is rotatably supported by a shaft-like support portion 15 a erected on the lid 14. The worm wheel 24 has a cylindrical screw portion 24a extending upward. A trapezoidal screw (lead 1 between pitches) which is a male screw is cut on the outer peripheral portion of the screw portion 24a. Further, the worm wheel 24 has a protruding regulating portion 24b at the lower base end portion of the screw portion 24a. The worm gear 23 of the electric motor 22 is screwed into the screw portion 24 a of the worm wheel 24. Thereby, the rotational power of the electric motor 22 is transmitted to the worm wheel 24 through the worm gear 23.

  The winder 26 has a substantially cylindrical shape having a through hole 26a penetrating in the axial direction, and an internal thread corresponding to the thread shape of the threaded portion 24a of the worm wheel 24 is cut on the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 26a. . Accordingly, the winder 26 is attached to the worm wheel 24 in a state of being screwed to the screw portion 24a of the worm wheel 24, and moves up and down in the axial direction of the screw portion 24a according to the rotation of the worm wheel 24, or the worm wheel 24 with you. A cam groove 27 is formed on the outer periphery of the winder 26. The cam groove 27 is formed over approximately 360 degrees in the circumferential direction, and both end portions are rotation stopper portions 27a and 27b each formed of a stepped portion. The cam groove 27 is formed to extend in an oblique direction that forms an acute angle with respect to a plane orthogonal to the axial direction of the winder 26 so as to form a part of a spiral.

  The slider 28 is supported by the support portion 15 of the lid 14 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction. The slider 28 has an engaging portion 34 that protrudes in the lateral direction and is integrally formed. The engaging portion 34 is engaged with the cam groove 27 of the winder 26. Thus, when the winder 26 moves up and down or rotates with the worm wheel 24, the engaging portion 34 moves relative to the winder 26 or along the cam groove 27 of the winder 26, so that the slider 28 also moves up and down. It has become.

  When the winder 34 rotates with the worm wheel 24, the relative movement of the engaging portion 34 along the cam groove 27 from the position where the engaging portion 34 contacts the one end 27 a of the cam groove 27 is performed until the engaging portion 34 contacts the other end 27 b of the cam groove 27. The moving distance L of the slider 28 (that is, the moving distance of the lock shaft 30) L is set to be larger than the lead l between the pitches of the screw portions 24a of the worm wheel 24 (that is, L> l).

  The central portion of the slider 28 is an accommodating portion 36 that is open at the top and one side and has a bottom at the bottom. The slider 28 is provided with a truncated cone-shaped spring receiving portion 38 on the same side as the engaging portion 34, and a switch operating portion 40 is provided on the opposite side of the engaging portion 34. .

  The lower end of a coil-shaped unlocking spring 42 is fitted and locked to the spring receiving portion 38 of the slider 28. The hook at the upper end of the unlock spring 42 is hooked on the inner surface of the housing 12 assembled to the lid 14. Thereby, the unlock spring 34 presses and urges the slider 28 (and eventually the lock shaft 30 assembled to the slider 28) in the unlocking direction, the retracting direction, or the downward direction in the assembled state.

  The lock shaft 30 is made of, for example, a flat, vertically long rectangular casting, and has an engagement portion 44 having a trapezoidal shape in side view at the tip or upper end. Further, the lock shaft 30 is formed with a long hole 46 extending in the vertical direction and penetrating in the thickness direction slightly below the center in the vertical direction. Further, a spring accommodating recess 48 is formed at the lower end of the lock shaft 30.

  As will be described later, when the lock shaft 30 is in the locked position, the engaging portion 44 protruding from the insertion hole 18 of the housing 12 is engaged with the concave portion of the steering shaft (movable member) to be locked. When the lock shaft 30 is in the unlocked position, the engaging portion 44 is retracted into the housing 12 to be disengaged from the steering shaft and become unlocked.

  When the lock shaft 30 is disposed in the housing portion 36 of the slider 28, the lock shaft 30 penetrates through the long hole 46 of the lock shaft 30 and both ends are supported by both side walls of the housing portion 36 of the slider 28. Assembled into. The lock shaft 30 assembled in this manner moves up and down together with the slider 28, but since the pin 50 can move in the longitudinal direction within the long hole 46, the lock shaft 30 moves in the vertical direction with respect to the slider 28. The relative movement is possible. Further, the lock spring 52 accommodated in the spring accommodating recess 48 of the lock shaft 30 is disposed in a state of being sandwiched between the lock shaft 30 and the bottom portion of the accommodating portion 36 of the slider 28, whereby the lock shaft 30 is The pin 50 is in contact with the lower end of the long hole 46 by being pressed and urged in the locking direction, the protruding direction, or upward by the lock spring 52.

FIG. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view showing the internal configuration of the switch case 21 and the position block (swing member) 80 with a part of the switch case 21 removed.
A connector 21a for supplying electric power from the vehicle-mounted battery to the electric steering lock device 10 is integrally formed at the lower rear portion of the switch case 21 (see FIG. 1). A printed circuit board 53 is latched and held on the rear surface of the switch case 21 by latching claws 51 (only the upper one is shown) provided on the top and bottom of the switch case 21, respectively. The printed circuit board 53 is electrically connected to a terminal portion (not shown) provided in the switch case 21 so that power is supplied from the in-vehicle battery. Further, the printed circuit board 53 determines the position of the lock shaft 30 by electrically connecting a mounted electric circuit including, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) to each position detection switch described later. It can function as a position determination means.

  A lock position detection switch (first position detection means) 54 and an unlock position detection switch (second position detection means) 56 are vertically arranged on a printed circuit board 53 facing the accommodation space 58 in the switch case 21. Mounted close to the direction. Each of the position detection switches 54 and 56 is constituted by a limit switch having, for example, swingable plate-like switch pieces 54a and 54b (see FIG. 4A).

  In the switch case 21, a detent portion 60 is disposed and accommodated adjacent to the position detection switches 54 and 56 in the lateral direction. In the present embodiment, the detent unit 60 is integrally formed as a part of the switch case 21 as shown in FIG. 4B, but is fixed on the inner wall surface of the switch case 21 or the printed circuit board 53. You may be comprised with another member.

  The detent portion 60 is formed with a recess 62 having a bottom curved in a substantially arc shape on the side opposite to the printed circuit board 53 (that is, on the lock unit 20 side). A first detent recess 64 having a substantially V-shaped cross section is formed at a substantially central position in the vertical direction at the bottom of the recess 62, and a substantially V-shaped cross section adjacent to the upper side of the first detent recess 64. A second detent recess 66 is formed. In addition, an inclined surface 68 is formed which extends continuously from the second detent recess 66 and curves upward in a substantially arc shape.

  A mounting hole 70 having one end expanded in a tapered shape is formed in the lower portion of the detent portion 60. A coiled return spring (second elastic member) 72 is inserted into the attachment hole 70 from the printed board 53 side and attached. The return spring 72 has a ring portion provided at one end thereof press-fitted into the taper portion of the mounting hole 70, so that the mounting hole 70 is pressed even if the other end protruding from the detent portion 60 is pressed by a position block 80 described later. It is designed not to get out of it. The second elastic member 72 is not limited to the coil spring as shown in the figure, and may be another elastic member such as a leaf spring or rubber as long as it performs the same function of urging the position block 80. May be. Further, the second elastic member 72 may apply a tensile force to the position block 80.

As shown in FIG. 3, the switch case 21 is provided with an accommodation hole 74 having an opening facing the lock unit 21 and including a rectangular parallelepiped space. On both side walls (a part of the switch case 21) in the lateral direction of the accommodation hole 74, swinging shafts 76 having a small protrusion amount and having an inclined surface on the opening side are respectively projected. On the other hand, the position block 80 is formed with bearing holes 82 penetrating in the lateral direction and opening on both side surfaces. As a result, when the position block 80 is pushed into the accommodation hole 74 from the opening of the switch case 21, the inclined surfaces of the swing shaft 76 come into contact with both side surfaces of the position block 80, so that both side walls of the accommodation hole 74 are lateral The position block 80 is swingably attached to the receiving hole 74 by being pushed outward and being further inserted into the bearing hole 82 by pushing the position block 80 into the bearing hole 82. The position block 80 attached in this way protrudes from the opening of the accommodation hole 74 by a predetermined amount toward the lock unit 21 (see FIG. 1).

  As shown in FIG. 3, the position block 80 is substantially Y-shaped in a side view, and protrudes forward (that is, on the lock unit 20 side) at both ends that extend to both sides across the bearing hole 82. The side surfaces of the protrusions on the bearing hole 82 side are respectively a lock-side contact surface 84 and an unlock-side contact surface 86 so as to contact the switch operating portion 40 of the slider 28 that moves up and down as will be described later. It has become. Further, locking projections 88 and unlocking projections 90 are provided on the rear surfaces of both ends of the position block 80, respectively. The protrusions 88 and 90 face or contact the switch pieces 54a and 56a of the lock position detection switches 54 and 56, respectively, when the position block 80 is assembled to the switch case 21.

  The position block 80 has legs 92 extending backward. A receiving recess 94 is formed at the tip of the leg 92, and the detent 60 is received in the receiving recess 94 when attached to the switch case 21 as described above. Further, the leg portion 92 of the position block 80 is formed with a spring accommodation hole 96 at the bottom of the accommodation recess 94. As shown in FIG. 4, the position block 80 is attached to the switch case 21 in a state where the detent spring (first elastic member) 98 and the steel ball (protruding member) 100 are accommodated in the spring accommodating hole 96 provided in the leg portion 92. Assembled. As a result, the steel ball 100 is biased outward by the detent spring 98, partially protrudes from the spring accommodation hole 96, and is in pressure contact with the bottom of the recess 62 of the detent portion 60.

  In this embodiment, the steel ball 100 is used as the protruding member, but the protruding member is not limited to this, and the material and shape can be changed as appropriate. Further, the second elastic member for urging the protruding member is not limited to the coil spring as shown in the figure, and other members such as a leaf spring and rubber may be used as long as they perform the same function of urging the protruding member. It may be an elastic member.

Next, the operation of the steering lock device 10 having the above-described configuration will be described.
4A shows the state of the lock shaft 30 and the position block 80 when the steering shaft 1 is in the locked state, and FIG. 4B shows the relationship between the position block 80 and the detent portion 60 in FIG. Indicates.

  The steering lock device 10 has the curved surface portion 16 of the housing 12 at a corresponding position where the lock shaft 30 can be advanced and retracted through an opening formed in a cylindrical steering column (not shown) covering the periphery of the steering shaft 1. In a state of being in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the steering column, it is fixed by a method such as screwing. On the outer periphery of the steering shaft 1, a plurality of recesses 2 into which the engaging portions 44 at the tip of the lock shaft 30 can be fitted are formed at equal pitches over the entire periphery. The steering shaft 1 is a movable member that rotates in conjunction with an operation of a steering wheel (not shown).

  When engine startup or driving is prohibited for a vehicle (for example, when a user with a regular electronic key is not in the vehicle and is not near the vehicle), the lock shaft 30 is in the locked position. At this time, the steering shaft 1 is locked because the engaging portion 44 of the lock shaft 30 is engaged in the recess 2 of the steering shaft 1.

  When in the locked state, the switch block 40 of the slider 28 abuts against the lock-side abutment surface 84 of the position block 80, so that the position block 80 is in a position swung clockwise. At this time, the lock projection 88 of the position block 80 pushes the switch piece 54a of the lock position detection switch 54 to turn it on, while the unlock position detection switch 56 releases the unlock projection 90 of the position block 80. Being turned off. As a result, the printed circuit board 53 detects the ON signal from the lock position detection switch 54 while determining that the lock shaft 30 is in the lock position based on the unlock position detection switch 56 being in the OFF state. .

  In this locked state, as shown in FIG. 4 (B), the steel ball 100 biased by the detent spring 98 is fitted into the first detent recess 64 of the detent portion 60, whereby the position is changed. The block 80 holds the swing position where the lock position detection switch 54 is turned on.

  FIG. 5 shows a state in which the lock shaft 30 is in operation from the locked position toward the unlocked position. For example, when a user having a regular electronic key gets into a car and an engine operation switch is pressed, power is supplied to the electric motor 22 of the electric steering lock device 10 in response to a start signal from a host ECU (host electronic control device). It is operated forward. Thereby, the power of the electric motor 22 is transmitted through the worm gear 23, and the worm wheel 24 rotates. When the worm wheel 24 rotates, the winder 26 screwed into the threaded portion 24a rotates together with the worm wheel 24 in the counterclockwise direction as viewed from above in FIG. As a result, the slider 28 in which the engaging portion 34 is engaged with the cam groove 27 of the winder 26 and the lock shaft 30 are linearly moved downward while being assisted by the urging force of the unlock spring 42 against the slider 28. . As a result, as shown in FIG. 5A, the engaging portion 44 of the lock shaft 30 is released from the concave portion 2 of the steering shaft 1 to be disengaged, and the steering shaft 1 and the steering wheel are unlocked and rotated. It becomes possible.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 5B, the switch operating portion 40 of the slider 28 moves downward away from the lock-side contact surface 84 of the position block 80, and the unlock-side contact surface of the position block 80. 86, but the position block 80 whose rocking position is held by the steel ball 100 fitted into the first detent recess 64 is not swung as described above. 80 maintains the state in which the lock position detection switch 54 is turned on. Therefore, since the swing position of the position block 80 has not changed, the determination that the lock shaft 31 by the printed circuit board 53 is in the lock position remains unchanged.

  As described above, the steel ball 100 and the first detent recess 64 cooperate to hold the position block 80 in a state where the lock position detection switch 54 is turned on, whereby the lock shaft 30 is moved from the lock position to the unlock position. The lock position detection signal from the lock position detection switch 54 can be continued at a position (engagement position) where the lock shaft 30 is not completely disengaged from the steering shaft 1 in the middle of the movement. In other words, if the unlock position detection switch 56 fails and is always on, if the lock position detection switch 54 is turned off when the lock shaft 30 is in the meshing position, the steering shaft 1 is still locked. Although it is determined that the vehicle is unlocked in spite of being in the state, there is a possibility that the engine is started or operated. However, such a situation can be avoided to improve safety.

  FIG. 6 shows a state where the lock position detection switch 54 is turned off. When the slider 28 is further moved linearly downward while being assisted by the urging force of the unlock spring 42 by driving the electric motor 22, the switch operating portion 40 of the slider 28 presses the unlock-side contact surface 86 of the position block 80. As a result, the position block 80 starts to swing in the counterclockwise direction. Thereby, the pressing of the switch piece 54a by the locking projection 88 of the position block 80 is released, and the lock position detection switch 54 is turned off. On the other hand, the unlocking protrusion 90 of the position block 80 does not press the switch piece 56 at this time, and the unlock position detection switch 56 is not turned on. That is, the position block 80 is in a neutral position where neither the lock position detection switch 54 nor the unlock position detection switch 56 is turned on. At this time, the steel ball 100 provided in the position block 80 escapes from the first detent recess 64 and is fitted into the adjacent second detent recess 66, whereby the position block 80 is held in the neutral position. It will be.

  FIG. 7 shows a state where the lock shaft 30 has reached the unlock position. The electric motor 22 stops operating after rotating by a predetermined amount from the start of rotation. Before the operation is stopped, the slider 28 further moves downward while being assisted by the urging force of the unlock spring 42, and the switch operating portion 40 presses the unlock-side contact surface 86 of the position block 80. As a result, the position block 80 further swings counterclockwise from the neutral position while resisting the biasing force of the return spring 72. As a result, the switch piece 56a is pushed in by the unlocking protrusion 90 of the position block 80, and the unlock position detecting switch 56 is turned on. At this time, the steel ball 100 provided in the position block 80 escapes from the second detent recess 66 and is pressed against the inclined surface 68 by the detent spring 98.

  When the unlock position detection switch 56 is turned on, the printed circuit board 53 has the lock shaft 30 at the unlock position based on the fact that the lock position detection switch 54 is turned off and the unlock position detection switch 56 is turned on. Judge that there is. Thereby, the unlocking operation of the electric steering lock device 10 is completed.

Next, the locking operation of the electric steering lock device 10 will be described.
FIG. 8 shows a state where the lock shaft 30 starts moving from the unlock position shown in FIG. 7 toward the lock position, and the unlock position detection switch 56 is turned off.

  For example, when the user who has the regular electronic key leaves the vehicle a predetermined distance or more after stopping the engine, the host ECU transmits a lock command to the electric steering lock device 10. In response to this instruction, the printed circuit board 53 operates the electric motor 22 in the reverse direction. Thereby, the power of the electric motor 22 is transmitted through the worm gear 23, and the worm wheel 24 rotates. When the worm wheel 24 rotates, the winder 26 screwed into the screw portion 24a rotates in the clockwise direction together with the worm wheel 24 in a top view in FIG. Accordingly, the slider 28 in which the engaging portion 34 is engaged with the cam groove 27 of the winder 26 and the lock shaft 30 are locked from the unlock position while resisting the urging force of the unlock spring 42 to the slider 28. Begins upward movement linearly toward the position.

  As the slider 28 moves upward, the pressing to the unlocking contact surface 86 by the switch operating unit 40 is released, so that the position block 80 has the steel ball 100 as shown in FIG. The steel ball 100 is swung in the clockwise direction from the state shown in FIG. 7B by the reaction force from the inclined surface 68 that is in pressure contact with the urging force of the return spring 72, and the steel ball 100 is moved to the second detent recess 66. It becomes the neutral position fitted in. At this time, the switch operating portion 40 of the slider 28 is in a state of lightly contacting the unlocking side contact surface 86 of the position block 80. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 8A, the unlocking projection 90 of the position block 80 is separated from the switch piece 56a, and the unlock position detecting switch 56 is turned off. Further, as described above, when the position block 80 is in the neutral position, the lock position detection switch 54 is in the OFF state. That is, neither the unlock signal nor the lock signal is input to the printed circuit board 53.

  Thus, when the position block 80 turns on the unlock position detection switch 56, the steel ball 100 that has escaped from the second detent recess 66 is configured to be pressed against the inclined surface 68. The reaction force from the inclined surface 68 due to the steel ball 100 being biased against the inclined surface 68 acts in a direction to return the steel ball 100 to the second detent recess 66, that is, a direction to return the position block 80 to the neutral position. To do. As a result, when the lock shaft 30 starts to move from the unlock position toward the lock position, the position block 80 released from the restriction by the lock shaft 30 returns to the neutral position, and as a result, the unlock position detection switch 56 immediately. Can be turned off. In addition, the operation of turning off the unlock position detection switch 56 immediately with the start of movement of the lock shaft 30 from the unlock position to the lock position can be performed more reliably by providing the return spring 72, Safety is further improved.

  FIG. 9 shows a state in which the locking operation has further progressed and the engaging portion 44 of the lock shaft 30 has started to engage with the recess 2 of the steering shaft 1. When the slider 28 and the lock shaft 30 move further upward linearly by the reverse drive of the electric motor 22, the switch operating portion 40 of the slider 28 moves to a position where it abuts lightly on the lock-side contact surface 84 of the position block 80. At this time, since the switch operating unit 40 does not press the lock-side contact surface 84, the position block 80 is also held at the neutral position.

  Then, after the electric motor 22 is reversely driven by a predetermined amount from the start of driving, the operation is stopped. As a result, the slider 28 and the lock shaft 30 move further upward in a straight line, and as a result, the lock shaft 30 reaches the lock position as shown in FIG. At this time, the position block 80 further swings in the clockwise direction to the state shown in FIG. 4B, whereby the lock position detection switch 54 is turned on. As a result, the printed circuit board 53 determines that the lock shaft 30 is in the lock position based on the unlock position detection switch 56 being off and the lock position detection switch 54 being on. Thereby, the locking operation is completed.

  Here, FIG. 10 shows a switch switching time chart of the position detection switches 54 and 56 at the time of unlocking operation, and FIG. 11 shows a switch switching time chart of the position detection switches 54 and 56 at the time of locking operation.

  In FIG. 10, state A is a locked state in which the engaging portion 44 of the lock shaft 30 is completely fitted into the recess 2 of the steering shaft 1, and state B is that the engaging portion 44 is released from the recess 2 (disengagement). In the state C, the position block 80 swings to the neutral position and the lock position detection switch 54 is turned off. In the state D, the position block 80 swings from the neutral position and the unlock position detection switch 56. And the state E shows the unlocked state when the unlocking operation is completed.

  In FIG. 11, state E is an unlocked state (similar to FIG. 10), state F is a state where the position block 80 swings to the neutral position and the unlock position detection switch 56 is turned off, and state G is The state in which the slider 28 and the lock shaft 30 move upward but the position block 80 is held at the neutral position, and the state H is the engagement portion of the lock shaft 30 where the position block 80 starts to swing clockwise from the neutral position. A state in which 44 begins to engage with the recess 2 of the steering shaft 1 and a state A indicate a locked state when the locking operation is completed (similar to FIG. 10).

  Incidentally, FIG. 12 shows a state in which the engaging portion 44 of the lock shaft 30 cannot be engaged because the position of the concave portion 2 of the steering shaft 1 is shifted during the locking operation. In this case, the electric motor 22 is driven reversely by a predetermined amount during the locking operation and stops. At that time, the slider 28 moves upward by a distance corresponding to the reverse drive of the electric motor 22 and turns on the lock position detection switch 54 by the switch operating unit 40, but the lock shaft 30 that moves upward together with the slider 28 is engaged. When the tip of the joint portion 44 abuts on the outer peripheral surface between the recesses 2 of the steering shaft 1, it cannot move upward together with the slider 28. Therefore, the lock shaft 30 moves relative to the slider 28 by moving the pin 50 in the long hole 46. The relative movement amount becomes the compression amount of the lock spring 52, whereby the lock shaft 52 is strongly urged in the locking direction or upward by the lock spring 52. Thereafter, when the steering shaft 1 is rotated by operation of the steering wheel and the position of the recess 2 coincides with the engaging portion 44 of the lock shaft 30, the lock shaft 30 is moved upward by the urging force of the lock spring 52 and engaged. The portion 44 engages with the recess 2 and the steering shaft is locked. Thus, the electric steering lock device 10 of the present embodiment is configured so that the locked state is automatically completed even when the position of the recess 2 of the steering shaft 1 is shifted during the locking operation. Yes.

  As described above, according to the electric steering lock device of the present embodiment, the position block 80 operates either the lock position detection switch 54 or the unlock position detection switch 56 when the lock shaft 30 is locked or unlocked. As a result, when any one of the position detection switches 54 and 56 is turned on, the other is always turned off, so that both the position detection switches 54 and 56 are both turned on. Is not possible. Therefore, while the position block 80 that swings with the movement of the lock shaft 30 is provided and can be reduced in cost, the lock position and the unlock position of the lock shaft 30 can be accurately detected. A failure of the position detection switches 54 and 56 can also be detected. As a result, the unlock signal is output from the unlock position detection switch 56 even if the engagement of the lock shaft 30 with the steering shaft 1 is not completely released, and the engine can be started and operated. It can be surely prevented.

  Further, since the linear movement of the lock shaft 30 is converted into the swing motion of the position block 80 (that is, the angular motion in the circumferential direction) and the two position detection switches 54 and 56 are turned on / off, the vertical movement of the lock shaft 30 is performed. It is possible to arrange the two position detection switches 54 and 56 with an interval shorter than the linear movement distance of the lock shaft 30 between the lock position and the unlock position regardless of the direction length. This can contribute to miniaturization of the electric steering lock device.

  Therefore, according to the steering lock device 10 of the present embodiment, the locked state and the unlocked state of the steering shaft 1 can be accurately detected with a simple and cost-effective configuration, whereby the engine can be started when the steering shaft is locked. And driving permission can be reliably prevented. Further, the electric steering lock device 10 can be downsized.

  In the above-described embodiment, the electric steering lock device that is locked and unlocked by the electric motor has been described. However, the present invention is a steering lock device that is locked and unlocked manually by the user (for example, insertion and rotation of a mechanical key). May be applied.

The perspective view which shows the electric steering lock apparatus which is one Embodiment of this invention in the state which removed the housing from the lid. The disassembled perspective view of a lock unit. The partial exploded perspective view which shows the internal structure and position block of a switch case in the state which removed a part of switch case. (A) shows the state of the lock shaft and the position block when the steering shaft is in the locked state, and (B) shows the relationship between the position block and the detent portion in FIG. The figure which shows the state which a lock shaft is in the middle of operation | movement from the locked position shown in FIG. 4 toward an unlocked position. The figure which shows the state by which the lock position detection switch was turned off. The figure which shows the state which the lock shaft reached | attained the unlock position. The figure which shows the state which the lock shaft started the movement from the unlock position to the lock position direction, and the unlock position detection switch was turned off. The figure which shows the state which lock operation further advanced and the engaging part of the lock shaft began to mesh with the recessed part of a steering shaft. The switch switching time chart of each position detection switch at the time of unlocking operation. Switch switching time chart of each position detection switch during lock operation The figure which shows the state which cannot engage the engaging part of a lock shaft because the position of the recessed part of a steering shaft has shifted | deviated at the time of lock operation | movement.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Steering shaft 2 ... Recess 10 ... Electric steering lock device 12 ... Housing 14 ... Lid 20 ... Lock unit 21 ... Switch case 22 ... Electric motor 24 ... Worm gear 26 ... Winder (cam member)
28 ... Slider 30 ... Lock shaft (lock member)
53 ... Printed circuit board (position determination means)
54 ... Lock position detection switch (first position detection means)
56: Unlock position detecting means (second position detecting means)
60 ... Detent portion 64 ... First detent recess 66 ... Second detent recess 68 ... Inclined surface 72 ... Return spring (second elastic member)
80 ... Position block (oscillating member)
98 ... Detent spring (first elastic member)
100: Steel ball (protruding member)

Claims (5)

A lock member that locks or unlocks the movable member by engaging or disengaging the movable member that is interlocked with the operation of the steering wheel, and first and second positions that detect the operating position of the lock member In a steering lock device comprising detection means and position determination means for determining the operating position of the lock member based on detection signals from these position detection means,
A steering lock provided with a swinging member that swings with the movement of the lock member to the locked position or the unlocked position to operate one of the first and second position detecting means. apparatus.   The swing member is housed in a switch case together with the first and second position detecting means, and the swing member is provided with a protruding member that is biased outward by a first elastic member. 2. The steering lock device according to claim 1, wherein a detent portion that holds an operating position of the swing member in cooperation with the projecting member is provided.   The first position detection means is a lock position detection switch, the second position detection means is an unlock position detection switch, and the protruding member is fitted into the detent portion, thereby detecting the lock position. The steering lock device according to claim 2, wherein a first detent recess for holding the swing member is formed at a position where the switch is turned on.   The projecting member is fitted into the detent portion, so that the swinging member holds the swinging member at a neutral position where neither the lock position detection switch nor the unlock position detection switch is turned on. A detent recess is formed, an inclined surface is formed continuously to the second detent recess, and the swinging member escapes from the second detent recess when the unlocking position detection switch is turned on. The steering lock device according to claim 3, wherein the protruding member is configured to be pressed against the inclined surface.   5. The second elastic member for applying a force to return the swing member to the neutral position at a position where the swing member turns on the unlock position detection switch. The steering lock device as described.

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