JP2010252912A - Connecting device of vehicle seat - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To strengthen the connection of the connecting device of a vehicle seat and to reduce effects on performance and cost as much as possible. <P>SOLUTION: The connecting device of vehicle seat includes as a reclining device 4 and provides a ratchet 10 connected integrally with a seat back and a guide 20 connected integrally with a cushion frame 3f, and those are incorporated with each other relatively rotatably in the plate joining direction. A holding member 70 is fixed on the outer circumferences between the ratchet 10 and the guide 20. On the outer circumference of the holding member 70, a plurality of openings 74... are formed. On the outer circumference of the guide 20, projecting parts 22a... projecting from the opening 74... are formed. The projecting parts 22a... and the cushion frame 3f are integrally connected by laser welding junction. A certain range from the welded part of the cushion frame 3f is formed as a thermally processed part X to strengthen the connection. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a connecting device for a vehicle seat. Specifically, the present invention relates to a vehicle seat coupling device that couples two target members such that they can rotate relative to each other.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a vehicle seat, a seat back is connected to a seat cushion via a reclining device, and an operation for adjusting a backrest angle is known. Here, the following Patent Document 1 discloses the configuration of the reclining device described above. In this disclosure, the reclining device includes a disc-shaped ratchet integrally connected to a skeleton frame (back frame) of a seat back, and a disc-shaped guide integrally connected to a skeleton frame (cushion frame) of a seat cushion. Are assembled in the thickness direction so as to be rotatable relative to each other.

  In the above reclining device, the connection between the ratchet and the back frame is fitted into a fitting hole formed in the back frame so as to penetrate the back frame in the plate thickness direction. These fitting portions are welded to each other and joined together.

  Patent Document 2 shown below discloses a connection configuration in which an arm member from a back frame butt-joins the outer periphery of a constituent member of a reclining device by welding.

Japanese Patent No. 3991749 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-307887

  However, in the prior art disclosed above (Patent Document 1), both the ratchet and the guide are clamped in the plate thickness direction by the holding member of the cylindrical outer ring fitted over the outer peripheral part thereof and prevented from coming off. It has a configuration. For this reason, in the reclining device having such a holding member for the outer peripheral ring, the outermost peripheral portion is joined to a target member to be connected such as a back frame to increase the connection strength. It is a configuration that cannot.

For this reason, the inventors of the present invention, as a solution to the above-mentioned problem, connect a connecting device such as a vehicle seat reclining device at the outermost peripheral portion with respect to a target member to be connected such as a seat back frame. The invention of the structure which can be joined was proposed (Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-216515, not yet known before this application).
According to the invention by the previous proposal, even in the case of the reclining device having the holding member on the outer peripheral portion, it is possible to join the outermost peripheral portion of the constituent member of the reclining device to the target member to be connected such as the back frame. And the connection strength can be increased. However, further investigation after the proposal made it possible to increase the connection strength. However, it was found that the strength of the target member at the connected location may be insufficient. That is, generally, the structural member of the reclining device as the connecting device is made of carbon steel in terms of its structure, and is hardened as necessary to have a sufficient strength. However, a cheap steel material is normally used for the target member to be connected because of cost requirements, and this may cause a problem when strength is required. For example, an external force acts on the reclining device in accordance with the behavior of a seated person at the time of a vehicle collision. When receiving the load of the external force which acts on this reclining apparatus with the object member used as connection object, it will receive a large load, so that it is near the center of the reclining apparatus. For this reason, there was a concern that the strength of the portion near the center of the reclining device of the target member to be connected becomes insufficient. In addition, when it is going to improve the intensity | strength of a connection object member, generally there exists a problem which affects the performance and manufacturing cost of the reclining apparatus as a connection apparatus.

  Thus, the present invention was devised as a further improvement of the previous invention based on the above viewpoint, and the problem to be solved by the present invention is to connect a connecting device for a vehicle seat. While being able to be joined to the target object at the outermost peripheral part, the connection strength is increased, and the necessary part strength of the target member is made sufficient, and the influence on performance and cost is minimized. There is to suppress.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the vehicle seat coupling device of the present invention takes the following means.
That is, the vehicle seat coupling device according to the present invention is a vehicle seat coupling device that couples two target members to be coupled with each other so as to be rotatable relative to each other, and is one side or the other side of the two target members. And two connecting members that are integrally connected to each other and assembled to each other so as to be rotatable relative to each other, and the connecting members are assembled to straddle the outer peripheral portions of the two connecting members. And a holding member for holding in a state. An opening that opens in the radial direction is formed on the outer periphery of the holding member, and at least one of the two connecting members has a protruding portion that protrudes from the opening of the holding member. In addition, a plate-like target member that can be abutted and joined to the protrusion and is connected to the protrusion is arranged and configured in the radial direction. And the butting joint part of the said protrusion part and a connection object member is joined by welding, and is integrally connected, and the said plate-shaped object member is the heat processing site | part to which heat processing was performed, and the non-heat processing which is not heat-processed And a predetermined range extending radially outward from the welded joint as a heat-treated part, and having a higher strength than other non-heat-treated parts.
In addition, it is preferable that the welding of the butted joint portion between the protruding portion of the connecting member and the member to be connected in the above means is laser welding, and this laser welding is performed in the thickness direction toward the joint portion. It is preferable that the back wave formed on the end face in the plate thickness direction of the joint portion is exposed to the outside by laser welding.

According to the above invention, at least one of the two connecting members is integrally connected with the projecting portion protruding in the rotational radius direction from the opening of the holding member being applied to the target member to be connected. Therefore, since the outermost peripheral portion of the connecting member is integrally connected to the target member, the connection strength can be increased.
Moreover, according to the said invention, plate | board thickness compared with the structure which butts these in a plate | board thickness direction by having butt-welded the protrusion part of a connection member and an object member to radial direction, and welding. The installation space in the direction can be reduced.

  In the above invention, when the projection of the connecting member and the target member are joined by laser welding in the plate thickness direction, the weight of the joined product such as arc welding or bolt fastening is added. Compared with the configuration, the weight of the entire configuration can be reduced. In addition, by confirming whether laser welding has been performed properly by externally exposing the back surface of the laser welding (welding marks) to the outside in the plate thickness direction end surface of the joint, This can be done easily by visually recognizing the back wave.

  Furthermore, in the said invention, the predetermined range is formed from the welding location of the contact | abutting joining location of the protrusion part of a connection member, and an object member as the heat processing site | part with which heat processing was performed. Therefore, the part of the target member within a predetermined range from the welded part subjected to the heat treatment is a part having a higher strength than the other target parts outside. For this reason, for example, even when a large load is applied to a reclining device as a coupling device due to a vehicle collision or the like and the load is received at a target site, the magnitude of the load is larger at the center of the coupling device such as the reclining device. It is. Originally, the connecting device such as the reclining device is configured with sufficient strength, so there is no problem, and the target member is also configured as a heat treatment site from a welded location near the center to improve the strength. The configuration is such that a load can be sufficiently received. As can be understood from this, in the present invention, the “predetermined range from the welded part” as the heat treatment part of the target member means that an external force is applied to a connecting device such as a reclining device and the load of the external force is received. In a region where no heat treatment is performed, the load cannot be received, and the range requiring the heat treatment is determined by the magnitude of the planned external force.

In addition, when heat-treating the target member, the heat treatment may cause distortion in the connecting device such as a reclining device or the target member, but this is a partial heat treatment such as so-called partial quenching only in a predetermined range. Therefore, the generated distortion can be minimized. In addition, when laser welding is used for the joints, since the welding temperature is relatively low, there is little thermal influence caused by welding, which is advantageous for strain.
In addition, the partial heat treatment shortens the heat treatment time, and the cost can be reduced compared to the case where the entire target member is heat treated. Can be suppressed.

  According to the present invention, by taking the above-described means, the vehicle seat connecting device is joined to the target member to be connected by welding at the outermost peripheral portion to increase the connection strength, and welding in the target member is also performed. It should be advantageous in terms of cost while suppressing the generation of strain as much as possible and suppressing the influence on performance while making the strength of the part of the predetermined range required from the part as the heat treatment part. it can. In addition, when laser welding is used, the influence on performance can be further suppressed.

It is a perspective view showing the schematic structure of the vehicle seat. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a configuration of a reclining device according to a first embodiment. It is a side view showing the state where the guide and the cushion frame were joined. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3. It is the schematic diagram showing the state by which the welding bead of laser welding was formed ranging over each meshing tooth. It is the VI-VI sectional view taken on the line of FIG. 4 showing the locked state of the reclining apparatus. It is sectional drawing showing the state which cancelled | released the locked state of the reclining apparatus from the state of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view showing the structure of the reclining apparatus of Example 2. FIG. It is a side view showing the state where the guide and the cushion frame were joined. FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 9.

  Embodiments of the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  First, the configuration of the vehicle seat coupling device according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of the vehicle seat 1 of the present embodiment. In the vehicle seat 1, a seat back 2 serving as a backrest is connected to a seat cushion 3 serving as a seating portion by a pair of left and right reclining devices 4 and 4 disposed at lower positions on both left and right sides. . Here, the reclining devices 4 and 4 correspond to the vehicle seat coupling device of the present invention.

  The reclining devices 4 and 4 are configured such that operation shafts 4c and 4c that perform switching operation of unlocking each other are integrally connected to each other by a connecting rod 4r. Accordingly, each reclining device 4, 4 is in a locked state in which the backrest angle of the seat back 2 is fixed, and in a released state in which the fixed state is released and the backrest angle of the seat back 2 can be adjusted. The operating states of each other can be switched synchronously. Here, each reclining device 4 and 4 is always kept in the operation state locked by urging.

  Each reclining device 4, 4 is operated to release the locked state all at once by performing a pull-up operation of the operation lever 5 provided at the side position of the seat cushion 3. Thereby, since the fixed state of the backrest angle of the seat back 2 is released, the backrest angle can be adjusted. Then, by adjusting the backrest angle of the seat back 2 and stopping the release operation of the operation lever 5, the reclining devices 4 and 4 are again returned to the locked state by urging, so that the seat back 2 is adjusted. It is fixed at the backrest angle position.

  Here, the seat back 2 is normally urged in a forward rotation direction by an urging force of an urging spring (not shown) hooked between the seat back 2 and the seat cushion 3. Therefore, when the vehicle seat 1 is not seated and used, the reclining devices 4 and 4 are released from the locked state, whereby the seat back 2 is pushed forward by the urging force, and the seat cushion 3 is moved upward. It will be folded.

  At this time, the reclining devices 4 and 4 are normally returned to the locked state by urging by stopping the release operation of the operation lever 5 when the seat back 2 is in an angle region used as a backrest. However, the rotation angle region of each reclining device 4, 4 includes the angle region of the lock zone that is returned to the locked state by the bias when the release operation is stopped, and the free state that is not returned to the locked state even if the release operation is stopped. The angle area of the zone is set.

  The former lock zone is normally set to an angular region where the seat back 2 is used as a backrest, specifically, an angular region where the seat back 2 is tilted backward from an angular position where the seat back 2 is in an upright posture. The latter free zone is an angle region in which the seat back 2 is not used as a backrest, that is, an angle at which the seat back 2 is tilted forward from an angular position where the seat back 2 is in an upright posture. It is set in the area.

  Therefore, in order to operate the seat back 2 forward, the reclining devices 4 and 4 are unlocked, and if the seat back 2 is tilted slightly from the upright position, the release operation is stopped. The seat back 2 is naturally pushed down to the position where it is folded into the upper surface of the seat cushion 3. Hereinafter, the configuration of the reclining devices 4 and 4 will be described in detail. The reclining devices 4 and 4 have a symmetrical configuration with each other, but have substantially the same configuration. Therefore, in the following, only the configuration of the reclining device 4 shown on the right side in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the reclining device 4 includes a substantially disc-shaped ratchet 10 and a guide 20, and a pair of upper and lower poles 30, 30 and a slide cam that are disposed between the disc surfaces. 40, a hinge cam 50 for sliding the slide cam 40, a biasing spring 60 for biasing the hinge cam 50, and the ratchet 10 and the guide 20 are sandwiched in the plate thickness direction (axial direction). The holding member 70 for holding in an open state is assembled into one. Here, the guide 20 corresponds to one connecting member of the present invention, and the ratchet 10 corresponds to the other connecting member of the present invention.

  Specifically, the ratchet 10 is formed with a cylindrical portion 12 that protrudes in a cylindrical shape in the thickness direction at the outer peripheral edge of the disc portion 11. The cylindrical portion 12 is formed by being extruded by half-cutting the outer peripheral edge of the disc portion 11 in the plate thickness direction. And on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 12, there are an inner peripheral tooth surface 12a formed with internal teeth and riding surfaces 12b and 12b formed as flat curved surfaces without internal teeth in the circumferential direction. It is formed side by side. Here, the ride-up surfaces 12b and 12b are arranged at two positions that are axially symmetric with respect to the cylindrical portion 12, and the inner peripheral surface protrudes inward in the radial direction from the inner peripheral tooth surface 12a. The flat curved surface is formed.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the above-described riding surfaces 12 b and 12 b are arranged in the circumferential direction so as not to interfere with any of the poles 30 and 30, and each of the poles 30 and 30 is the inner peripheral tooth surface 12 a of the ratchet 10. Is allowed to move outwardly in the radial direction. Therefore, the circumferential rotation angle region in which no interference between the riding surfaces 12b and 12b and each of the poles 30 and 30 is allowed to be engaged with each of the poles 30 and 30 and the inner peripheral tooth surface 12a of the ratchet 10. Set as a lock zone.

  However, since each of the climbing surfaces 12b and 12b is arranged in a circumferential direction in which it interferes with each of the poles 30 and 30, each of the poles 30 and 30 is in a radial direction to engage with the inner peripheral tooth surface 12a of the ratchet 10. The outward movement is prevented by riding on the riding surfaces 12b and 12b. Therefore, the rotation angle region in the circumferential direction where the riding surfaces 12b and 12b and the respective poles 30 and 30 interfere with each other is free of engagement between the respective poles 30 and 30 and the inner peripheral tooth surface 12a of the ratchet 10. Set as a zone.

  By the way, as shown in FIG. 4, the ratchet 10 described above is formed by joining the outer plate surface of the disk portion 11 to the plate surface of the plate-like back frame 2 f forming the skeleton of the seat back 2. The seat back 2 is integrally connected. Here, the back frame 2f corresponds to one of the two target members to be connected in the present invention.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the disc portion 11 of the ratchet 10 has a plurality of dowels 13a,... Extruded and formed by processing. These dowels 13a... And D dowels 13b are arranged and formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction at a position closer to the outer peripheral edge of the disc portion 11. Among them, the D dowel 13b is formed by cutting out a part of the protruding cylindrical shape into a D-shaped cross section, and the shape is distinguished from the dowel 13a protruding in the cylindrical shape. ing.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, the back frame 2 f has a circular dowel hole 2 a that can be fitted with the dowel 13 a ··· and the D dowel 13 b of the ratchet 10 described above. D dowel holes (not shown) are formed penetrating in the thickness direction. Therefore, the dowels 13a,..., And D dowels 13b of the ratchet 10 described above are fitted into the dowel holes 2a,. As a result, the ratchet 10 is firmly and integrally connected to the back frame 2f.

  Here, a through hole 14 is formed in the central portion of the disk portion 11 of the ratchet 10 described above for inserting the operation shaft 4c (see FIG. 1) for performing the unlocking switching operation of the reclining device 4. . The back frame 2f is also formed with a through hole 2c having the same purpose at a position coaxial with the through hole 14.

  Next, returning to FIG. 2, the configuration of the guide 20 will be described. The guide 20 is formed in a substantially disc shape having an outer diameter slightly larger than that of the ratchet 10. A cylindrical portion 22 is formed on the outer peripheral edge of the disc portion 21 of the guide 20 so as to project in a cylindrical shape in the plate thickness direction, which is an assembling direction to the ratchet 10. The cylindrical portion 22 is formed by being extruded by half-cutting the outer peripheral edge of the disc portion 21 in the plate thickness direction.

  Further, on the outer peripheral edge portion of the cylindrical portion 22, projecting portions 22a... Projecting outward in the radial direction are arranged at equal intervals at six positions in the circumferential direction. Thereby, on the outer peripheral edge portion of the cylindrical portion 22, the protruding portions 22 a that protrude in a shelf shape and the recessed portions 22 b that are recessed with respect to the protruding portions 22 a. It is arranged and formed. Here, external teeth (meshing teeth aa...) Are formed on the outer peripheral surface of each protrusion 22 a.

  By the way, the cylindrical portion 22 of the guide 20 is formed so that the cylindrical shape formed by the inner peripheral surface thereof is slightly larger than the cylindrical portion 12 of the ratchet 10. It can be assembled inside. As a result, the guide 20 slidably rotates relative to each other in a state where the cylindrical shape of the ratchet 10 is assembled inside and outside by assembling the cylindrical portion 12 of the ratchet 10 inside the cylindrical portion 22. It is ready to be assembled.

  The above-described guide 20 is assembled with the ratchet 10, and further, a substantially cylindrical holding member 70, which will be described later, is assembled across these outer peripheral portions, so that the guide 20 is held in a state where they are assembled together in the plate alignment direction. Is prevented from coming off. As a result of this assembly, as shown in FIG. 3, the guide 20 opens the protrusions 22 a formed at the six locations of the cylindrical portion 22 to the six locations of the holding member 70. Each of the formed openings 74... Is assembled in a state of projecting outward in the radial direction.

  And the above-described guide 20 has four projecting portions 22a,... Out of the projecting openings 74,. Are connected to each other by welding in a rotational radial direction. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the cushion frame 3 f is formed such that the upper portion joined to the guide 20 has a shape that is open upward in a substantially U shape.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the cushion frame 3 f is positioned on the outermost peripheral side of the guide 20 so as to match the outer peripheral surface shape of the guide 20 by receiving the guide 20 in the opening in the plate thickness direction. The projecting portions 22a... Are in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the projecting portions 22a. Specifically, the guide 20 is received in the opening of the cushion frame 3f, so that four of the six protrusions 22a ·· described above enter the opening of the cushion frame 3f, and the outer peripheral surfaces thereof. Is brought into contact with and abutted against the inner peripheral surface of the opening in the rotational radius direction.

  Here, on the curved inner peripheral surface portion of the opening of the cushion frame 3f, internal teeth (meshing teeth 3fa...) Are formed on the surface portions that respectively contact the four protrusions 22a. The other surface portions are formed as recesses 3fb... That avoid interference with the holding pieces 73... Of the holding member 70 that are hooked on the recesses 22b. As a result, the guide 20 meshes the meshing teeth aa formed on the outer peripheral surface of the four protrusions 22a with the meshing teeth 3fa formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cushion frame 3f. In this state, the cushion frame 3f is prevented from rotating and assembled.

  The guide 20 and the cushion frame 3f are firmly and integrally connected to each other by joining the surface portions where the meshing teeth aa..., 3fa. Yes. Here, in the laser welding described above, laser light is applied in the plate thickness direction along the portion where the meshing teeth aa of the guide 20 are abutted with the meshing teeth aa of the cushion frame 3f. Has been done. Specifically, in the laser welding described above, as shown in FIG. 5, the bead width of each welding bead W ·· formed by applying the laser beam is a tooth having both meshing teeth aa ··, 3fa ·· It is done so that it is wider than the dimension between the bottoms.

  That is, the laser welding described above is performed by applying a laser beam over the entire formation region where the respective meshing teeth aa..., 3fa. Thereby, in addition to the portion where the meshing teeth aa... 3fa .. mesh with each other, the site where the meshing teeth aa... 3fa. Bonded with high bonding strength. Here, the cushion frame 3f corresponds to another target member of the two target members to be connected in the present invention.

  Here, referring back to FIG. 3, the upper left end surface portion of the cushion frame 3 f that opens in a U shape and the upper right end surface portion of the cushion frame 3 f are shown in the front tilt stopper 3 fc for locking the forward tilt rotation of the seat back 2. , And a rear-falling stopper 3fd for locking the rear-falling rotation of the seat back 2, respectively. Although the front-falling stopper 3fc and the rear-falling stopper 3fd are not shown, the stopper piece fixedly installed on the back frame 2f constituting the skeleton of the seat back 2 is used to rotate the seat back 2 forward and backward. Accordingly, the movement of the seat back 2 is stopped by rotating and contacting.

  The cushion frame 3f is formed of a cheap steel material that is advantageous in terms of cost, and as well shown in FIG. 3, the guide 20 and the cushion frame 3f are engaged with each other with the meshing teeth aa,. A predetermined range of the cushion frame 3f from the portion joined by laser welding is formed as a heat treatment portion subjected to heat treatment such as quenching. In FIG. 3, the heat-treated portion X subjected to the heat treatment is shown with a dot pattern. In other drawings, the heat treatment portion X of the cushion frame 3f is shown with a dot pattern. In the cushion frame 3f, the heat treatment part X subjected to the heat treatment is a range in a position close to the center position of the reclining device 4, and the outer position range of the heat treatment part X is formed as a non-heat treatment part Y not subjected to the heat treatment. ing. Accordingly, the heat treatment part X formed in the range of the cushion frame 3f near the center position of the reclining device 4 is formed as a part having a higher strength than the non-heat treatment part Y where the heat treatment at the outer position is not performed. In addition, the range formed as a heat treatment part is determined according to the magnitude | size of the external force anticipated at the time of the vehicle collision etc. which are mentioned later.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the through hole 25 for inserting the operation shaft 4 c (see FIG. 1) for performing the switching operation of unlocking of the reclining device 4 into the center portion of the disc portion 21 of the guide 20 described above. Is formed.

  Returning to FIG. 2, a guide groove 23 is formed in the disc portion 21 of the guide 20, the inner plate surface of which is recessed in a “ten” sign shape in the plate thickness direction. The guide groove 23 is formed by being extruded by half-cutting the disk portion 21 in the plate thickness direction in a “ten” sign shape. The guide groove 23 is formed as pole grooves 23a and 23a in which the upper and lower groove portions in the drawing can accommodate respective poles 30 and 30 to be described later so as to be slidable.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the pole grooves 23a and 23a are formed in the shape of guide walls 21a and 21b and guide walls 21c and 21d formed as side walls on both the left and right sides thereof. The guide 20 is guided so as to slide only inward and outward in the radial direction (vertical direction in the figure) along the shape. The right and left sides of the guide groove 23 extending in the lateral direction and the groove between them are formed as a single slide cam groove 23b in which a slide cam 40 (to be described later) can be slidably accommodated. Yes.

  The slide cam groove 23b is formed in the radial direction of the guide 20 along the groove shape by the shape of the guide walls 21a, 21c and the guide walls 21b, 21d formed as side walls on both upper and lower sides. It is guided to slide only inward and outward (left and right in the figure). Next, returning to FIG. 2, spring portions 26, 26 projecting in a pin shape from the outer plate surface are formed on the disc portion 21 of the guide 20. These spring hook portions 26 and 26 are functional parts for hooking an outer end 62 of an urging spring 60 (winding spring), which will be described later, and are arranged in two circumferential directions so that the hook position can be selected. It is formed in the place.

  Next, the configuration of the poles 30 and 30 will be described. The poles 30 and 30 are formed in a frame shape that is slidably accommodated inside the pole grooves 23a and 23a formed in the guide 20 described above. These poles 30 and 30 are formed in a vertically symmetrical shape. Specifically, each of the poles 30 and 30 is formed in an arcuate shape whose outer peripheral surface matches the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 12 of the ratchet 10 described above. And the outer peripheral tooth surfaces 30a and 30a which have the external tooth which can mesh with the inner peripheral tooth surface 12a of the above-mentioned ratchet 10 are formed in the outer peripheral surface curved in this circular arc shape.

  Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 6, each of the poles 30 and 30 is pressed by a slide cam 40 to be described later and is slid outward in the radial direction, whereby the outer peripheral tooth surfaces 30 a and 30 a are moved to the ratchet 10. It meshes with the inner peripheral tooth surface 12a. Thereby, each pole 30 and 30 and the ratchet 10 will be in an integrated state in the circumferential direction by mutual meshing force. However, in relation to the guide 20, the poles 30 and 30 can be slid only inward and outward in the radial direction by the guides by the guide walls 21a and 21b and the guide walls 21c and 21d.

  Accordingly, the ratchet 10 is in a state in which relative rotation with respect to the guide 20 is restricted via the poles 30 and 30. That is, the reclining device 4 is in a rotationally locked state. The rotation lock state of the reclining device 4 is released when the poles 30 and 30 are pulled inward in the radial direction and removed from the meshed state with the ratchet 10, as shown in FIG.

  Here, the operation of sliding the poles 30 and 30 inward and outward in the radial direction is performed in accordance with the slide operation of the slide cam 40 disposed between the poles 30 and 30. As shown in FIG. 2, the slide cam 40 is formed in a frame shape that is received in the slide cam groove 23 b formed in the guide 20 described above. The slide cam 40 is formed in a vertically symmetric shape, and shoulders 42 and 42 for pushing the poles 30 and 30 outward in the radial direction are formed on the upper and lower edges of the slide cam 40 and the poles 30. , 30 are formed with hooks 44, 44 for pulling inwardly in the radial direction.

  Here, the above-described poles 30 and 30 are formed in a gate shape in which the shape on the radially inner side is partially cut out. Each of the poles 30, 30 is brought into contact with the upper and lower edges of the slide cam 40 by the leg portions 32, 32 forming both gate-shaped legs. A pressing operation is performed on the side. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, each pole 30, 30 is connected to each leg 32, 32 with each shoulder of the slide cam 40 when the slide cam 40 is slid to the right side in the figure. It is held in a state of being pushed out on the radially outward side as being in a state of riding on the portions 42 and 42.

  Thereby, each pole 30 and 30 is always hold | maintained as the state which mesh | engaged those outer peripheral tooth surfaces 30a and 30a with the inner peripheral tooth surface 12a of the ratchet 10. FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, each pole 30, 30 is slid to each hanging portion 31, 31 formed on the inner side of the portal shape by sliding the slide cam 40 to the left side in the figure. The hooks 44 of the cam 40 are hooked and pulled inward in the radial direction. Thereby, from the position where the leg portions 32, 32 of the poles 30, 30 are riding on the shoulder portions 42, 42 of the slide cam 40, to the inside of the groove portions 43, 43 at the positions on the right side in the figure. And the meshing state of each of the poles 30 and 30 and the ratchet 10 is released.

  These groove portions 43, 43 are formed in a shape that is smoothly recessed from the respective shoulder portions 42, 42, and the slide cam 40 slides to the right side as shown in FIG. The leg portions 32, 32 are in a state of riding on the shoulder portions 42, 42 while being guided by the shapes of the groove portions 43, 43. Here, the operation of sliding the slide cam 40 in the left-right direction in the drawing is performed in accordance with the rotation operation of the hinge cam 50 assembled in the cam hole 41 penetratingly formed in the central portion of the slide cam 40.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the hinge cam 50 is rotatably assembled in a cam hole 41 formed through the center of the slide cam 40. The hinge cam 50 is normally urged to rotate in the clockwise direction shown in FIG. 2 by the urging force of the urging spring 60 (winding spring) hooked between the hinge cam 50 and the guide 20. Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the biasing spring 60 is in a state of being pre-twisted, and an inner end 61 thereof is hooked on the spring hooking portion 51 of the hinge cam 50, and an outer end 62 is hooked on the guide 20. It is hooked on the spring hook portion 26.

  Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 6, the hinge cam 50 is normally pressed on the right side in the drawing by pressing the slide cam 40 from the inner peripheral surface side of the cam hole 41 by the operation protrusion 52 formed to protrude on the outer peripheral portion thereof. To slide. As a result, the poles 30 and 30 are held in a state where the pawls 30 and 30 are engaged with the ratchet 10 as the leg portions 32 and 32 ride on the shoulder portions 42 and 42 of the slide cam 40.

  The hinge cam 50 is integrally connected to the operation shaft 4c described above with reference to FIG. Thus, the hinge cam 50 is rotated counterclockwise in the figure against the urging force of the urging spring 60 shown in FIG. 2 in accordance with the pulling-up operation of the operation lever 5 (see FIG. 1). ing. That is, the hinge cam 50 is rotated in the clockwise direction in FIG. 6 by the operation of the operation lever 5 described above. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, the slide cam 40 is slid to the left in the figure, and the poles 30 and 30 are released from the meshed state with the ratchet 10.

  Next, returning to FIG. 2, the holding member 70 will be described. The holding member 70 is formed by punching a thin steel plate into a ring shape, further punching it in the axial direction, and then extruding it. The surface portion 71 and the second seat surface portion 72 are formed in a cylindrical shape having a step shape. Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the first seat surface portion 71 faces the outer plate surface of the cylindrical portion 12 of the ratchet 10 in the axial direction when the ratchet 10 is assembled in the cylinder of the holding member 70. It is formed as follows.

  The second seat surface portion 72 is formed so as to come into surface contact with the inner plate surface of the cylindrical portion 22 of the guide 20 when the guide 20 is assembled in the cylinder of the holding member 70. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, curved plate-like holding pieces 73... Projecting in the axial direction from six positions in the circumferential direction are formed from the outer peripheral edge portion of the second seat surface portion 72. ing. These holding pieces 73 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, and between the holding pieces 73,. -Is formed.

  Each of the holding pieces 73 is arranged so as to be spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction so that the shape formed by the whole of the holding pieces 73 becomes a fragmented cylindrical shape. These holding pieces 73... Are inserted in the recesses 22 b formed in the outer peripheral edge of the guide 20 in the axial direction when the guide 20 is assembled in the cylinder of the holding member 70. The cylindrical portion 22 is covered from the outer peripheral side. Then, from this state, the tips of the holding pieces 73... Protruding in the axial direction from the respective recesses 22 b of the guide 20 are bent and caulked inward in the radial direction. Thus, the holding member 70 is fixed in a state of being integrally connected to the guide 20 both in the rotational direction and in the axial direction (see FIG. 3).

  As a result of this assembly, the projecting portions 22a formed on the outer peripheral portion of the guide 20 project from the openings 74 formed between the holding pieces 73 of the holding member 70 in the radial direction. It will be in the state which protruded to the outward side of and exposed to the exterior. Next, returning to FIG. 4, the assembly of the ratchet 10 and the guide 20 to the holding member 70 will be described in more detail. That is, by inserting the ratchet 10 into the cylinder of the holding member 70, the ratchet 10 has each protrusion 71 a in which the outer plate surface of the cylindrical portion 12 is formed to protrude on the inner plate surface of the first seat surface portion 71. .. Are assembled in a state in which the axial insertion position is positioned with respect to the holding member 70 at the respective point contact positions.

  As a result of this assembly, the ratchet 10 is assembled in a state in which the outer peripheral edge of the cylindrical portion 12 is surrounded by a cylindrical portion that connects the first seat surface portion 71 and the second seat surface portion 72 of the holding member 70. Then, by assembling assembly parts such as the poles 30 and 30 and the slide cam 40 on the disc portion 11 of the ratchet 10, and then inserting the guide 20 into the cylinder of the holding member 70, the guide 20 The cylindrical plate 22 is assembled in such a state that the insertion position in the axial direction is positioned with respect to the holding member 70 at a position where the inner plate surface of the cylindrical portion 22 comes into surface contact with the second seat surface portion 72.

  Here, referring back to FIG. 2, the second seat surface portion 72 formed on the holding member 70 described above has its surface directed in the axial direction in the circumferential region portion where each opening 74... Is formed. The surface shape is formed in a wing shape on the radially outer side. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 4, the second seat surface portion 72 has a cylindrical shape 22 of the guide 20 due to its flared surface shape except where the above-described holding pieces 73 are formed. The inner plate surface can be supported by wide contact in the radial direction.

  Then, after assembling, the tip of each holding piece 73 of the holding member 70 (folded curved surface portion 73a...) Is bent inward in the radial direction and caulked to the outer plate surface of the cylindrical portion 22. The holding member 70 is integrally coupled and fixed to the guide 20. Thereby, the ratchet 10 and the guide 20 are assembled in a state in which the ratchet 10 and the guide 20 are sandwiched between the holding members 70 and prevented from coming off.

  Here, the cylindrical portion 12 of the ratchet 10 is interposed between the disk portion 21 of the guide 20 and the first seat surface portion 71 of the holding member 70 with the assembly parts such as the poles 30 and 30 and the slide cam 40 interposed therebetween. It can be assembled with a slight gap in the axial direction. Thereby, the rotational movement of the ratchet 10 relative to the guide 20 can be smoothly performed without being hindered by the sliding friction with the holding member 70.

  Thus, according to the vehicle seat coupling device (reclining device 4) of the present embodiment, the guide 20 has four projecting portions 22a,... Projecting in the radial direction from the openings 74,. Is abutted against the cushion frame 3f and integrally connected thereto. Therefore, since the outermost peripheral portion of the guide 20 is integrally connected to the cushion frame 3f, the connection strength can be increased. Further, since the protrusions 22a of the guide 20 and the cushion frame 3f are abutted in the radial direction and welded, compared to the configuration in which they are abutted and connected in the thickness direction, the thickness of the guide 20 is increased. Installation space can be reduced.

  In addition, since the protrusions 22a of the guide 20 and the cushion frame 3f are joined by laser welding in the thickness direction, the weight of the joined object such as arc welding or bolt fastening is added. As compared with the above, the weight of the entire configuration can be reduced. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, since the back wave of the weld bead W (welding mark) of laser welding is exposed and formed on the end face in the plate thickness direction of the joint, laser welding is properly performed. It can be easily confirmed by visually confirming the back wave from the outside.

  Further, the protrusion 20a of the guide 20 and the cushion frame 3f are joined together with the meshing teeth aa and the meshing teeth 3fa formed on the joint surfaces. The connection strength between the two can be further increased. In addition, since the bead width of the weld bead W is wider than the dimension between the roots where the meshing teeth aa, 3fa,... Mesh, the meshing teeth aa, 3fa,. In addition, since the joint strength by welding can be given to the part where the meshing teeth aa,..., 3fa, are not meshed with each other, the joint strength can be further increased.

  Further, since the coupling strength can be increased in this way, the cushion frame 3f can be sufficiently welded to a part of the guide 20 without being welded to the entire circumference of the guide 20, as shown in the present embodiment. Since the bonding strength can be obtained, the weight of the cushion frame 3f can be reduced while keeping the shape of the cushion frame 3f small.

  It should be noted that moment load (torque) may act on the reclining device of the seat due to the behavior of the seated person at the time of the collision of the vehicle, particularly in the case of the seat mounted on the vehicle. For example, in the vehicle seat 1 shown in FIG. 1, when there is a so-called rear collision in which the automobile is rear-projected from the rear in the seated state of the seated person, the seated person behaves backward due to the reaction, and the seater's backward behavior Acts as an external force that tilts the seat back 2 backward, and this acting force acts on the reclining device 4 as a moment load via the back frame 2f. The load applied to the reclining device 4 is received by the cushion frame 3f on the seat cushion 3 side. And the load which receives this receives a big load, so that it is near the center position of the reclining device 4. However, since the reclining device 4 itself has been configured with sufficient strength from the past, the reclining device 4 can receive a load without problems, and there is also a range close to the welded portion of the cushion frame 3f near the center position of the reclining device 4. Since it is formed as a heat treatment site and the strength is improved, the structure can sufficiently receive the load. In addition, since the load received as it leaves | separates from the center position of the reclining apparatus 4 needs to be small, it can bear the load also in the non-heat-processing site | part which does not perform heat processing. In this way, a large external force entering the seat back 2 side can be handled on the seat cushion 3 side. Therefore, the range of the heat treatment part to be subjected to the heat treatment is determined on the assumption of the external force magnitude at the time of a vehicle collision or the like input to the reclining device 4.

In the above embodiment, the cushion frame 3f is subjected to heat treatment. However, since the heat treatment range is only a part of a predetermined range from the laser welding location, the influence of strain and the like caused by the heat treatment is suppressed as much as possible. And the influence on the performance of the reclining device 4 can be minimized. At the same time, since the welding of the joining portion is laser welding, since the welding temperature of laser welding is relatively low, there is little thermal influence caused by welding, and the influence on the reclining device 4 due to strain or the like can be suppressed as much as possible. .
In addition, the partial heat treatment shortens the heat treatment time, and the cost can be reduced as compared with the case where the entire cushion frame 3f is heat treated. It can be suppressed as much as possible.

  Then, the structure of the connection apparatus (reclining apparatus 4) of the vehicle seat of Example 2 is demonstrated using FIGS. 8-10. In addition, in a present Example, about the location where the substantially same structure and effect | action as the reclining apparatus 4 demonstrated in Example 1 are the same, these are attached | subjected, description is abbreviate | omitted, About a different location This will be explained in detail.

  As can be seen by comparing FIG. 8 with FIG. 2 shown in the first embodiment, the reclining device 4 of the present embodiment has three projecting portions 22 a... On the outer peripheral edge of the cylindrical portion 22 of the guide 20. The two fin portions 22c and 22c projecting greatly outward in the radial direction from the three projecting portions 22a are formed side by side in the circumferential direction. Here, the fin portions 22c and 22c correspond to the protruding portions of the present invention.

  These fin portions 22c, 22c are formed to have a larger width in the circumferential direction than the projections 22a, and the overall circumferential length thereof is longer than that of the projections 22a. As shown in FIG. 9, the above-described fin portions 22 c and 22 c are formed on the inner peripheral surface portion of the opening portion by assembling the guide 20 in the plate thickness direction in the opening portion opened to the upper side of the cushion frame 3 f. The recessed portions 3fb and 3fb are fitted into the recessed portions 3fb and 3fb, and the outer peripheral surfaces thereof are brought into contact with the inner peripheral surfaces of the recessed portions 3fb and 3fb.

  The guide 20 and the cushion frame 3f are firmly integrated with each other by applying laser light in the thickness direction to the contact surface portion where the fin portions 22c and 22c and the recesses 3fb and 3fb are abutted and laser welding. Are connected (see FIG. 10). In this manner, the fins 22c, 22c that protrude greatly outward in the radial direction from the cylindrical portion 22 of the guide 20 are abutted in the radial direction and welded in the manner of fitting into the recesses 3fb, 3fb formed in the cushion frame 3f. Thus, the guide 20 can be connected to the cushion frame 3f with higher connection strength.

  Also in the second embodiment, as well shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the guide 20 and the cushion frame 3f are connected to the cushion frame 3f from the position where the fin portion 22c and the recess 3fb are joined by laser welding. The predetermined range is formed as a heat treatment site subjected to heat treatment such as quenching. In each figure in the second embodiment, the heat-treated portion X subjected to the heat treatment is shown with a dotted pattern, and the non-heat-treated portion not subjected to the heat treatment is shown with a Y symbol. . Therefore, also in the second embodiment, the heat treatment part X formed in the range of the cushion frame 3f in the position near the center position of the reclining device 4 has a higher strength than the non-heat treatment part Y that is not subjected to the heat treatment at the outer position. It is formed as a large part. The second embodiment also functions in the same manner as the first embodiment described above, and the same operational effects can be obtained.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described using two Examples, this invention can be implemented with various forms other than the said Example. For example, in the above embodiment, the vehicle seat connecting device of the present invention is applied as the reclining device 4 that connects the seat back 2 to the seat cushion 3 so that the backrest angle can be adjusted. However, this connecting device can also be applied to applications in which the seat back 2 is connected to the vehicle floor so that the backrest angle can be adjusted. Further, the connecting device can be applied to an application for connecting the seat body so as to be rotated in the turning direction with respect to the vehicle body floor. Further, the connecting device can be applied to an application in which a so-called ottoman device that lifts and supports the lower leg of a seated person from below is connected to the seat cushion 3 or the vehicle body floor so as to be able to be turned upside down.

  Further, as an example of the connecting device, the unlocking operation type reclining device 4 is illustrated in which the inner peripheral tooth surface 12a of the ratchet 10 is engaged and locked with the outer peripheral tooth surfaces 30a, 30a of the poles 30 and 30. As disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2008-18055, an external tooth member (one side connecting member) having an external gear meshes with an inner peripheral tooth surface of an internal tooth member (other side connecting member) having an internal gear. The configuration of the present invention can also be applied to a so-called stepless reclining device that rotates (revolves) while changing its position and holds both gears in rotation by an operation force that presses both gears in meshing directions. .

  Moreover, although the slide cam 40 was shown as an operation member for moving the two poles 30 and 30 forward and backward simultaneously in the radial direction for the reclining device 4, for example, as disclosed in JP-A-2005-321891 Alternatively, a configuration using a rotary cam that allows three or more poles to be simultaneously advanced and retracted may be used.

  Further, although laser welding has been shown as a means for connecting the guide 20 (one connecting member) and the cushion frame 3f (target member), it can be connected using other connecting means such as arc welding or bolt fastening. .

  Moreover, although the guide 20 (one connecting member) and the ratchet 10 (the other connecting member) are assembled so as to support each other so as to be rotatable relative to each other by fitting the cylindrical portions 22 and 12 together, You may comprise so that support in a rotation radial direction may be performed by the holding member 70. FIG. By doing so, the ratchet 10 can also be formed with a protrusion (fin) to be firmly connected to the back frame 2f.

  In addition, the configuration in which the cylindrical portion 12 of the ratchet 10 is fitted and supported in the cylindrical portion 22 of the guide 20 has been shown, but the ratchet 10 is further formed to have a shape having a plurality of stages of cylindrical portions. The configuration may be such that the cylindrical portion 22 of the guide 20 is fitted into and supported by the cylindrical portion on the outermost peripheral side of the ratchet 10.

  In this case, for example, the holding member 70 is caulked and fixed to the cylindrical portion on the outermost peripheral side of the ratchet 10, and the protruding portion that protrudes radially outward from the cylindrical portion of the ratchet 10 is the holding member 70. The outermost peripheral portion of the seat back is abutted against and joined to the back frame of the seat back.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle seat 2 Seat back 2f Back frame (target member)
2a Dowel hole 2c Through hole 3 Seat cushion 3f Cushion frame (target member)
3fa meshing teeth 3fb recess 3fc forward tilt stopper 3fd rear tilt stopper 4 reclining device (vehicle seat coupling device)
4c Operation shaft 4r Connecting rod 5 Operation lever 10 Ratchet (the other connecting member)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Disk part 12 Cylindrical part 12a Inner peripheral tooth surface 12b Raising surface 13a Dowel 13b D dowel 14 Through-hole 20 Guide (one connection member)
21 disc part 21a-21d guide wall 22 cylindrical part 22a protrusion part aa meshing tooth 22b recessed part 22c fin part (protrusion part)
23 Guide groove 23a Pole groove 23b Slide cam groove 25 Through hole 26 Spring hook portion 30 Pole 30a Outer peripheral tooth surface 31 Hook portion 32 Leg portion 40 Slide cam 41 Cam hole 42 Shoulder portion 43 Groove portion 44 Hook 50 Hinge cam 51 Spring hook portion 52 Operation Protrusion 60 Biasing spring 61 Inner end 62 Outer end 70 Holding member 71 First seat surface portion 71a Projection portion 72 Second seat surface portion 73 Holding piece 73a Folding surface portion 74 Opening portion W Welding bead X Heat treatment portion Y Non-heat treatment portion

Claims (2)

A vehicle seat coupling device that couples two target members to be coupled with each other in a relatively rotatable manner,
Two connecting members that are integrally connected to one side or the other side of the two target members and assembled in the plate-matching direction so as to be relatively rotatable with each other;
A holding member that is assembled across the outer peripheral portions of the two connecting members and holds the connecting members in a state in which the connecting members are assembled in the plate-matching direction;
An opening that opens in the radial direction is formed on the outer periphery of the holding member, and at least one of the two connecting members has a protruding portion that protrudes from the opening of the holding member, A plate-like target member that is capable of abutting and joining to the protrusion and is connected to the protrusion is arranged and configured in the radial direction on the protrusion.
The abutting joint portion between the projecting portion of the connecting member and the target member is integrally joined by welding, and the plate-shaped target member is a heat-treated portion subjected to heat treatment and a non-heat-treated not subjected to heat treatment. The vehicle seat coupling device is characterized in that the predetermined range extending radially outward from the welded joint portion is configured to have higher strength as a heat treatment portion than other non-heat treatment portions. The vehicle seat coupling device according to claim 1,
The welding of the butted joint portion between the projecting portion and the target member is laser welding, and the laser welding is performed in the plate thickness direction to the joint portion. A vehicle seat coupling device, wherein a back wave formed on an end face in a direction is exposed to the outside.

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