JP2014173899A - Pointer structure of measuring device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pointer structure of a measuring device which improves an appearance quality and can prevent interference with a peripheral edge of a pointer shaft hole.SOLUTION: A pointer 3 rotating along the surface of a dial plate 2 with a pointer shaft part 8 projected from a pointer shaft hole 11 of the dial plate 2 as a center includes: a pointer main body 18 having a bearing part 15, a pointer part 16, and a reflection surface 17; a pointer cover 21; and a balance weight 22. The balance weight 22 includes a main weight part 31 extending to a shaft line direction 28 of the pointer shaft part 8 toward the dial plate 2, and a front extending part 32 extending toward a tip end side of the pointer part 16 from the side surface of the end part at an opposite side to the dial plate 2 in the main weight part 31 or from the vicinity of the side surface, and is constituted in an L-shape in the side view.

Description

  The present invention relates to a pointer structure of an instrument device that can improve appearance quality and prevent interference with a peripheral portion of a pointer shaft hole.

  In vehicles such as automobiles, an instrument panel is installed in the front part of the passenger compartment. An instrument device for displaying various types of driving information and the like is provided on a driver seat side portion of the instrument panel, a portion between the driver seat and the passenger seat, and the like.

  Such an instrument device includes a dial (a so-called analog meter) having a dial and a pointer that rotates along the surface of the dial (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2012-8092 A

  However, the pointer structure of the instrument device described in Patent Document 1 has the following problems.

  That is, a balance weight for keeping the dial parallel to the dial is attached to the rear part of the pointer, and this balance weight is formed on the dial at a position near the dial at the rear of the pointer. Since it is attached at a position close to the pointer shaft hole, there is a possibility that the balance weight may interfere with the peripheral portion of the pointer shaft hole when a dimensional error or an assembly error occurs.

  On the other hand, it is conceivable that the balance weight is mounted far away from the pointer shaft hole. However, if this is done, the amount of protrusion of the pointer toward the rear will increase and the appearance will deteriorate.

In order to solve the above problem, the invention described in claim 1 is:
A pointer that rotates along the surface of the dial plate around the pointer shaft portion protruding from the pointer shaft hole formed in the dial plate is provided,
The guidelines are
A bearing portion fitted to the pointer shaft portion;
A pointer portion that extends in a radial direction from the bearing portion and points to a scale formed on the dial,
A pointer main body formed on a portion of the bearing portion opposite to the pointer portion and reflecting the pointer illumination light emitted from the pointer shaft hole toward the distal end side of the pointer portion; With
Further, the guideline is
A pointer cover that covers at least the bearing portion and the reflective surface portion of the pointer body;
In the pointer structure of the instrument device, which is provided on the back side of the reflecting surface portion in the pointer cover and has a balance weight for keeping the pointer portion parallel to the dial plate,
A main weight portion extending in an axial direction of the pointer shaft portion toward the dial, the balance weight;
The main weight portion has an L-shape in a side view having a side surface of the end opposite to the dial plate or a front extension extending from the vicinity thereof toward the tip side of the pointer portion. It is characterized by.
The invention described in claim 2 is the above,
The reflective surface portion is provided so as to be inclined toward the distal end side of the pointer portion as it is moved away from the dial in the axial direction.
The front extension part has an abutting surface that extends toward the distal end side of the pointer part along the reflecting surface part.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the following operational effects can be obtained by the above configuration.
In other words, the balance weight is L-shaped in a side view having a front extension at or near the side of the end opposite to the dial of the main weight, thereby maintaining the balance of the pointer body. It is possible to improve the appearance by securing the necessary weight and reducing the protrusion of the pointer main body to the back side.
In addition, since the end portion of the main weight portion on the dial side can be made into a clean shape without an overhanging portion or the like, it is provided around the pointer shaft hole in order to prevent leakage of light for pointer illumination. It is possible to install the light shielding wall portion with a space necessary for absorbing errors and the like. Accordingly, it is possible to avoid interference between the balance weight and the light shielding wall. Thereby, the balance weight can be effectively provided by effectively utilizing the narrow space on the back side of the reflecting surface portion.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained by the above configuration.
That is, the front extension portion has a contact surface extending along the reflection surface portion toward the tip side of the pointer portion, thereby making more effective use of the narrow space on the back surface side of the reflection surface portion and making the balance weight more advantageous. Can be provided.

It is a top view which shows the pointer structure of the meter apparatus concerning the Example of this invention. It is sectional drawing of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows an example (partial cover) of a pointer cover. It is a perspective view which shows another example (whole cover) of a pointer cover. It is sectional drawing similar to FIG. 2 concerning another Example.

Hereinafter, the present embodiment and examples embodying the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
1 to 5 show examples of this embodiment and modifications thereof.

<Configuration> The configuration will be described below.
In vehicles such as automobiles, an instrument panel is installed in the front part of the passenger compartment. Various driving information such as speed, engine speed, remaining fuel, engine cooling water temperature, etc. for the driver's seat side of the instrument panel and the part between the driver's seat and passenger seat An instrument device for display is provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the instrument device 1 is an analog meter having a dial plate 2 and a pointer 3 that rotates along the surface of the dial plate 2.

  The dial 2 is appropriately provided with a scale 4 or an index such as a numerical value indicated by the pointer 3 along a peripheral portion of a substantially circular area around which the pointer 3 rotates.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a board 6 (circuit board) is disposed on the back side of the dial 2 in parallel with the dial 2 with a predetermined interval.

  A pointer driving device 7 is attached to the back surface side of the substrate 6, and a pointer shaft portion 8 that is an output shaft of the pointer driving device 7 passes through the substrate 6 and the dial 2 and is on the surface side of the dial 2. Is protruding. For the pointer drive device 7, for example, an actuator such as a cross coil type or a stepping motor is used.

  A dial shaft hole 11 through which the pointer shaft portion 8 passes is formed in the dial plate 2. The above-described scale 4 is formed concentrically with the pointer shaft portion 8. Also, a resin intermediate housing (not shown) is provided between the substrate 6 and the dial 2 in a particularly unillustrated manner. The intermediate housing has a cylindrical shape so as to surround the pointer shaft portion 8. The light-shielding wall 13 is provided with a light-shielding wall 13 having a tip 13 a that penetrates the pointer shaft 8 and slightly protrudes toward the surface of the dial 2. One or a plurality of light sources 14 for pointer illumination are attached to the substrate 6 on the inner side of the light shielding wall 13. For example, an LED or the like is used for the light source 14.

  The above-mentioned pointer 3 is rotated along the surface of the dial plate 2 around the pointer shaft portion 8 protruding from the pointer shaft hole 11 formed in the dial plate 2.

  The pointer 3 is formed on the dial 2 by extending in a radial direction from a bearing portion 15 fitted to the pointer shaft portion 8 and a tip side (a side away from the dial 2) of the bearing 15. The pointer portion 16 pointing to the scale 4 and the pointer portion 16 on the tip side of the bearing portion 15 is formed on the opposite side (rear side) of the pointer portion 16 and is used for pointer illumination emitted from the pointer shaft hole 11. A pointer main body 18 having a reflecting surface portion 17 that reflects light toward the distal end side of the pointer portion 16 is provided.

  The pointer 3 includes a pointer cover 21 that covers at least the bearing portion 15 and the reflecting surface portion 17 of the pointer main body 18.

  Further, the pointer 3 includes a balance weight 22 for keeping the pointer portion 16 parallel to the dial 2 on the back side of the reflecting surface portion 17 in the pointer cover 21.

(Supplementary explanation 1)
Here, the above “dial plate 2” is formed of a transparent resin film or the like. The transparent resin film is configured such that, for example, the scale 4 and the numerical value can be transmitted and illuminated by forming a light-impermeable printing layer while leaving the scale 4 and the index such as the numerical value. doing. A light source for illuminating the dial 2 is provided on the substrate 6 or the like separately from the light source 14 for pointer illumination described above.

  The above-mentioned “scale 4” is formed so as to extend radially from the center of the pointer shaft hole 11. Although not specifically illustrated, the scale 4 can be provided with a large scale, a medium scale, a small scale, or the like.

  The “pointer shaft portion 8” described above is installed at the center position of the pointer shaft hole 11. However, the pointer shaft portion 8 may be displaced from the center of the pointer shaft hole 11 due to a dimensional error or an assembly error between the substrate 6 and the pointer driving device 7 or between the substrate 6 and the dial plate 2. It can also happen.

  As described above, the “pointer shaft hole 11” is formed in such a size that the light shielding wall 13 can penetrate therethrough.

  In this case, the “bearing portion 15” described above has a sleeve-like portion into which the pointer shaft portion 8 can be press-fitted. The bearing portion 15 is provided at the base portion of the pointer portion 16.

  In this case, the above-mentioned “radial direction” is a direction parallel to the surface of the dial 2 around the bearing portion 15.

  The “pointer portion 16” described above is formed to a length that substantially reaches the scale 4 from the center of the pointer shaft hole 11. The pointer section 16 also has a function as a light guide plate that guides the pointer illumination light inside. Then, for example, the pointer illumination surface on the dial 2 side (the lower surface in FIG. 2) is made opaque so that the pointer illumination light is reflected internally and not escaped to the outside. A light reflective layer is formed by hot stamping or the like.

  The above-mentioned “light for pointer illumination” is emitted from the light source 14 for pointer illumination described above, and enters the inside of the pointer main body 18 from the surface (incident surface 25) of the pointer shaft portion 8 on the dial plate 2 side. Incident.

  The “reflecting surface portion 17” described above reflects the pointer illumination light incident from the incident surface 25 toward the distal end side of the pointer portion 16. On the reflection surface portion 17, a light-impermeable reflection layer is formed by hot stamping or the like so as to reflect the pointer illumination light inside and prevent it from escaping outside.

  The “pointer body 18” described above is constituted by a colorless transparent or colored transparent resin component for guiding light inside.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the above-mentioned “pointer cover 21” may be a partial cover (part cover 26) that covers the bearing portion 15 and the reflection surface portion 17, or as shown in FIG. It is good also as the whole (overall cover 27) which covers the part 15, the reflective surface part 17, the at least both sides | surfaces of the pointer part 16, etc. The entire cover 27 is formed with a slit portion so that the pointer portion 16 can be visually recognized from the outside.

  A portion 21a (bearing surrounding portion) that covers the bearing portion 15 of the pointer cover 21 has a cylindrical shape that is slightly larger than the light shielding wall portion 13 and can surround the light shielding wall portion 13 from the outside. It is configured as follows. At this time, the portion 21 a covering the bearing portion 15 of the pointer cover 21 and the light shielding wall portion 13 are partially overlapped with respect to the axial direction 28 of the pointer shaft portion 8 as shown in FIG. 2. As a result, leakage of the pointer illumination light to the outside is prevented.

  The “balance weight 22” is literally for maintaining the balance of the pointer 3. The balance weight 22 needs a required weight.

  The above-described “axial direction 28 of the pointer shaft portion 8” is a direction perpendicular to the dial 2.

  In addition to the basic configuration as described above, the present embodiment has the following configuration.

(Configuration 1)
The balance weight 22 has a main weight portion 31 extending in the axial direction 28 of the pointer shaft portion 8 toward the dial 2.
The balance weight 22 has a front extension 32 extending from the side of the end opposite to the dial 2 in the main weight 31 or the vicinity thereof toward the tip of the pointer 16. It is supposed to be. The balance weight 22 is generally L-shaped in a side view (L-shaped balance weight).

(Supplementary explanation 1)
Here, the “main weight portion 31” described above is a portion having a substantially uniform cross section extending in the axial direction 28 of the pointer shaft portion 8.

  As described above, the “side surface of the end opposite to the dial 2 or the vicinity thereof” literally refers to the side surface of the end away from the dial 2 with respect to the axial direction 28 of the pointer shaft 8, or It means the vicinity of the side surface of the end.

  The “front extension portion 32” described above is a portion that protrudes toward the distal end side of the pointer portion 16 with respect to the uniform cross-section portion of the main weight portion 31. However, the main weight part 31 and the front extension part 32 do not need to have a clear boundary.

(Configuration 2)
As shown in FIG. 5, the reflection surface portion 17 is provided so as to be inclined toward the distal end side of the pointer portion 16 as it moves away from the dial 2 in the axial direction 28 (an inclined surface 35 or a forward inclined surface). ).
The front extension 32 has a contact surface 36 that extends toward the distal end side of the pointer portion 16 along the reflective surface portion 17 (the rear inclined surface 35) (inclined contact surface).

(Supplementary explanation 2)
Here, the above-mentioned “inclined surface 35” has, for example, an angle of inclination of about 45 degrees with respect to the surface of the dial 2. However, the angle of the inclined surface 35 is not limited to 45 degrees, and may have a slight range (about ± 5 °) around 45 degrees.

  The “contact surface 36” described above is in contact with at least a part of the inclined surface 35 described above, that is, a portion of the inclined surface 35 on the side away from the dial 2.

<Operation> The operation of this embodiment will be described below.
By driving the pointer driving device 7 and rotating the pointer 3 via the pointer shaft portion 8, the pointer 3 can point to the scale 4 formed on the dial 2. Thereby, the passenger | crew can know various driving information.

  When the pointer 3 is rotated, the balance weight 22 is balanced, so that the pointer 3 is stably rotated while maintaining a state parallel to the dial 2.

  Then, by turning on the pointer illumination light source 14, the pointer illumination light passes through the light shielding wall portion 13, and the surface of the pointer shaft portion 8 on the dial plate 2 side (incident surface 25) of the pointer body 18. ) To the inside of the pointer main body 18. The light incident on the inside of the pointer main body 18 is reflected by the reflecting surface portion 17 toward the tip end side of the pointer portion 16 to shine the entire pointer portion 16. Thereby, the pointer 3 can be illuminated.

<Effect> According to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(Effect 1)
As shown in FIG. 2, the balance weight 22 is L-shaped in a side view having a front extension 32 at or near the side of the end of the main weight 31 opposite to the dial 2. Further, while ensuring the weight necessary for maintaining the balance of the pointer main body 18, the protrusion of the pointer main body 18 to the back side can be reduced to improve the appearance.

  In addition, since the end portion of the main weight portion 31 on the dial plate 2 side can be formed into a clean shape without an overhanging portion, the periphery of the pointer shaft hole 11 can be prevented in order to prevent leakage of light for pointer illumination. With respect to the light shielding wall portion 13 provided in the space, it is possible to secure the space necessary for absorbing errors and the like to be installed. Accordingly, it is possible to avoid interference between the balance weight 22 and the light shielding wall 13. Thereby, the balance weight 22 can be effectively provided by effectively utilizing the narrow space on the back side of the reflection surface portion 17.

(Effect 2)
As shown in FIG. 5, the front extension 32 has a contact surface 36 that extends to the tip side of the pointer 16 along the reflection surface 17 (the rear inclined surface 35). The balance weight 22 can be provided more advantageously by further effectively utilizing the narrow space on the back side.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the embodiments are only examples of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the configurations of the embodiments. Needless to say, design changes and the like within a range not departing from the gist of the invention are included in the present invention. Further, for example, when each embodiment includes a plurality of configurations, it is a matter of course that possible combinations of these configurations are included even if not specifically described. Further, when a plurality of embodiments and modifications are shown, it is needless to say that possible combinations of configurations extending over these are included even if not specifically described. Further, the configuration depicted in the drawings is of course included even if not particularly described. Further, when there is a term of “etc.”, it is used in the sense that the equivalent is included. In addition, when there are terms such as “almost”, “about”, “degree”, etc., they are used in the sense that they include those in the range and accuracy recognized by common sense.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Instrument apparatus 2 Dial 3 Pointer 4 Scale 8 Pointer shaft part 11 Pointer shaft hole 15 Bearing part 16 Pointer part 17 Reflecting surface part 18 Pointer body 21 Pointer cover 22 Balance weight 28 Axial direction 31 Main weight part 32 Front extension part 35 Inclined surface 36 Contact surface

Claims (2)

A pointer that rotates along the surface of the dial plate around the pointer shaft portion protruding from the pointer shaft hole formed in the dial plate is provided,
The guidelines are
A bearing portion fitted to the pointer shaft portion;
A pointer portion that extends in a radial direction from the bearing portion and points to a scale formed on the dial,
A pointer main body formed on a portion of the bearing portion opposite to the pointer portion and reflecting the pointer illumination light emitted from the pointer shaft hole toward the distal end side of the pointer portion; With
Further, the guideline is
A pointer cover that covers at least the bearing portion and the reflective surface portion of the pointer body;
In the pointer structure of the instrument device, which is provided on the back side of the reflecting surface portion in the pointer cover and has a balance weight for keeping the pointer portion parallel to the dial plate,
A main weight portion extending in an axial direction of the pointer shaft portion toward the dial, the balance weight;
The main weight portion has an L-shape in a side view having a side surface of the end opposite to the dial plate or a front extension extending from the vicinity thereof toward the tip side of the pointer portion. This is a pointer structure for an instrument device. The reflective surface portion is provided so as to be inclined toward the distal end side of the pointer portion as it is moved away from the dial in the axial direction.
2. The pointer structure of the instrument device according to claim 1, wherein the front extension portion has a contact surface extending toward the tip end side of the pointer portion along the reflection surface portion.