JP2017172172A - Key unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a key unit of a jackknife key structure with which an unfolding speed of a mechanical key may be arbitrary set as a user desires.SOLUTION: A key unit includes: a mechanical key having a key plate for locking/unlocking and a rotor member fixed on one edge part of the key plate; a case for supporting the rotor member rotatably between a storage position where the key plate is stored and a fully unfolded position where the mechanical key is fully unfolded; an inner case covering the rotor member rotatably and fixed on the case; a torsion spring provided between the rotor member and the inner case and having a spring edge part on the rotor member side of which one edge part is fixed on the rotor member and a spring edge part on the inner case side of which the other edge part is fixed on the inner case; and a spring force adjustment structure formed on the inner case, for adjusting spring force of the torsion spring by changing an angle between the spring edge part on the inner case side and the spring edge part on the rotor member side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a key unit including a case for storing a mechanical key rotatably.

  As an example of a key unit including a case for storing a mechanical key so as to be rotatable, a key unit described in Patent Document 1, for example, has been proposed.

  The key unit described in Patent Document 1 includes a mechanical key having a key head that is urged and rotated by a torsion spring from a storage position for storing the key plate to a protruding position for protruding the key plate. The head is supported inside the gripping case. A release button that restricts the rotation of the mechanical key is supported on the gripping case via a coil spring that urges the mechanical key toward the surface of the gripping case, and is detachably fitted to the key head.

  By pushing the release button against the spring force of the coil spring, the rotation restriction of the mechanical key is released, and the mechanical key is automatically rotated clockwise in the front view of the gripping case by the spring force of the torsion spring. It has a moving jackknife key structure. The rotation end of the mechanical key urged toward the protruding position side by the torsion spring is restricted from rotating toward the protruding position side by being brought into contact with the gripping case.

JP 2007-255014 A

  Since the key unit described in Patent Document 1 is configured to automatically rotate the mechanical key from the retracted position to the protruding position by the spring restoring force of the torsion spring, the rotational speed (deployment speed) of the mechanical key. Will be decided unambiguously. Therefore, there is a demand for improving usability so that the deployment speed of the mechanical key can be adjusted according to the user's preference.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a key unit having a jack knife key structure in which a deployment speed of a mechanical key can be arbitrarily set according to a user's preference.

  To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a key plate for locking and unlocking, a mechanical key having a rotor member fixed to one end of the key plate, and a storage position for storing the key plate. A case that supports the rotor member rotatably at a fully deployed position where the rotor member is fully deployed, an inner case that covers the rotor member rotatably and is fixed to the case, and is provided between the rotor member and the inner case A torsion spring having a spring end on the rotor member side, one end of which is fixed to the rotor member, and a spring end on the inner case side, the other end being fixed to the inner case, and the inner case A spring force adjusting structure for adjusting a spring force of the torsion spring by changing an angle of the inner case side spring end with respect to the rotor member side spring end. Constitute a key unit, characterized in that.

  The spring force adjustment structure according to the present invention includes a spring adjustment hole formed in the inner case across the inner case side spring end, and a peripheral edge of the spring adjustment hole. It is preferable to include a plurality of locking holes for locking.

  Further, it is preferable that a locking protrusion for hooking and locking the inner case side spring end portion is formed in the locking hole according to the present invention so as to protrude in the circumferential direction.

  Furthermore, the case according to the present invention includes a lower case having an upper opening that opens upward, and an upper case that opens and closes the upper opening of the lower case, and the inner case is fixed to the lower case. It is preferable to become.

  According to the present invention, the unfolding speed of the mechanical key having the jack knife key structure can be arbitrarily changed according to the user's preference, and the usability can be improved.

It is a perspective view which shows typically the decomposition | disassembly state before assembling the key unit which concerns on suitable embodiment for this invention. It is a principal part top view for demonstrating an example of the torsion spring adjustment structure applied to a key unit. It is a figure for demonstrating the torsion spring adjustment structure applied to a key unit, Comprising: (a) is the principal part expanded sectional view of the IIIA-IIIA arrow in FIG. 2, (b) is IIIB-IIIB in FIG. It is a principal part cross-sectional enlarged view of a line arrow. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the spring force adjustment procedure of the torsion spring in a key unit, (a) is a perspective view which shows the removal operation | work of the upper case applied to a key unit, (b) is a spring of a torsion spring It is a perspective view which shows the operation | work which adjusts force.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Overall structure of key unit)
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 generally indicates a jack knife key structure including a case 3 that rotatably stores a mechanical key 2 for locking and unlocking a cylinder lock mounted on a vehicle by a mechanical operation, for example. An example of the key unit is shown.

  The case 3 is made of, for example, a resin material such as ABS or PC, and includes a lower case 4 having an upper opening that opens upward and an upper case 5 having a lower opening that opens and closes the upper opening of the lower case 4. Make up the appearance. In the space formed between the upper opening of the lower case 4 and the lower opening of the upper case 5, the inner case 6 is arranged to face each other.

  The lower case 4 and the upper case 5 are snap-fitted and fixed by engaging projections and recesses (not shown), and the side walls of the case 3 are closed with the upper opening of the lower case 4 closed by the lower opening of the upper case 5. Is configured to be formed with a slit-shaped storage opening 31 for storing the mechanical key 2 in the case 3.

  The inner case 6 is configured as a fixing member that rotatably supports and fixes the mechanical key 2 inside the case 3. The inner case 6 is snap-fit fixed to the lower case 4 by an engaging uneven portion and is fixed to the lower case by a screw member 7. 4 is fastened and fixed.

  The key unit 1 according to the illustrated example can be applied to, for example, a portable device that remotely controls a locking device mounted on a vehicle by wireless communication with a control device that electrically controls locking and unlocking. The keyless module 8 is accommodated and fixed on the inner bottom surface by fixing means such as ultrasonic welding.

  The keyless module 8 includes a locking switch 81 and an unlocking switch 82, and each switch 81, 82 corresponds to a locking button 51 and an unlocking button 52 that can be pushed into the upper surface of the upper case 5. Arranged. The locking button 51 and the unlocking button 52 are made of a resin material such as ABS or PC, for example.

  The keyless module 8 outputs a signal for automatically locking the vehicle locking device by pressing the locking switch 81 via the locking button 51, and pressing the unlocking switch 82 via the unlocking button 52. The locking device is configured to output a signal for automatically releasing the locking device.

  The mechanical key 2 includes a long plate-like key plate 21 and a substantially square cylindrical rotor member 22 fixed to one end of the key plate 21. The material of the key plate 21 is made of, for example, a metal material such as white, and the material of the rotor member 22 is made of, for example, a metal material such as zinc die casting.

  On the inner bottom surface of the lower case 4, inner and outer cylindrical portions 41 and 42 are formed on the same axis so as to insert and support the release button 9 that allows and restricts the rotation of the mechanical key 2 so as to move up and down. The inner and outer cylinder parts 41 and 42 have an inner / outer double structure including an inner cylinder part 41 and an outer cylinder part 42.

  The release button 9 is formed in a long cap shape made of a metal material such as zinc die casting. The inner bottom surface of the release button 9 is elastically supported by the inner cylinder portion 41 of the lower case 4 by the spring force of the coil spring 10. On the outer peripheral surface of the lower part of the release button 9, a restricting protrusion 91 protruding on the diameter passing through the rotation center of the mechanical key 2 is formed. The restricting protrusion 91 is formed on the outer cylinder portion 42 of the lower case 4. The engagement hole 43 is always engaged.

  The release button 9 has a circular support hole 23 formed through the rotor member 22 of the mechanical key 2, a circular support hole 61 formed through the inner case 6, and a circular support hole formed through the upper case 5. It is arranged inside the case 3 through the operation hole 53 so as to be movable up and down. The rotor member 22 of the mechanical key 2 is rotatably supported using the release button 9 as a rotation axis.

  On the opposing surface of the rotor member 22 of the mechanical key 2 on the lower case side, the restricting protrusion 91 of the release button 9 is located at the storage position where the key plate 21 is stored in the case 3 and the fully deployed position where the key plate 21 is fully deployed. A restriction recess (not shown) that is fitted and held in is formed with a phase difference of 180 °. The restriction projection 91 of the release button 9 is automatically fitted to the restriction recess by the spring force of the coil spring 10 so that the posture of the mechanical key 2 is maintained.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 (a) and 3 (b), the inner surface of the mechanical key 2 facing the inner case of the rotor member 22 has a circular shape with the support hole 23 as the center CL. A spring accommodating recess 24 and a slit-like spring locking hole 25 communicating with the spring accommodating recess 24 are formed.

  On the other hand, on the rotor member side facing surface of the inner case 6 that rotatably covers the rotor member 22 of the mechanical key 2, a circular spring accommodating recess 62 having a support hole 61 as a center CL is formed. Slit spring locking holes 65 are formed radially at the end of the peripheral wall 63 of the spring accommodating recess 62.

  In the space between the spring accommodating recess 62 of the inner case 6 and the spring accommodating recess 24 of the rotor member 22 is accommodated the torsion spring 11 that applies a moment in the rotational direction from the retracted position of the mechanical key 2 toward the fully deployed position. The The torsion spring 11 is a torsion coil spring having a cylindrical coil portion 12 that is inserted into the outer peripheral surface of the release button 9 and a pair of spring end portions 13 and 14 that are bent and extend in the radial direction of the coil portion 12. .

  The fixed spring end 13 serving as the fixed end of the torsion spring 11 is engaged with the spring locking hole 65 of the inner case 6, and the operating spring end 14 serving as the operating end of the torsion spring 11 is It is engaged with the spring locking hole 25 of the rotor member 22. With this configuration, the spring force of the torsion spring 11 is applied to the mechanical key 2 from the retracted position of the case 3 toward the fully deployed position.

  Therefore, when the mechanical key 2 is stored in the storage opening 31 of the case 3, the spring force of the torsion spring 11 acts in the clockwise direction when viewed from the front of the upper case 5. When the locked state of the rotor member 22 is released, the mechanical key 2 can be automatically rotated from the retracted position of the case 3 to the fully deployed position.

(Spring force adjustment structure of torsion spring)
By the way, the spring force of the torsion spring 11 for automatically rotating and deploying the mechanical key 2 from the retracted position of the case 3 to the fully deployed position is the spring end 13 on the inner case 6 side and the spring end on the rotor member 22 side. The unfolding speed of the mechanical key 2 is uniquely determined by the angle formed by 14. For this reason, the deployment speed of the mechanical key 2 may not meet the needs of the user.

  As an example of this, for example, when the mechanical key 2 is rotated and deployed, when the tip of the mechanical key 2 hits the user's finger and the user feels pain, the deployment speed of the mechanical key 2 is too fast. Alternatively, there may be a case where the user feels uncomfortable because the deployment speed of the mechanical key 2 is too slow when starting the engine. Therefore, it is preferable to improve usability by adjusting the deployment speed of the mechanical key 2 according to the needs of the user.

  Therefore, the key unit 1 according to the illustrated example includes a spring force adjustment structure for arbitrarily adjusting the spring force of the torsion spring 11 so that the deployment speed of the mechanical key 2 can be adapted to the needs of the user. I have to.

  This spring force adjusting structure is a space formed between the upper opening of the lower case 4 and the lower opening of the upper case 5 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 (a), and 3 (b). The initial assembling angle of the fixed spring end 13 with respect to the working spring end 14 of the torsion spring 11 is changed in three stages with respect to the torsion spring 11. By adjusting the spring force (biasing force), the deployment speed of the mechanical key 2 can be arbitrarily adjusted.

  In the illustrated example, a substantially semicircular arc-shaped spring adjustment hole 64 extending along the outer side of the peripheral wall 63 of the spring accommodating recess 62 is formed through the inner surface of the inner case 6 facing the rotor member. In the periphery of the adjustment hole 64, first to third spring locking holes 65, 66, 67 for locking the spring end 13 on the fixed side of the torsion spring 11 are formed to penetrate radially.

  The spring locking holes 65, 66, and 67 are disposed at positions having a gradually wider phase angle θ with respect to the position of the spring locking hole 25 of the rotor member 22 of the mechanical key 2 in a front view of the inner case 6. . In the illustrated example, the spring locking holes 65, 66, and 67 are arranged with a phase angle θ of 45 °. The spring locking holes 65, 66, 67 are formed with locking protrusions 68 that hook and lock the fixed spring end 13 so as to protrude in the circumferential direction.

  According to the spring force adjustment structure according to the illustrated example, the spring adjustment hole 64 of the inner case 6 is provided with a spring in a state where the inner case 6 is fixed to the lower case 4 in which the release button 9, the mechanical key 2, and the torsion spring 11 are assembled. The spring end 13 on the fixed side of the torsion spring 11 is bent by the peripheral wall 63 of the housing recess 62 so that the spring end 13 on the fixed side is exposed across.

  After the inner case 6 is fixed to the lower case 4, if the fixed spring end 13 is guided along the spring adjustment hole 64, the fixed spring end 13 is connected to the spring locking holes 65, 66, 67. The desired locking projection piece 68 can be locked. The spring end 13 on the fixed side gets over the locking protrusions 68 by the elastic restoring force and fits in the spring locking holes 65, 66, 67.

  When the arrangement position of the spring end 13 on the fixed side of the torsion spring 11 is changed, the phase angle θ with respect to the spring end 14 on the working side is changed, and the spring force of the torsion spring 11 against the mechanical key 2 is increased. Conversely, the angle can be adjusted to weaken. It is preferable that the arrangement position of the fixed-side spring end 13 is changed in a state where the mechanical key 2 is in the fully deployed position.

  In a front view of the inner case 6, the spring end 13 on the fixed side of the torsion spring 11 is moved clockwise from the position of the first spring locking hole 65 of the inner case 6 to the position of the second spring locking hole 66. When rotated, the spring end 13 on the fixed side rotates against the spring force, whereby the spring force of the torsion spring against the mechanical key 2 is strengthened.

  When the spring end 13 on the fixed side of the torsion spring 11 is rotated counterclockwise from the position of the first spring locking hole 65 of the inner case 6 to the position of the third spring locking hole 67, the spring force is increased. The spring end 13 on the fixed side is rotated against the rotation, whereby the spring force of the torsion spring 11 against the mechanical key 2 is weakened.

  Therefore, the torsional force of the torsion spring 11 can be changed by locking the spring end 13 on the fixed side of the torsion spring 11 in the desired spring locking holes 65, 66, 67 of the inner case 6.

  When adjusting the spring force of the torsion spring 11 after assembling the key unit 1, the upper case 5 is removed from the lower case 4 using an appropriate jig 100 as shown in FIG. Next, as shown in FIG. 4 (b), the spring end 13 on the fixed side of the torsion spring 11 is guided along the spring adjustment hole 64 using an appropriate jig 100, thereby The end 13 is locked to a desired locking protrusion 68 out of the three spring locking holes 65, 66, 67. With the above operation, the deployment speed of the mechanical key 2 can be easily adjusted.

  The spring multiplier of the torsion spring 11 is set to, for example, about 2.33 N · mm / rad, the spring end 13 on the fixed side of the torsion spring 11 is disposed in the first spring locking hole 65, and the mechanical key 2 Is stored in the storage opening 31 of the case 3, the torsional force of the torsion spring 11 can be set to about 13.4 N · mm.

  When the spring end 13 on the fixed side of the torsion spring 11 is disposed in the second spring locking hole 66, the torsional force of the torsion spring 11 when the mechanical key 2 is retracted is changed to about 15.3 N · mm. Thus, the deployment speed of the mechanical key 2 can be increased as compared with the case where the mechanical key 2 is disposed in the first spring locking hole 65.

  When the fixed spring end 13 is disposed in the third spring locking hole 67, the torsional force of the torsion spring 11 when the mechanical key 2 is retracted can be changed to about 11.6 N · mm. Thus, the deployment speed of the mechanical key 2 can be reduced as compared with the case where the mechanical key 2 is disposed in the first spring locking hole 65. Therefore, in the illustrated example, the deployment speed of the mechanical key 2 is increased in the order of the second spring locking hole 66, the first spring locking hole 65, and the third spring locking hole 67 of the inner case 6. It will be.

(Key unit operation)
When the mechanical key 2 of the key unit 1 of the jack knife key structure configured as described above is rotated from the retracted position of the case 3 to the fully deployed position, the release button 9 is resisted against the spring force of the coil spring 10. Is pushed, and the locked state between the restriction projection 91 of the release button 9 and the restriction recess of the rotor member 22 is released.

  Accordingly, the rotor member 22 is urged in the fully deploying direction of the key plate 21 by the spring force of the torsion spring 11, so that the mechanical key 2 is moved to the case 3 by the spring force of the torsion spring 11 around the release button 9. It will jump out from the storage position and automatically rotate to the fully deployed position.

  When the release operation of the release button 9 is released when the mechanical key 2 reaches the fully deployed position, the restriction projection 91 of the release button 9 is fitted into the restriction recess of the rotor member 22 by the spring force of the coil spring 10. Be regulated. The posture of the mechanical key 2 is maintained by returning the release button 9 to the original position where the release button 9 can be pushed.

  On the contrary, when the mechanical key 2 is stored from the fully deployed position of the case 3 to the retracted position, the release button 9 is pushed against the spring force of the coil spring 10 to move the mechanical key 2 to the fully deployed position. By manually rotating the storage button to the storage position, the locked state between the restriction projection 91 of the release button 9 and the restriction recess of the rotor member 22 is released.

  Accordingly, the mechanical key 2 reaches the retracted position by manually rotating the mechanical key 2 from the fully deployed position of the case 3 to the retracted position against the spring force of the torsion spring 11 with the release button 9 as the center of rotation. Then, when the pushing operation of the release button 9 is released, the restricting protrusion 91 of the release button 9 is fitted into the restricting recess of the rotor member 22 by the spring force of the coil spring 10 and the position is restricted. The release button 9 returns to the original position where the release button 9 can be pushed, and the posture of the mechanical key 2 is maintained.

(Effect of embodiment)
According to the key unit 1 having the jack knife key structure configured as described above, the following effects can be obtained in addition to the above effects.

  The torsion spring 11 is fixed to the spring end 13 on the fixed side of the three spring locking holes 65, 66, 67 of the inner case 6. The spring force of the spring 11 changes, and the spring force of the torsion spring 11 can be arbitrarily adjusted without replacing the torsion spring 11.

  Since the spring force of the torsion spring 11 with respect to the mechanical key 2 can be adjusted only by changing the arrangement position of the spring end portion 13 on the fixed side of the torsion spring 11 without replacing the torsion spring 11, The spring force to be applied can be easily adjusted.

  Depending on the arrangement position of the spring end portions 13 and 14 of the torsion spring 11, the spring force from the torsion spring 11 acting on the mechanical key 2 can be appropriately selected and easily changed according to the user's preference. The operation force of the mechanical key 2 can be arbitrarily set according to the user's preference.

[Modification]
The typical configuration example of the key unit 1 of the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiment and the illustrated examples, but the following modifications are also possible.

  The spring locking holes 65, 66, 67 of the inner case 6 are arranged at a convenient three places with a phase angle θ of 45 ° in the circumferential direction. For example, depending on the outer shape and size of the inner case 6, Of course, two or four or more spring locking holes can be formed in the circumferential direction with a predetermined phase angle θ.

  The key unit 1 can be applied to cylinder locks of various vehicles such as automobiles, construction machines, and agricultural machines, and can be applied to cylinder locks of doors of houses other than vehicles and other opening / closing bodies. Of course you can.

  As is clear from the above description, typical embodiments, modifications, and illustrations of the present invention have been illustrated, but the above-described embodiments, modifications, and illustrations are inventions according to the claims. It is not intended to limit. Therefore, it should be noted that not all the combinations of features described in the above embodiments, modifications, and illustrated examples are necessarily essential to the means for solving the problems of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Key unit, 2 ... Mechanical key, 3 ... Case, 4 ... Lower case, 5 ... Upper case, 6 ... Inner case, 7 ... Screw member, 8 ... Keyless module, 9 ... Release button, 10 ... Coil spring, 11 ... Torsion spring, 12 ... Coil part, 13 and 14 ... Spring end part, 21 ... Key plate, 22 ... Rotor member, 23 ... Support hole, 24, 62 ... Spring accommodating recess, 25, 65, 66, 67 ... Spring engagement Stop hole, 31 ... Storage opening, 41 ... Inner cylinder part, 42 ... Outer cylinder part, 43 ... Engagement hole, 51 ... Lock button, 52 ... Unlock button, 53 ... Operation hole, 61 ... Support hole, 63 ... Perimeter wall 64 ... Spring adjusting hole, 68 ... Locking protrusion, 81 ... Locking switch, 82 ... Unlocking switch, 91 ... Restriction protrusion, 100 ... Jig, CL ... Center, θ ... Phase angle

Claims (4)

A key plate for locking and unlocking, and a mechanical key having a rotor member fixed to one end of the key plate;
A case for supporting the rotor member to be rotatable from a storage position for storing the key plate to a fully expanded position where the key plate is fully expanded;
An inner case that covers the rotor member rotatably and is fixed to the case;
A spring end on the rotor member side provided between the rotor member and the inner case, one end of which is fixed to the rotor member, and a spring end on the inner case side where the other end is fixed to the inner case A torsion spring having
A spring force adjusting structure that is formed in the inner case and adjusts a spring force of the torsion spring by changing an angle of the inner case side spring end with respect to the rotor member side spring end;
A key unit comprising:   The spring force adjustment structure includes a spring adjustment hole formed in the inner case across the inner case side spring end, and a plurality of spring adjustment holes formed on the periphery of the spring adjustment hole and locking the inner case side spring end. The key unit according to claim 1, further comprising a locking hole.   The key unit according to claim 2, wherein a locking protrusion for hooking and locking the inner case side spring end is formed in the locking hole so as to protrude in the circumferential direction. The case includes a lower case having an upper opening that opens upward, and an upper case that opens and closes the upper opening of the lower case,
The key unit according to claim 1, wherein the inner case is fixed to the lower case.

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