JP2018008569A - Manual transmission shift lever device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a shift lever capable of suppressing occurrence of backlash for a long time in a manual transmission shift lever device.SOLUTION: In a manual transmission shift lever device, a first socket 51 has a tubular shape in which a central axis of a shift lever 20 is regarded as an axis when the shift lever 20 is at a neutral position, and is accommodated in a shift lever housing 80 in which the first socket is rotatable around the central axis C as a rotation axis. The first socket 51 and the shift lever housing 80 include a reverse rotation prevention mechanism in which the first socket 51 can rotate only in a specific direction. At least one pair of a locking claw 54 and a groove 83 engaging with the locking claw 54 between an outer peripheral surface of the first socket 51 and an inner peripheral surface of the shift lever housing 80. The groove 83 is formed in a helical shape in which the first socket 51 comes close to a second socket 52 when the first socket 51 rotates in the specific direction while the groove 83 is engaged with the locking claw 54. The first socket 51 is constituted so that a rotational operation is possible in the specific direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a shift lever device for a manual transmission having a shift lever large sphere at a shift lever fulcrum.

  The shift lever large sphere (hereinafter also simply referred to as “large sphere”) is held by a retainer having a spherical seat and a cover so as to be rotatable from above and below. Conventionally, when the shift lever is operated by the driver, the spherical seat of the retainer or cover and the surface of the large sphere rub against each other. The problem was that rattling occurred.

  Therefore, one of the conventional shift lever devices for manual transmission (hereinafter also referred to as “conventional device”) uses a spring (return spring) for returning (returning) the select arm to the neutral position. The gap between the retainer or the spherical seat of the cover and the large sphere is made small so as not to cause rattling.

  More specifically, the return spring of the conventional device is a so-called torsion spring, and the select arm is sandwiched from above and below by the arm portion. The return spring constantly urges the select arm by the torsional torque of the coiled coil so that the select arm is returned to a reference position (neutral position) where the select arm is horizontal. However, this return spring further generates an elastic force in the direction of the winding axis in the coil part, and the coil part always applies a rotational force in the direction of tightening the large sphere to the cover by the elastic force. Yes. As a result, even if wear occurs on the large sphere and / or the spherical seat, rattling is not caused (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2011-105194 A

  However, according to the conventional device, the elastic force decreases as the wear of the large sphere and / or the spherical seat progresses and the coil portion of the return spring extends in the axial direction. That is, as the coil portion of the return spring extends in the axial direction, the rotational force applied to the cover decreases. Therefore, according to the conventional apparatus, when wear of the large sphere and / or the spherical seat progresses, there is a possibility that rattling occurs because the force with which the cover tightens the large sphere is weakened.

  The present invention has been made to address the above problems. That is, one of the objects of the present invention is that when the wear of the large sphere and / or the spherical seat progresses, the tightening force by the cover to the large sphere is not weakened, and thus the shift lever has a long play. It is an object of the present invention to provide a shift lever device for a manual transmission that hardly occurs over a long period.

The shift lever device for a manual transmission of the present invention (hereinafter also referred to as “the device of the present invention”) is
A shift lever (20), a shift lever large ball (30) provided at a fulcrum of the shift lever so as to rotate integrally with the shift lever, and the shift lever large ball are supported from the operation side of the shift lever. A first socket (51), a second socket (52) for supporting the shift lever large sphere from the opposite side of the first socket, and the first socket, the second socket, and the shift lever large sphere are accommodated. A shift lever housing (80). The first socket and the second socket are formed with spherical seats (51a, 52a) on the surface supporting the shift lever large sphere.

  The first socket has a cylindrical shape whose axis is the central axis (C) of the shift lever when the shift lever is in a neutral position, and is accommodated in the shift lever housing so as to be rotatable about the axis. Is done.

The first socket and the shift lever housing include a reverse rotation prevention mechanism (53, 81, 82) that allows the first socket to rotate only in a specific direction.
Between the outer peripheral surface of the first socket and the inner peripheral surface of the shift lever housing, at least a pair of locking claws (54) and a groove (83) for engaging the locking claws are formed. .

The groove is formed in a spiral shape so that the first socket approaches the second socket when the first socket rotates in the specific direction in a state where the groove is engaged with the locking claw. .
Further, the first socket is configured to be rotatable in the specific direction.

  Thereby, when wear of the shift lever large sphere, the first socket, and the second socket progresses, the driver can appropriately rotate the first socket to tighten the first socket. Therefore, according to the device of the present invention, even if wear of the shift lever large sphere, the first socket, and the second socket progresses, the tightening force to the shift lever large sphere does not weaken. It can be suppressed for a long time.

  In the above description, in order to help the understanding of the invention, the reference numerals used in the embodiments are attached to the configuration of the invention corresponding to the embodiments in parentheses, but each constituent element of the invention is represented by the reference numerals. It is not limited to the embodiments specified. Other objects, other features and attendant advantages of the present invention will be readily understood from the description of the embodiments of the present invention described with reference to the following drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a shift lever device for a manual transmission according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1 and shows a shift lever large sphere of the shift lever device for a manual transmission shown in FIG. B) is a top view showing the structure. FIG. 3 is a view showing the shape of a groove formed in the shift lever housing of the shift lever device for manual transmission shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view showing the structure of the shift lever large sphere of the shift lever device for manual transmission shown in FIG. 1 and its periphery, and the upper socket (gear) is rotated in a specific direction after the parts are worn. FIG.

  Hereinafter, a shift lever device for a manual transmission (hereinafter referred to as “this device”) according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<Configuration>
As shown in FIG. 1, the device 10 constitutes a shift lever device for a floor-mounted manual transmission.
The apparatus 10 includes a shift lever 20, a shift lever large ball 30, a select arm 40, a shift lever large ball socket 50, a bell crank 60, a return spring 70, and a shift lever housing 80.

  Shift lever large sphere 30 (hereinafter also simply referred to as “large sphere 30”) is fixedly provided so that its center coincides with a fulcrum portion (rotation / tilting center) of shift lever 20. That is, the large sphere 30 rotates / tilts integrally with the shift lever 20. The large sphere 30 is made of resin.

  The select arm 40 protrudes from the side of the large sphere 30 so that the central axis C of the shift lever and the central axis thereof are orthogonal to each other. The distal end portion of the select arm 40 is processed into a spherical shape and is fitted to the bell crank 60 as will be described later.

  The shift lever large ball socket 50 (hereinafter also referred to as “large ball socket 50”) has a spherical seat 50a for holding the large ball 30 therein. The large spherical socket 50 is made of resin.

  A spherical tip portion of a shaft 62 that is pivotally supported by the housing 80 is fitted to the bearing 61 that is a fulcrum of the bell crank 60. The spherical tip of the select arm 40 is fitted to the bearing 63 of the bell crank 60. A pin 64 for connecting a select cable (not shown) protrudes from the lower portion of the bell crank 60.

  When the shift lever 20 is operated by the driver in a state where the shaft 62 is fitted to the bearing 61 of the bell crank 60 and the select arm 40 is fitted to the bearing 63, the shift lever 20 is set with the center of the large ball 30 as a fulcrum. The large sphere 30 and the select arm 40 tilt together. When the select arm 40 tilts, the bell crank 60 rotates about the bearing 61 as a fulcrum, so that the select cable connecting pin 64 can select the select cable or move the select cable. .

  The return spring 70 is constituted by a so-called torsion coil spring. The return spring 70 is fixed to the shaft 62 by inserting the shaft 62 into the wound coil portion, and is disposed between the bell crank 60 and the housing 80. Further, the pair of arm portions of the return spring 70 are provided so as to sandwich the select arm 40. That is, the arm portion of the return spring 70 urges the select arm 40 in a direction to return the select arm 40 to the neutral position of the select arm 40.

  Shift lever housing 80 (hereinafter also simply referred to as “housing 80”) is made of resin. A space for accommodating the large spherical socket 50 is formed in the housing 80. A bell crank 60 is fixed to the housing 80 via a shaft 62. Hereinafter, the structure of the large sphere socket 50 and the housing 80, a method for fixing the large sphere socket 50 to the housing 80, and the like will be described more specifically.

  As shown in FIG. 2 (A), the large ball socket 50 includes an upper socket 51 and a large ball 30 that hold the large ball 30 from above (that is, the operation side of the shift lever 20). A lower socket 52 is provided to be held from the side opposite to the operation side of the shift lever 20. The “upper socket 51” and the “lower socket 52” are also referred to as “first socket 51” and “second socket 52” for convenience.

  The outer shapes of the upper socket 51 and the lower socket 52 are substantially cylindrical. A lower portion of the upper socket 51 is cut out by a spherical surface having a radius substantially the same as the radius of the large sphere 30, and a spherical seat 51 a for holding the large sphere 30 is formed. A gear 53 is formed integrally with the upper socket 51 on the upper surface of the upper socket 51. As shown in FIG. 2A, the position of the shift lever 20 is in the neutral position (neutral position), and the central axis of the first socket 51 is the central axis C of the shift lever 20 when in the neutral position. To match.

  Further, a locking claw 54 is provided on the cylindrical side surface 51 c of the upper socket 51. In the present embodiment, four locking claws 54a to 54d are provided.

  The upper part of the lower socket 52 is cut out by a spherical surface having a radius substantially the same as the radius of the large sphere 30, and a spherical seat 52 a for holding the large sphere 30 is formed. Through holes 50a, 50b and 50c are opened in the large ball socket 50 (the upper socket 51 and the lower socket 52) so that the shift lever 20 and the select arm 40 can tilt.

  The housing 80 is provided with a coil spring 81 and a claw 82. One end of the coil spring 81 is fixed to the housing 80, and the other end is fixed to one end of the claw 82. The claw 82 comes into contact with the teeth of the gear 53 by the restoring force of the coil spring 81 (see FIG. 2B). Therefore, when the gear 53 is to be rotated counterclockwise as viewed from the operation side of the shift lever 20 (in the direction of arrow F in the figure), the teeth of the gear 53 can get over the claw 82. On the other hand, when the gear 53 is to be rotated clockwise (in the direction of arrow R in the figure), the teeth of the gear 53 cannot get over the claw 82. That is, the gear 53 can only rotate counterclockwise (in the direction of arrow F in the figure). In other words, the upper socket 51 and the housing 80 include a reverse rotation prevention mechanism (a so-called ratchet mechanism) in which the upper socket 51 rotates only counterclockwise. The reverse rotation prevention mechanism includes a gear 53, a coil spring 81, and a claw 82. Hereinafter, the arrow F direction is also referred to as “forward direction” or “specific direction” for convenience, and the arrow R direction is also referred to as “reverse direction”.

  Further, a groove 83 is formed in the inner peripheral surface 80 a of the housing 80. The upper socket 51, the lower socket 52, the shift lever 20, and the large sphere 30 are locked by fitting a locking claw 54 provided on the side surface of the upper socket 51 into the groove 83. The locking claw 54 is fitted into the groove 83 by pushing (pressing) the upper socket 51 into the housing 80.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the groove 83 is formed in a spiral shape on the inner peripheral surface 80 a of the housing 80. In the groove 83, spiral grooves 83a, 83b, 83c and 83d are formed in rotational symmetry with respect to each other on four inner peripheral surfaces obtained by equally dividing the inner peripheral surface 80a into four in the circumferential direction. FIG. 3A shows three of these grooves 83a, 83b and 83c. However, only a part of the groove 83a and the groove 83c is illustrated.

  The grooves 83 a to 83 d are formed in a spiral shape so as to be away from the upper end 80 b of the housing 80 in the counterclockwise direction when viewed from the operation side of the shift lever 20. In other words, the grooves 83a to 83d spiral so that the upper socket 51 approaches the lower socket 52 when the upper socket 51 is rotated in the forward direction (specific direction) in the state of being engaged with the locking claws 54a to 54d, respectively. It is formed in a shape.

  The upper socket 51 is press-fitted into the housing 80 in a state where the locking claw 54 is aligned with the press-fitting point PP shown in FIG. That is, the locking claw 54 is fitted to the groove 83 at a position closest to the upper end 80 b of the housing 80 in the groove 83.

  When the driver (driver) rotates the gear 53 in the forward direction after the groove 83 and the locking claw 54 are fitted, the upper socket 51 rotates in the forward direction together with the gear 53 and moves downward in FIG. Displace in the direction (to approach the lower socket 52). In this way, the driver (driver) can rotate the gear 53 until the spherical seat 51 a of the upper socket 51 comes into contact with the surface of the large sphere 30. As a result, the large sphere 30 is held between the upper socket 51 and the lower socket 52. In this case, the distance D between the lower end 51b of the upper socket 51 and the upper end 52b of the lower socket 52 is D0 (the initial value of the distance D). That is, the adjustment allowance for “shift lever rattling” is D0.

<Action>
When the driver operates the shift lever 20 repeatedly, the surface of the large sphere 30, the spherical seat 51a of the upper socket 51, and the spherical seat 52a of the lower socket 52 are worn over time. As this wear progresses, the driver feels rattling of the shift lever 20. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4 (side view), the gear 53 (and the upper socket 511 after wear) is rotated in the forward direction to fasten the upper socket 511 after wear to the housing 80. Thereby, rattling of the shift lever 20 caused by wear of the large sphere 30, the upper socket 51, and the lower socket 52 can be suppressed.

  At this time, the distance D between the lower end 51b of the upper socket 51 and the upper end 52b of the lower socket 52 is D1 (D1 <D0). As described above, the initial value D0 of the distance D is a backlash adjustment margin. Therefore, the initial value D0 holds the large ball 301 after wear by the spherical seat 511a of the upper socket 511 after wear and the spherical seat 521a of the lower socket 521 after wear after the service life of the device 10 has elapsed. The upper socket 511 needs to be set in consideration of the amount of displacement from the initial position in the direction of the central axis C. Note that the driver can also tighten the gear 53 with an appropriate torque by using a dedicated tool capable of managing the tightening torque.

As described above, the device 10 has a cylindrical shape in which the first socket (upper socket) 51 has the center axis C of the shift lever 20 when the shift lever 20 is in the neutral position, and the center axis C is the rotation axis. The shift lever housing 80 is rotatably accommodated,
The first socket 51 and the shift lever housing 80 include a reverse rotation prevention mechanism that allows the first socket 51 to rotate only in a specific direction (forward direction).
Between the outer peripheral surface of the first socket 51 and the inner peripheral surface of the shift lever housing, at least a pair of locking claws 54 and a groove 83 for engaging the locking claws 54 are formed,
The groove 83 is formed in a spiral shape so that the first socket 51 approaches the second socket 52 when the first socket 51 rotates in a specific direction (forward direction) with the groove 83 engaged with the locking claw 54. The first socket 51 is formed so as to be rotatable in a specific direction.

  Thereby, when wear of the shift lever large sphere 30 and / or the spherical seats 51a and 52a progresses, the driver (driver) can appropriately rotate the first socket 51 to tighten the first socket 51. Therefore, since the tightening force on the shift lever large sphere 30 does not weaken, the rattling of the shift lever can be suppressed over a long period of time.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be employed within the scope of the present invention.

  The gear 53 may be a separate member from the upper socket 51. In this case, however, the gear 53 is fixed to the upper socket 51 and is configured to rotate integrally with the upper socket 51.

  There may be at least one locking claw 54. When two or more locking claws 54 are provided, the locking claws 54 are preferably arranged at equal intervals on the circumference.

  In the above embodiment, considering the ease of mounting on the housing 80, the outer diameter of the upper socket 51 is the same as that of the upper socket 51. However, the lower socket 52 does not have to be cylindrical. The lower socket 52 need not have a shape that can rotate in the housing 80.

  A groove may be formed on the outer peripheral surface of the upper socket 51, and a locking claw may be formed on the inner peripheral surface of the housing 80. Even when the engaging claw is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the housing 80, the lower socket 52 can be press-fitted into the housing 80.

  The structure of the engaging portion between the upper socket 51 and the housing 80 may be a general screw fastening structure. That is, the locking claw may be continuously formed in a spiral on the outer peripheral surface of the upper socket 51 or the inner peripheral surface of the housing 80. When the upper socket 51 is attached to the housing 80, the upper socket 51 may be screwed into the housing 80 in the same manner as the bolt is engaged with the nut.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Shift lever apparatus for manual transmission, 20 ... Shift lever, 30 ... Shift lever large ball, 40 ... Select arm, 50 ... Shift lever large ball socket, 51 ... Upper socket, 52 ... Lower socket, 53 ... Gear, 54 ...... Stopping claw, 60 ... Bell crank, 70 ... Return spring, 80 ... Shift lever housing, 81 ... Coil spring, 82 ... Claw, 83 ... Groove.

Claims (1)

A shift lever,
A shift lever large sphere provided at a fulcrum portion of the shift lever so as to rotate integrally with the shift lever;
A first socket for supporting the shift lever large sphere from the operation side of the shift lever;
A second socket for supporting the shift lever large sphere from the opposite side of the first socket;
A shift lever housing that houses the first socket, the second socket, and the shift lever large sphere;
In the shift lever device for a manual transmission, a spherical seat is formed on a surface supporting the shift lever large sphere in the first socket and the second socket.
The first socket has a cylindrical shape whose axis is the central axis of the shift lever when the shift lever is in a neutral position, and is accommodated in the shift lever housing so as to be rotatable about the axis.
The first socket and the shift lever housing include a reverse rotation prevention mechanism that allows the first socket to rotate only in a specific direction,
Between the outer peripheral surface of the first socket and the inner peripheral surface of the shift lever housing, at least a pair of locking claws and a groove for engaging the locking claws are formed,
The groove is formed in a spiral shape so that the first socket approaches the second socket when the first socket rotates in the specific direction with the groove engaged with the locking claw,
The first socket is configured to be rotatable in the specific direction.
Shift lever device for manual transmission.

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