JP2018138727A - Lock mechanism of lid body - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lock mechanism of a lid body which is small and has a simple structure.SOLUTION: A lock mechanism 10 has: a motor 28; a spring 30 which rotates around an axis by driving force of the motor 28; a rod 32 in which the rotation around the axis is regulated and a tip portion 32A can be engaged with a through hole provided at an openable/closable fuel lid; and a male screw portion 50 which is formed on the rod 32 and to which the spring 30 is screwed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a locking mechanism for a lid such as a fuel lid of a vehicle, for example.

  Generally, a lid such as a fuel lid provided in a fuel supply opening of a vehicle can be switched between a locked state that cannot be opened and closed and an unlocked state that can be opened and closed. For example, Patent Documents 1 to 3 include a lock mechanism that switches a fuel lid between a locked state and an unlocked state by moving a slide member, an output member, and a rod forward and backward in an axial direction and locking the rod in an engagement hole of the fuel lid. It is disclosed.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2015-218446 JP 2004-257472 A Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2015-203274

  The lock mechanism described above includes a slide member, a worm gear, and a speed reduction mechanism as a transmission mechanism that transmits the driving force of the motor to the rod. For this reason, the number of parts is increased, the entire lock mechanism is enlarged, and the structure is complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a lid locking mechanism having a small and simple structure.

  The lid locking mechanism according to claim 1 is a motor, a spring that rotates around an axis by a driving force of the motor, and a locking portion that is provided on the lid that is restricted from rotating around the axis and can be opened and closed. A rod whose tip can be locked, and a threaded portion formed on the rod and into which the spring is screwed.

  According to the above configuration, the spring screwed into the screw portion formed on the rod rotates around the axis by the driving force of the motor. At this time, since the rotation of the rod around the axis is restricted, the spring rotates with respect to the rod, and the position of screwing of the spring with respect to the thread portion of the rod changes. Accordingly, since the rod moves in the axial direction, the position of the tip of the rod is moved between a locked position locked by the locking portion of the lid and a non-locked position not locked by the locking portion. be able to.

  Further, since the spring is used as a transmission mechanism for transmitting the driving force of the motor to the rod, the number of parts can be reduced as compared with a configuration using a worm gear or the like. Furthermore, even when the motor and the rod are not coaxially arranged, the driving force of the motor can be transmitted to the rod via the spring, so that the degree of freedom in the layout of the lock mechanism is increased.

  The lock mechanism according to a second aspect is the lock mechanism according to the first aspect, wherein the screw portion formed on the rod is a male screw portion.

  According to the above configuration, since the threaded portion of the rod to which the spring is screwed is a male threaded portion, the processing when forming the threaded portion on the rod is easier and simpler than in the case of a female threaded portion or the like. It can be a structure.

  The lid locking mechanism according to claim 3 is the lid locking mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lid locking mechanism has an opening that exposes the tip of the rod, and the motor, the spring, and A housing for housing the rod is provided, and the housing is formed with a restricting portion for restricting rotation of a protrusion provided on the rod.

  According to the said structure, a motor, a spring, and a rod can be unitized by accommodating in a housing. In addition, since the housing is provided with a restricting portion and an opening, the tip of the rod exposed from the opening is moved in the axial direction while restricting rotation around the axis of the rod while the rod is accommodated in the housing. Can be made.

  The lid locking mechanism according to claim 4 is the lid locking mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the restricting portion is a through hole formed along a longitudinal direction of the housing, and the protrusion is , Projecting out of the housing from the through hole.

  According to the said structure, rotation of a rod is controlled when the protrusion formed in the rod contact | abuts to the peripheral part of the through-hole of a housing. In addition, since the protrusion protrudes outside the housing, the position where the protrusion is moved along the through hole manually from the outside of the housing allows the position where the tip of the rod is locked to the locking portion of the lid. It is possible to move from a position to a non-lock position that is not locked by the locking portion.

  As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a lid locking mechanism having a small and simple structure.

It is a perspective view which shows the peripheral part of the opening for fuel supply in which the locking mechanism in an example of embodiment was provided. (A) is a perspective view which shows the locking mechanism in an example of embodiment, (B) is sectional drawing which shows the state which divided the locking mechanism into the upper and lower halves. It is a disassembled perspective view of the lock mechanism in an example of an embodiment. (A)-(E) are schematic process drawings which show the action | operation of a locking mechanism. It is sectional drawing equivalent to FIG. 2 (B) which shows the modification of a locking mechanism.

  Hereinafter, a lid locking mechanism in an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the lock mechanism shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the left side in the figure is the front end side, and the right side in the figure is the rear end side.

(Constitution)
As shown in FIG. 1, the lock mechanism 10 of the present embodiment is provided in a fuel supply opening 14 provided in a vehicle body 12 of a vehicle such as an automobile. A fuel supply portion 16 is provided in the fuel supply opening 14, and a fuel lid 18 as a lid body covering the fuel supply opening 14 can be opened and closed via a hinge 20 at the peripheral portion of the fuel supply opening 14. Is attached.

  A plate 22 is attached to the other end of the fuel lid 18 opposite to the one end to which the hinge 20 is fixed on the inner side surface 18A (the surface facing the fuel supply unit 16). The plate 22 has a vertical portion 22A that extends perpendicularly to the inner side surface 18A of the fuel lid 18, and an inclined portion 22B that extends from the tip of the vertical portion 22A toward one end of the inner side surface 18A and away from the inner side surface 18A. doing. Further, a circular through hole 24 is formed in the vertical portion 22A of the plate 22 as a locking portion.

  The lock mechanism 10 is provided at the peripheral portion of the fuel supply opening 14 at a position facing the other end of the fuel lid 18 when the fuel lid 18 is closed. It is accommodated in the vehicle body 12 while being exposed in the supply opening 14.

  Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 3, the lock mechanism 10 includes a housing 26, a motor 28 accommodated in the housing 26, a spring 30, and a rod 32. It is equipped with.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, the housing 26 is a substantially cylindrical member having openings 26A and 26B formed on both end surfaces in the longitudinal direction, and is made of, for example, a resin material. Further, as shown in FIG. 2A, the housing 26 includes a substantially semi-cylindrical lower housing 36 and an upper housing 34 which are divided into upper and lower parts and joined to each other.

  As a method of joining the lower housing 36 and the upper housing 34, various methods such as a screwing method, a welding method, a bonding method using an adhesive, and a fitting method can be used.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the motor 28 is fitted in a motor accommodating recess 38 provided on one end side (rear end side) in the longitudinal direction of the housing 26 (lower housing 36 and upper housing 34). The motor accommodating recess 38 is shaped along the outer shape of the motor 28. For example, the motor 28 is flat when the motor 28 is flat, square when it is square, and round when it is round. ing.

  The inner diameter of the opening 26B formed on the rear end surface of the housing 26 is smaller than the outer diameter of the motor 28, and a connection terminal (not shown) connected to the rear end of the motor 28 passes through the opening 26B. And connected to a control device (not shown) outside the housing 26.

  An output shaft 28 </ b> A is provided at the tip of the motor 28, and the output shaft 28 </ b> A extends along the longitudinal direction of the housing 26 to the other end side (tip side) in the longitudinal direction of the housing 26. As shown in FIG. 2B, the output shaft 28A of the motor 28 is inserted and fixed in a groove 42A formed at the rear end of the joint member 42.

  The joint member 42 is a cylindrical member made of, for example, a resin material having a flange portion 44, and the flange portion 44 is accommodated in a flange accommodating recess 46 formed in the housing 26. As a result, the joint member 42 can rotate around the shaft together with the output shaft 28A of the motor 28, and the movement of the housing 26 in the longitudinal direction is restricted.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a circular groove 44A is formed on the front end surface of the flange portion 44 of the joint member 42, and the outer peripheral surface on the front end side from the flange portion 44 of the joint member 42 is A pair of holding projections 48 are formed to protrude.

  The spring 30 is a coil spring, and has a coil portion 30A whose inner diameter is larger than the outer diameter of the joint member 42 and whose outer diameter is smaller than the outer diameter of the flange portion 44, and from the rear end of the coil portion 30A along the longitudinal direction of the housing. And a projecting end portion 30B extending to the rear end side.

  The protruding end portion 30B of the spring 30 is inserted and fixed in the groove portion 44A of the flange portion 44 of the joint member 42, and the holding projection 48 of the joint member 42 enters between the coil portion 30A of the spring 30. Accordingly, the spring 30 can rotate around the output shaft 28A together with the joint member 42, and the movement of the housing 26 toward one end side (rear end side) in the longitudinal direction is restricted.

  The rod 32 is made of, for example, a resin material, and has a distal end portion 32A provided on the distal end side and a main body portion 32B provided on the rear end side. The outer diameter of the distal end portion 32 </ b> A of the rod 32 is smaller than the inner diameter of the opening 26 </ b> A formed in the distal end surface of the housing 26 and the through hole 24 formed in the vertical portion 22 </ b> A of the plate 22.

  Further, a male screw portion 50 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion 32B of the rod 32, and a pair of long cylindrical projections 52 projecting radially from the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion 32B on the tip side of the male screw portion 50. Are integrally formed. In addition, the main body portion 32B of the rod 32 is integrally formed with a contact portion 51 that contacts the tip of the coil portion 30A of the spring 30 when the rod 32 moves (retreats) to the rear end side.

  The male thread part 50 of the rod 32 has substantially the same pitch as the coil part 30A of the spring 30. The distal end side of the coil part 30A of the spring 30 is screwed into the male thread part 50 of the rod 32.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2A, a pair of oval through holes 54 serving as restricting portions are formed along the longitudinal direction of the housing 26 at positions corresponding to the protrusions 52 of the rod 32 of the housing 26. Has been. Here, the width of the protrusion 52 of the rod 32 (the length of the ellipse in the major axis direction) is smaller than the width of the through hole 54 (the major axis), and the height of the projection 52 (the length of the ellipse in the minor axis direction). ) Is slightly smaller than the height (short diameter) of the through hole 54 of the housing 26.

  Further, the extension length of the protrusion 52 is a length protruding from the through hole 54 of the housing 26 to the outside of the housing 26. For this reason, the rod 32 is movable in the longitudinal direction in the housing 26 by the protrusion 52 moving in the longitudinal direction in the through hole 54, and the protrusion 52 is connected to the peripheral portion (the upper end portion and the upper end portion) of the through hole 54. The rotation around the axis is restricted by contacting the lower end portion.

(Operation procedure)
Next, a procedure for switching the fuel lid 18 between the locked state where the fuel lid 18 cannot be opened and closed and the unlocked state where the lid can be opened and closed using the lock mechanism 10 will be described.

  When the fuel lid 18 is in the closed position for closing the fuel supply opening 14, the rod 32 of the lock mechanism 10 is positioned at the most distal end side in the housing 26 as shown in FIG. Further, the distal end portion 32 </ b> A of the rod 32 is also in the locked position which is the most distal end side, and is inserted into the through hole 24 formed in the plate 22 of the fuel lid 18. As a result, the fuel lid 18 is locked.

  When the fuel lid 18 is not locked, the motor 28 of the lock mechanism 10 is driven in one direction (forward direction) by a control device (not shown) to rotate the output shaft 28A in one direction (forward direction). At this time, the joint member 42 fixed to the output shaft 28 </ b> A and the spring 30 fixed to the joint member 42 rotate around the axis as the output shaft 28 </ b> A rotates.

  On the other hand, since the rotation of the rod 32 of the lock mechanism 10 around the axis is restricted, the spring 30 rotates with respect to the rod 32, and the position of screwing of the spring 30 with respect to the male thread portion 50 of the rod 32 changes. Here, since the movement of the joint member 42 in the longitudinal direction of the housing 26 is restricted, the position of the spring 30 fixed to the joint member 42 does not change.

  For this reason, the rod 32 moves (retreats) to the direction in which the rod 32 is screwed into the spring 30, that is, the rear end side, and accordingly, the front end portion 32A of the rod 32 moves (retracts) to the rear end side and passes through Get out of 24. When the distal end portion 32A of the rod 32 is brought into the unlocked position where the rod 32 is removed from the through hole 24, the fuel lid 18 is brought into the unlocked state as shown in FIG. 4B, and the fuel lid 18 is moved by the spring force of the hinge 20. At the open position, the fuel supply opening 14 is opened.

  Here, a position sensor (not shown) for detecting the position of the fuel lid 18 is provided at the peripheral edge of the fuel supply opening 14. When the position sensor detects that the fuel lid 18 is in the open position, the control unit drives the motor 28 in the other direction (reverse direction) to rotate the output shaft 28A in the other direction (reverse direction).

  Without providing the position sensor, when the motor 28 is driven in one direction (forward direction) to move (retract) the tip 32A of the rod 32, the motor 28 is moved in the other direction ( It may be configured to drive in the reverse direction.

  When the spring 30 is rotated in the other direction (reverse direction) together with the output shaft 28A, the screwing position of the spring 30 with respect to the male threaded portion 50 of the rod 32 is changed, and the rod 32 is pulled out from the spring 30, that is, toward the tip side. And move (forward). Along with this, as shown in FIG. 4C, the distal end portion 32A of the rod 32 moves (advances) to the lock position which is the most distal end side.

  After supplying fuel to the fuel supply unit 16, the fuel lid 18 is manually returned to the closed position. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4D, the inclined portion 22B of the plate 22 of the fuel lid 18 that moves to the closed position abuts on the tip portion 32A of the rod 32 and presses the tip portion 32A of the rod 32.

  At this time, since the inclined portion 22B of the plate 22 extends obliquely in the direction of one end of the inner surface 18A of the fuel lid 18 (in the direction of the hinge 20 shown in FIG. 1) and away from the inner surface 18A of the fuel lid 18, the rod 32 The front end portion 32A is urged toward the rear end portion. As a result, the rod 32 moves (retreats) to the rear end side, and the spring 30 is pressed and compressed by the rod 32.

  Thereafter, when the fuel lid 18 moves to the closed position and the through hole 24 of the plate 22 reaches a position corresponding to the tip 32A of the rod 32, the elastic force (compressive force) of the spring 30 as shown in FIG. As a result, the tip 32A of the rod 32 moves (advances) toward the tip and is inserted into the through hole 24. As a result, the fuel lid 18 is again locked.

  In the case of a failure such as when the control device or the motor 28 becomes inoperable, for example, the protrusion 52 of the rod 32 is manually moved (retracted) along the through hole 54 from the inside of the vehicle. As a result, the distal end portion 32A of the rod 32 moves (retreats) toward the rear end side and comes out of the through hole 24 of the plate 22, so that the fuel lid 18 can be brought into the unlocked state shown in FIG. 4B. It becomes.

(Function and effect)
According to the present embodiment, the fuel lid 18 is brought into the unlocked state by driving the motor 28 to rotate the spring 30 with respect to the rod 32 and retracting the tip 32A of the rod 32 to the unlocked position. Can do. On the other hand, the fuel lid 18 can be locked by advancing the tip 32A of the rod 32 by the elastic force of the spring 30 to the locked position.

  That is, in the present embodiment, when the fuel lid 18 is brought into the unlocked state, the spring 30 is used as a transmission mechanism for retracting the distal end portion 32A of the rod 32 by the driving force of the motor 28, and when the fuel lid 18 is brought into the locked state. The spring 30 can be used as an urging mechanism for advancing the tip 32A of the rod 32 by elastic force.

  For this reason, it is not necessary to drive the motor 28 when the fuel lid 18 is locked as compared with a configuration in which the rod 32 is moved forward and backward using a worm gear or the like as a transmission mechanism. Further, the number of parts can be reduced and the lock mechanism 10 can have a small and simple structure as compared with a configuration using a worm gear or the like as the transmission mechanism and a coil spring or the like as the urging means.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the male screw portion 50 into which the spring 30 is screwed is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion 32 </ b> B of the rod 32. For this reason, compared with the case where an internal thread part is formed in the internal peripheral surface of the main-body part 32B of the rod 32, a process is easy and it can be set as a simpler structure.

  Moreover, according to this embodiment, since the motor 28, the spring 30, and the rod 32 are each accommodated in the housing 26, the lock mechanism 10 can be unitized. Further, the housing 26 is formed with an opening 26A through which the tip 32A of the rod 32 is exposed and a through hole 54 into which the protrusion 52 of the rod 32 is inserted. For this reason, with the rod 32 housed in the housing 26, the tip 32A of the rod 32 exposed from the opening 26A can be moved in the axial direction while restricting the rotation of the rod 32 around the axis.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the protrusion 52 of the rod 32 protrudes out of the housing 26 from the through hole 54. For this reason, by manually retracting the protrusion 52 of the rod 32 from the outside of the housing 26 along the through hole 54, the distal end portion 32A of the rod 32 can be moved to the unlocked position.

(Other embodiments)
As mentioned above, although an example of embodiment of this invention was demonstrated, this invention is not limited above, In addition to the above, in a range which does not deviate from the meaning, it can implement variously.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the motor 28, the spring 30, and the rod 32 of the lock mechanism 10 are arranged side by side on the same axis. However, as shown as a modification in FIG. 5, the rod 62 of the lock mechanism 60 may be disposed at a position where the central axis is deviated from the axis of the output shaft 64 </ b> A of the motor 64.

  At this time, the spring 66 of the lock mechanism 60 is arranged in a curved state so as to connect the joint member 68 fixed to the output shaft 64 </ b> A of the motor 64 and the rod 62. The housing 70 of the lock mechanism 60 is also curved along the positions of the motor 64, the spring 66, and the rod 62.

  According to this configuration, the rod 62 can be disposed at a position where the central axis is deviated from the axis of the output shaft 64 </ b> A of the motor 64 within a range in which the spring 66 can be bent and deformed. For this reason, the freedom degree of the layout of the lock mechanism 60 becomes large, and the lock mechanism 60 can be arranged even when there is no wide space in the peripheral portion of the fuel supply opening 14 of the vehicle body 12.

  Furthermore, as shown as a modified example in FIG. 5, an illumination 72 such as an LED may be provided on the rod 62 of the lock mechanism 60. Specifically, the rod 62 is formed with a through hole 76 having one end opened at the tip end portion 62 </ b> A and the other end opened at the tip end of the protrusion 74. In addition, the illumination 72 is inserted into the through hole 76 on the tip 62A side of the rod 62, and the connection terminal 78 connected to the rear end of the illumination 72 is connected to a power source (not shown) through the through hole 76. Yes.

  According to this configuration, the periphery of the distal end portion 62 </ b> A of the rod 62 can be illuminated by turning on the illumination 72. Here, the tip 62A of the rod 62 is exposed in the fuel supply opening 14 in the same manner as the tip 32A of the rod 32 shown in FIG. Even when the surroundings are dark, the position of the fuel supply unit 16 and the like can be easily determined.

  The illumination 72 may be connected to the motor 64 of the lock mechanism 60 via the connection terminal 78. In this case, the illumination 72 can be turned on in conjunction with the driving of the motor 64 when the rod 62 is moved. In addition, a switch is provided in the fuel supply opening 14 so that the illumination 72 is turned on by manually pressing the switch, or the illumination 72 is turned on when the position sensor detects that the fuel lid 18 is in the open position. It is also possible to configure.

  In the embodiment and the modification, the pair of protrusions 52 and 74 and the contact portion 51 are integrally formed with the rods 32 and 62. However, the protrusions 52 and 74 and the contact portion 51 are different from the rods 32 and 62. It may be a body. As a method of joining the protrusions 52 and 74 and the contact portion 51 and the rods 32 and 62, various methods such as a screwing method, a welding method, a bonding method using an adhesive, and a fitting method are used. be able to.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the housing 26 was comprised by the lower housing 36 and the upper housing 34, the housing 26 may be comprised by one member of substantially cylindrical shape. In this case, the rod 32, the spring 30, the joint member 42, and the motor 28 are accommodated in this order in the housing 26, and then a separate protrusion 52 is joined to the outer peripheral surface of the rod 32 to form the lock mechanism 10. be able to.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the through hole 54 is formed in the housing 26 as a restricting portion that restricts rotation around the axis of the rod 32. However, the restricting portion is not limited to the through hole 54, and may be, for example, a protruding portion that protrudes from the inner peripheral surface of the housing 26 and contacts the protrusion 52 of the rod 32.

  Furthermore, according to the above-described embodiment, the tip end portion 32A of the rod 32 is inserted into the fuel lid 18 by inserting the tip end portion 32A of the rod 32 into the through hole 24 as the locking portion formed in the plate 22 of the fuel lid 18. It was locked. However, the locking portion is not limited to the through hole 24. For example, the tip portion 32A of the rod 32 has a hook shape, and the tip portion 32A of the rod 32 is hooked into the recess as the locking portion formed in the fuel lid 18. It is good also as a structure which latches the front-end | tip part 32A of the rod 32 to the fuel lid 18. As shown in FIG.

  In the above-described embodiment and modification, the joint members 42 and 68 are provided between the motors 28 and 64 and the springs 30 and 66. However, the springs 30 and 66 may be directly fixed to the output shafts 28A and 64A of the motors 28 and 64 without providing the joint members 42 and 68.

10, 60 Lock mechanism 18 Fuel lid (an example of a lid)
24 Through hole (an example of a locking part)
26, 70 Housing 26A Opening 28, 64 Motor 30, 66 Spring 32, 62 Rod 32A, 62A Tip 50 Male thread (an example of thread)
52, 74 Protrusion 54 Through-hole (an example of a restricting portion)

Claims (4)

A motor and a spring that rotates about the axis by the driving force of the motor;
A rod whose rotation around the shaft is restricted and whose tip can be locked to a locking portion provided on a lid that can be opened and closed;
A threaded portion formed on the rod and to which the spring is screwed;
A locking mechanism for the lid body.   The lid locking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the screw portion formed on the rod is a male screw portion. An opening for exposing the tip of the rod; and a housing for housing the motor, the spring, and the rod;
The lid locking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the housing is formed with a restricting portion that restricts rotation of a protrusion provided on the rod. The restricting portion is a through hole formed along the longitudinal direction of the housing,
The lid locking mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the protrusion protrudes out of the housing from the through hole.