JP2021070369A - Vehicular step device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a vertical link type vehicular step device which enables deployment operation of a footboard to be start quickly and eases an impact caused when an occupant steps on the footboard before completion of deployment.SOLUTION: A vehicular step device 1 includes: a link arm 14 supporting a step plate 3 and extending in a vehicle width direction; and a drive link 12 and a driven link 13, each of which is rotatably supported at one end part by a link bracket 11 fixed to a vehicle body 20 and is rotatably supported at the other end part by the link arm 14. A driving motor 10 rotationally drives the drive link 12 to move the step plate 3 between a deployment position and a storage position in the vehicle width direction. When viewed in the vehicle width direction, a rotation center of the drive link 12 and the link arm 14 observed when the step plate 3 is in the deployment position is located at the opposite side of the rotation center observed when the step plate 3 is in the storage position across a vertical line Lv1 extending from a rotation center of the link bracket 11 and the drive link 12 in a vertical direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to a step device provided in a vehicle.

Some vehicles such as automobiles with a high floor position are equipped with a step device in order to improve the ease of getting on and off the occupants. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a movable side step device provided in a lower part of a side door of a vehicle. In the side step device described in Patent Document 1, a step for getting on and off (side step) is connected to the lower part of the vehicle body via a parallel link, and the side step device gets on and off in the vertical direction (vertical direction and vehicle width direction) with respect to the vehicle body. The structure is such that the step can be swung. By operating the actuator, the side step device is configured so that the boarding / alighting step can be moved between the storage position stored in the lower part of the vehicle body and the deployment position protruding laterally from the vehicle body.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 58-39543

In the step device having a structure in which the actuator moves between the storage position and the deployment position as in Patent Document 1, for example, when the side door is opened, the actuator is automatically operated to move the boarding / alighting step from the storage position. Control to move to the deployment position. Therefore, it is desired to quickly move the boarding / alighting step from the retracted position to the deployed position so that the player can get on and off immediately when the side door is opened.

Further, as in Patent Document 1, in the vertical link type step device that moves the boarding / alighting step by swinging the parallel link in the vertical direction, when boarding the moving boarding / alighting step before the completion of deployment. If the moving speed of the boarding / alighting step is high, there is also a problem that it becomes difficult to get on / off.
The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to promptly start the deployment operation of the boarding / alighting step and to easily board even before the completion of deployment. The purpose is to provide a vertical link type vehicle step device capable of performing.

In order to achieve the above object, the vehicle step device of the present invention includes a step for getting on and off, a vehicle body fixing member fixed to the vehicle body, and a step support member in which the step for getting on and off is supported at one end and extends in the vehicle width direction. A first link arm in which one end is rotatably supported by the vehicle body fixing member and the other end is rotatably supported by the other end of the step support member, and one end is the first link. A second link arm rotatably supported by the vehicle body fixing member separated from the arm in the vehicle width direction and rotatably supported by the other end of the step support member, and the first link arm. It has an actuator that rotationally drives one link arm, and by rotationally driving the first link arm by the actuator, the boarding / alighting step is placed at a deployment position located outside the vehicle body and at a lower portion of the vehicle body. It is a step device of a vehicle that moves in the vehicle width direction between the stored position and the position, and is vertically from a first rotation center that is a rotation center between the vehicle body fixing member and the first link arm. The second rotation center, which is the rotation center of the first link arm and the step support member at the storage position of the boarding / alighting step, and the deployment of the boarding / alighting step with the extended first vertical straight line interposed therebetween. The second rotation center at the position is configured to be located on opposite sides in the vehicle width direction.

As a result, when the boarding / alighting step moves from the retracted position to the deployed position, the second rotation center of the first link arm and the step support member is the first rotation of the vehicle body fixing member and the first link arm. It moves downward toward the first vertical line extending vertically from the center of motion, and moves upward after passing on the first vertical line.
Therefore, the step support member moves downward in the first half of the deployment operation from the retracted position of the step for getting on and off until the first link arm becomes vertical. As a result, the operating load of the actuator can be reduced and the rotation speed of the first link arm can be increased.

Further, in the latter half of the deployment operation until the first link arm is moved from the vertical state to the deployment position, the step support member moves upward. As a result, the operating load of the actuator can be increased, the rotation speed of the first link arm can be reduced, and the moving speed of the boarding / alighting step can be reduced.
Preferably, the first link arm is shorter than the second link arm and is arranged inside the second link arm in the vehicle width direction, and the first rotation center is the vehicle body fixing member and the second link. It is preferable that the position is above the third rotation center, which is the rotation center with the arm.

As a result, when the first link arm is arranged inside the vehicle width direction of the second link arm, the first link arm is set shorter than the second link arm, and the first rotation center is set. By combining the fact that it is located above the third rotation center, it is set to suppress the vertical movement of the boarding / alighting step, especially the upward movement, from the storage position to the deployment position. Can be done. As a result, even if the passenger gets on the boarding / alighting step during the deployment operation, the impact on the foot can be suppressed.

Preferably, at the deployment position of the boarding / alighting step, the second rotation center is set to be located outside the vehicle width direction from the second vertical line extending in the vertical direction from the third rotation center. It should be done.
As a result, immediately before the deployment position, the second rotation center moves outward in the vehicle width direction beyond the second vertical line, so that the tip of the boarding / alighting step can be set to move downward. it can. Therefore, when boarding the boarding / alighting step immediately before the completion of deployment, the impact on the foot can be further suppressed.

Preferably, the actuator is a motor having a drive shaft coaxially or integrally arranged with a support shaft that rotatably supports the vehicle body fixing member and the first link arm.
As a result, in the first half of the deployment operation from the retracted position of the step for getting on and off to the vertical rotation of the first link arm, the operating load of the motor can be reduced and the rotation speed of the first link arm can be increased. Further, in the latter half of the deployment operation from the vertical state of the first link arm to the movement to the deployment position, the operating load of the motor is increased, the rotation speed of the first link arm is reduced, and the step for getting on and off is performed. The moving speed of the can be reduced.

The vehicle step device of the present invention can increase the rotation speed of the first link arm in the first half of the deployment operation from the retracted position to the deployment position until the boarding / alighting step moves from the retracted position to the deployment position. Can be started quickly.
On the other hand, in the latter half of the deployment operation of the boarding / alighting step, the rotation speed of the first link arm can be reduced to reduce the upward movement speed of the boarding / alighting step. Even if you do, you can easily board.

It is an outline drawing of the vehicle provided with the step device of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of a rear link mechanism in a retracted state. It is a schematic block diagram of the rear link mechanism in the deployed state. It is explanatory drawing which shows the movement path of the step plate in a step apparatus. It is a detailed block diagram of the rear link mechanism in the deployed state.

Hereinafter, embodiments of a vehicle step device that embodies the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is an external view of a vehicle 2 provided with a step device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the front door and the rear door on the left side (passenger seat side) of the vehicle 2 are not shown, and the step device 1 is in the deployed state. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the rear link mechanism 5 in the retracted state. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of the rear link mechanism 5 in the deployed state. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation path of the step plate 3 (step for getting on and off) in the step device 1. 2 to 4 are views of the rear link mechanism 5 and its peripheral portion as viewed from the rear of the vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 1, the step device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention is, for example, a movable step device provided in the lower part of a 1BOX type vehicle 2 on the passenger seat side.
The step device 1 includes a step plate 3 and two link mechanisms 4 and 5 that movably support the step plate 3 in the vertical direction (vehicle width direction and vertical direction).
The step plate 3 extends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle below the opening 6 of the front door on the passenger side of the vehicle 2 and the opening 7 of the sliding rear door, and has a length in the vehicle width direction on which the occupant's feet can be placed. Is set to.

The step plate 3 is supported by two link mechanisms 4 and 5 at the lower part of the vehicle body, specifically, the lower part of the side sill 8 on the passenger seat side of the vehicle 2. The two link mechanisms 4 and 5 are arranged at intervals in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.
The step device 1 is configured so that the step plate 3 can be moved in the vehicle width direction between a storage position in which the step plate 3 is stored in the lower portion of the vehicle 2 and a deployment position in which the step plate 3 projects outward in the vehicle width direction from the side sill 8. ..

Of the two link mechanisms 4 and 5, the rear link mechanism 5 on the rear side of the vehicle includes a drive motor 10 (actuator) for driving the link (drive link 12 described later). The front link mechanism 4 on the front side of the vehicle does not include a drive motor and operates following the movement of the step plate 3.
The drive motor 10 is controlled to automatically operate as the front door and the rear door on the passenger seat side of the vehicle 2 are opened and closed. For example, when the front door and the rear door are closed, the step plate 3 is located in the retracted position, and when at least one of the front door and the rear door is opened, the drive motor 10 moves the step plate 3 to the deployed position. Is controlled to operate.

Hereinafter, the rear link mechanism 5 provided with the drive motor 10 will be described, but the front link mechanism 4 is different from the rear link mechanism 5 in that the drive motor is not provided, and the length of each link in the link mechanisms 4 and 5 is different. The vehicle width direction position, the vertical position, and the like of the vehicle 2 have the same configuration.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rear link mechanism 5 includes a link bracket 11 (vehicle body fixing member), a drive link 12 (first link arm), a driven link 13 (second link arm), and a link arm 14 (step). Support member) is provided.

The link bracket 11 has two thick plate-shaped vertical plate members that are arranged at intervals in the vehicle front-rear direction and extend in the vehicle width direction and the vertical direction, and are formed in a box shape with an opening at the bottom. The link bracket 11 is fixed to the lower part of the vehicle body 20 with bolts at four places in the front, rear, left and right.
The link arm 14 is an arm-shaped member arranged so as to extend in the vehicle width direction, has two thick plate-shaped vertical plate members arranged at intervals in the vehicle front-rear direction, and has the vertical plate. The members are connected at a portion outside in the vehicle width direction. A step plate 3 is fixed to an end portion of the link arm 14 that is outward in the vehicle width direction. The link bracket 11 and the link arm 14 are arranged at the same front and rear positions of the vehicle. Specifically, the vertical plate member on the front side of the link bracket 11 and the vertical plate member on the front side of the link arm 14, the vertical plate member on the rear side of the link bracket 11 and the vertical plate member on the rear side of the link arm 14 are the same vehicle. It is placed in the front-back position.

The drive link 12 and the driven link 13 are arm-shaped members having a box-shaped cross section, and are arranged such that one end is attached to the link bracket 11 and the other end is attached to the link arm 14 so that the axes extend in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. It is rotatably supported by link pins 21, 22, 23, 24. Therefore, the drive link 12 and the driven link 13 are arranged so as to be swingable in the vehicle width direction with respect to the vehicle body 20.

The drive link 12 is arranged inside the driven link 13 in the vehicle width direction (on the right side of the vehicle). Further, the drive link 12 is formed shorter than the driven link 13.
The first link pin 21 (support shaft, first rotation center) that supports the link bracket 11 and the drive link 12 is integrally formed with the drive shaft of the drive motor 10. The drive motor 10 is fixed to the link bracket 11.

The second link pin 22 (third center of rotation) that supports the link bracket 11 and the driven link 13 is arranged so as to be separated from the first link pin 21 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, and the first link. It is arranged offset below the pin 21.
On the other hand, in the link arm 14 extending in the vehicle width direction, the third link pin 23 (second rotation center) that supports the link arm 14 and the drive link 12 is arranged at the inner end portion of the link arm 14 in the vehicle width direction. Has been done. The fourth link pin 24 that supports the link arm 14 and the driven link 13 is arranged near the inner end portion of the link arm 14 in the vehicle width direction, and is separated from the third link pin 23 outside and below the vehicle width direction. And are arranged.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the retracted state where the step plate 3 is located at the retracted position, the drive link 12 and the driven link 13 rotate inward in the vehicle width direction, and the third link pin 23 and the fourth link pin 24 move inward. It is located inside the first link pin 21 and the second link pin 22 in the vehicle width direction.
As shown in FIG. 3, in the deployed state in which the step plate 3 is located at the deployed position, the drive link 12 and the driven link 13 rotate outward in the vehicle width direction, and the third link pin 23 and the fourth link pin 24 move outward. It is located outside the vehicle width direction from the first link pin 21 and the second link pin 22.

As shown in FIG. 4, at the unfolded position of the step plate 3, the upper surface of the step plate 3 is substantially horizontal (parallel to the horizontal plane of the vehicle body 20). On the other hand, in the retracted position of the step plate 3, the step plate 3 is located inside the vehicle width direction from the unfolded position, and the upper surface of the step plate 3 is slightly above the unfolded position and faces outward in the vehicle width direction. It is slightly inclined downward.

By driving the drive motor 10 and rotating the drive link 12, the step plate 3 moves between the retracted position and the deployed position. When the step plate 3 moves from the retracted position to the deployed position, the position of the outermost upper end portion of the step plate 3 in the vehicle width direction moves slightly downward while moving slightly downward as shown by the two-dot chain line Tls in FIG. Move outward in the direction. Further, when the step plate 3 is in the retracted position, the third link pin 23 is located inside the first link pin 21 in the vehicle width direction, and when the step plate 3 is in the deployed position, the third link pin 23 is the third link pin 23. It is located outside the vehicle width direction from the 1-link pin 21.

FIG. 5 is a detailed configuration diagram of the rear link mechanism 5 at the deployed position. Note that FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the rear link mechanism 5 in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the drive link 12 is provided with a stopper 30 that regulates the upward rotation of the drive link 12 in the deployed state.
The stopper 30 is made of an elastic body and is arranged between the first link pin 21 and the third link pin 23 toward the driven link 13.

On the other hand, the driven link 13 is provided with a receiving portion 31 between the second link pin 22 and the fourth link pin 24, to which the stopper 30 abuts in the deployed state.
In the present embodiment, the position where the drive link 12 is rotated about 35 degrees outward in the vehicle width direction from the state in which the drive link 12 extends downward in the vertical direction from the first link pin 21 (the state in which it extends along the vertical straight line Lv1) is in the deployed state. On the other hand, the stowed state is set to the position where the first link pin 21 is rotated downward by about 75 degrees in the vehicle width direction from the state extending downward in the vertical direction.

As described above, the link mechanisms 4 and 5 in the step device 1 of the present embodiment are four-section type link mechanisms having the link bracket 11, the drive link 12, the driven link 13, and the link arm 14, and the step plate 3 Is movably supported on the vehicle body in the vertical direction (vehicle width direction and vertical direction).
When the step plate 3 is in the retracted position at the lower part of the vehicle body, the third link pin 23 is located inside the vehicle width direction with respect to the first link pin 21, and the step plate 3 is deployed outside the vehicle width from the vehicle body. When in position, the third link pin 23 is located outside the vehicle width direction with respect to the first link pin 21. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the third link pin 23 on the side that rotates and moves in the drive link 12 is deployed from the storage position to the intermediate point P1 when the step plate 3 moves from the storage position to the deployment position. In the first half, it moves downward, and in the latter half of the deployment operation from the intermediate point P1 to the deployment position, it moves upward. The intermediate point P1 is a point on the vertical straight line Lv1 (first vertical straight line) in which the third link pin 23 extends downward from the first link pin 21 in the vertical direction.

As a result, when the step plate 3 moves from the retracted position to the deployed position, the drive motor 10 reduces the weight of the movable portion (link arm 14, etc.) of the step device 1 in the first half of the deployment operation from the retracted position to the intermediate point P1. Since the drive link 12 can be driven by using the drive link 12, the operating load of the drive motor 10 is reduced, the deployment operation is started quickly, and the moving speed of the step plate 3 is increased.

On the other hand, when the step plate 3 moves from the retracted position to the deployed position, in the latter half of the deploying operation from the intermediate point P1 to the deployed position, the drive motor 10 pushes the drive link 12 against the weight of the movable portion of the step device 1. Must be driven. Therefore, the rotation speed of the drive link 12 in the latter half of the unfolding operation is lower than that in the first half. As a result, in the latter half of the deployment operation, the ascending speed of the third link pin 23 decreases, and the moving speed of the step plate 3 decreases.

Further, when the step plate 3 moves between the storage position and the unfolding position, the drive link 12 largely rotates between the inside in the vehicle width direction and the outside in the vehicle width direction with the vertical line Lv1 in between. Even if the length of the link 12 is short, the step plate 3 can be largely moved in the vehicle width direction. On the other hand, since the length of the drive link 12 is short, it is possible to suppress the vertical movement of the step plate 3 when the step plate 3 moves between the storage position and the unfolding position.

Further, in the present embodiment, while the step plate 3 moves from the retracted position to the deployed position, the outer tip portion of the step plate 3 in the vehicle width direction moves slightly downward. As for the movement path of the outer tip of the step plate 3 in the vehicle width direction, the first link pin 21 is located above the second link pin 22 and the drive link 12 is shorter than the driven link 13 ( More specifically, the linear distance between the first link pin 21 and the third link pin 23 is shorter than the linear distance between the second link pin 22 and the fourth link pin 24).

On the other hand, for example, in the link mechanisms 4 and 5, the drive link 12 and the driven link 13 have the same length, and the first link pin 21 and the second link pin 22 are located in the same vertical position in parallel. In the case of a link, the step plate 3 moves in the vehicle width direction and moves in the vertical direction while maintaining a constant posture.
When the first link pin 21 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction is located above the second link pin 22 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the link mechanism of such a parallel link, the drive link 12 becomes larger as in the present embodiment. It can rotate and move inward in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the step plate 3 is located above the deployed state in the retracted state. On the other hand, when the drive link 12 is set shorter than the driven link 13 with respect to the link mechanism of the parallel link, the link arm 14 and the step plate 3 are greatly inclined downward in the vehicle width direction in the retracted state. Therefore, the tip portion of the step plate 3 in the vehicle width direction is located below the deployed state.

In the present embodiment, the first link pin 21 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction is located above the second link pin 22 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, and the drive link 12 is set shorter than the driven link 13. By combining the above, the step plate 3 is set so that the outer end portion in the vehicle width direction of the step plate 3 moves slightly downward until the step plate 3 moves from the retracted position to the deployed position.

In this way, between the storage position and the deployment position of the step plate 3, the outer tip portion of the step plate 3 in the vehicle width direction does not move upward at least in the latter half of the deployment operation, so that the occupant moves to the step plate 3 before the deployment is completed. Even when boarding, the impact on the legs can be alleviated.
Further, at the deployed position of the step plate 3, the third link pin 23 is set to be located outside the vehicle width direction from the vertical straight line Lv2 (second vertical straight line) extending in the vertical direction from the second link pin 22. Therefore, just before the completion of deployment, the outer end portion of the step plate 3 in the vehicle width direction moves slightly downward. As a result, when boarding the step plate 3 immediately before the completion of deployment, the impact on the foot can be further alleviated.

In the present embodiment, in the deployment operation for moving the step plate 3 from the retracted position to the deployment position, the moving speed of the step plate 3 is changed to perform a rapid deployment operation without variably controlling the rotation speed of the drive motor 10. In addition to making it possible, it is possible to alleviate the impact on the foot when boarding the step plate 3 before the completion of deployment.
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

For example, in the above embodiment, the drive link 12 arranged inside the vehicle width direction of the drive link 12 and the driven link 13 is rotationally driven by the drive motor 10, but is rotated outward by the drive motor 10 in the vehicle width direction. It may be a step device having a structure in which a drive link 12 to be driven is arranged.
Further, in the above embodiment, the drive shaft of the drive motor 10 and the first link pin 21 are integrated, but if the structure is such that the first link pin 21 is rotationally driven by the drive shaft of the drive motor 10, for example. It may be a separate structure arranged coaxially. Further, the drive link 12 may be driven by another actuator such as a cylinder instead of the drive motor 10.

1 Step device 3 Step plate (step for getting on and off)
5 Rear link mechanism 10 Drive motor (actuator)
11 Link bracket (body fixing member)
12 drive link (1st link arm)
13 Driven link (2nd link arm)
14 Link arm (step support member)
21 First link pin (first center of rotation)
22 Second link pin (third center of rotation)
23 Third link pin (second center of rotation)
Lv1 vertical line (first vertical line)
Lv2 vertical line (second vertical line)

Claims (4)

Steps for getting on and off and
The car body fixing member fixed to the car body and
A step support member that supports the boarding / alighting step at one end and extends in the vehicle width direction.
A first link arm in which one end is rotatably supported by the vehicle body fixing member and the other end is rotatably supported by the other end of the step support member.
One end is rotatably supported by the vehicle body fixing member separated from the first link arm in the vehicle width direction, and the other end is rotatably supported by the other end of the step support member. 2 link arm and
It has an actuator that rotationally drives the first link arm, and has an actuator.
By rotationally driving the first link arm by the actuator, the boarding / alighting step is moved in the vehicle width direction between the deployment position located outside the vehicle body and the storage position located at the lower part of the vehicle body. It is a step device of the vehicle to be made to
The first link at the storage position of the boarding / alighting step is sandwiched between a first vertical straight line extending in the vertical direction from the first rotation center which is the rotation center of the vehicle body fixing member and the first link arm. The second rotation center, which is the rotation center of the arm and the step support member, and the second rotation center at the deployment position of the boarding / alighting step are located on opposite sides in the vehicle width direction. A vehicle step device characterized by being configured. The first link arm is shorter than the second link arm and is arranged inside the second link arm in the vehicle width direction.
The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the first rotation center is located above the third rotation center, which is the rotation center of the vehicle body fixing member and the second link arm. Step device. At the deployment position of the boarding / alighting step, the second rotation center is set to be located outside the vehicle width direction from the second vertical straight line extending in the vertical direction from the third rotation center. The vehicle step device according to claim 2. The actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the actuator is a motor having a drive shaft coaxially or integrally arranged with a support shaft that rotatably supports the vehicle body fixing member and the first link arm. The vehicle step device according to any one of the following items.

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