JP2024063601A - Cable operation device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a cable operation device capable of properly giving operation force to a control cable capable of properly transmitting the operation force while decreasing an installation space.SOLUTION: A cable operation device D is equipped with a body member 2 and a moving member 5. The moving member 5 has a slit part 7a in which an inner cable 1c linearly projecting out from an outer casing 1a is inserted, and an edge part 7b formed around the slit part 7a on a surface of the moving member 5, and can displace to one side and the other side with respect to the body member 2 along a predetermined displacement surface. When the moving member 5 displaces to the one side, while the inner cable 1c is inserted in the slit part 7a, the edge part 7b of the moving member 5 abuts on an end part 9 of the cylindrical body 1b to push the end part 9 toward the outer casing 1a.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to a cable operating device that applies an operating force to a control cable.

For example, a door of a vehicle such as an automobile is provided with a latch device that includes a latch mechanism for fastening the door to the vehicle body and a lock mechanism for locking the operation of the latch mechanism. In this case, a latch operation unit and a lock operation unit that can be operated by an occupant are provided on the passenger compartment side of the vehicle door. The occupant can open the door by operating the latch operation unit connected to the latch mechanism using a latch cable. The occupant can also switch the operation of the latch mechanism between a locked state and an unlocked state by operating the lock operation unit connected to the lock mechanism using a lock cable.

In this way, when two operating parts, a latch operating part and a lock operating part, that can be operated by the occupant are provided, two cables, a latch cable and a lock cable, are required to transmit the operating force. This poses the problem that there are restrictions on the internal structure and design of the door in order to secure space inside the door to route the two cables.

Patent document 1 (JP Patent Publication 7-269203A) describes a control cable with an inner cable inside an outer tube, and a cable operating device that applies an operating force to the control cable. In this control cable, the inner cable is movable in the axial direction and is used to connect between an open lever (cable operating device) operated by an occupant and a latch mechanism, thereby transmitting the operating force of the occupant when opening the door. The outer tube is rotatable around the inner cable and is used to connect between a door lock knob (cable operating device) and a lock mechanism, thereby transmitting the operating force of the occupant when locking and unlocking the door. In this way, the control cable described in Patent Document 1 has the advantage that the latch and lock cables are composed of a single member, which reduces restrictions on the internal structure of the door and the design of the door.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-269203

The control cable described in Patent Document 1 is structured to transmit the rotation of the outer tube to the locking mechanism. To facilitate the routing of the control cable, the outer tube needs to be flexible, but if the outer tube of the control cable described in Patent Document 1 is made flexible, the rotation is less likely to be transmitted to the locking mechanism. Also, if the outer tube is in contact with another member, the rotation is less likely to be transmitted to the locking mechanism. In other words, it is expected that the operating force of the occupant will not be transmitted properly. Therefore, the control cable described in Patent Document 1 is insufficient to achieve the objective of properly transmitting the operating force of the operator.

Even if a control cable that can transmit an operating force appropriately while reducing the installation space can be realized, it is difficult to realize a cable operating device that applies an operating force to the control cable. For example, a control cable that can reduce the installation space can be realized by simply bundling two cables in parallel into one. However, since it is not possible to apply an operating force to each of the two cables separately if the distance between them is close, the cable operating device will provide an operating force such as pushing or pulling the two cables in different directions after leaving a gap between the two cables, that is, after making the orientation of each of the two cables different. In other words, in order for the cable operating device to apply an operating force separately to the two cables (the first cable and the second cable), it will apply an operating force such as pushing or pulling the first cable in a first direction, and an operating force such as pushing or pulling the second cable in a second direction different from the first direction. Therefore, for example, when the cable operating device applies an operating force to the first cable to push or pull it along the first direction, the second cable is attracted to the first cable and unintentionally faces a direction other than the second direction, resulting in what is called cable swing. Then, even if you try to push or pull the second cable along the second direction, which is facing in a direction other than the second direction, the problem arises that you cannot apply the operating force appropriately.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above problems, and its purpose is to provide a cable operating device that can appropriately apply operating force to a control cable that can appropriately transmit operating force while reducing the installation space.

A characteristic configuration of a cable manipulation device according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a cable manipulation device for applying a manipulation force to a control cable, comprising:
the control cable includes a tubular outer casing, a cylindrical body covered by the outer casing and configured to transmit an operating force, and an inner cable disposed in an inner space of the cylindrical body, the cylindrical body and the inner cable being independently slidable in an axial direction;
a main body member having a fixing portion for fixing the outer casing;
a movable member that is displaced relative to the main body member in response to an operating force by an operator,
the cylindrical body and the inner cable linearly protrude from the outer casing at or near a portion fixed by the fixing portion,
the movable member has a slit portion, through which the inner cable is inserted and which protrudes linearly from the outer casing, and an edge portion formed around the slit portion on a surface of the movable member, and is displaceable in one direction and the other relative to the main body member along a predetermined displacement plane that includes a direction in which the slit portion extends and a direction in which the inner cable protrudes from the outer casing,
The movable member is configured such that, when the movable member is displaced in one direction, with the inner cable inserted through the slit portion, the edge portion of the movable member abuts against the end portion of the tubular body, pushing the end portion toward the outer casing.

According to the above characteristic configuration, the control cable is composed of a single member with an inner cable inserted into the space inside the cylindrical body, which has the advantage of requiring less installation space. In addition, since the control cable is not structured like two cables bundled in parallel, but has a coaxial structure with the inner cable inserted into the space inside the cylindrical body, it can be easily bent in any direction. As a result, the control cable can be installed in a bent state in a narrow space, for example. In addition, even if the outer casing is made flexible, the transmission of operating force is not made difficult. Furthermore, since the inner cable and the cylindrical body are covered by a tubular outer casing, the axial sliding of the inner cable and the cylindrical body is not hindered even if the outer casing comes into contact with other members. As a result, the control cable can properly transmit the operating force applied to the inner cable and the cylindrical body.

The movable member can be displaced to one side or the other relative to the main body member along a predetermined displacement plane including the direction in which the slit portion extends and the direction in which the inner cable protrudes from the outer casing. In addition, when the movable member is displaced to one side in response to the operating force of the operator, the edge of the movable member abuts against the end of the cylindrical body and pushes the end toward the outer casing with the inner cable inserted in the slit portion. In other words, even if the movable member is displaced in response to the operating force of the operator and the movable member and the cylindrical body abut, interference between the movable member and the inner cable is suppressed. In this way, even if the movable member is displaced in response to the operating force of the operator, the operating force is appropriately applied to the cylindrical body while preventing the operating force from acting on the inner cable.
Therefore, it is possible to provide a cable operating device that can appropriately apply an operating force to a control cable that can appropriately transmit the operating force while reducing the installation space.

Another characteristic feature of the cable operating device of the present invention is that while the edge of the movable member and the end of the cylindrical body are in the abutting state, the amount by which the end of the cylindrical body is pushed into the outer casing changes depending on the amount of displacement of the movable member.

According to the above characteristic configuration, the operator can push the cylindrical body in by a large amount by displacing the movable member.

Another characteristic feature of the cable operating device of the present invention is that the movable member is displaced so as to rotate around a predetermined axis relative to the main body member along the displacement surface.

According to the above characteristic configuration, the operator can apply an operating force to the cylindrical body by applying an operating force that rotates the movable member.

In still another characteristic configuration of the cable operating device according to the present invention, the main body member has a plate-like member having an arc-shaped through groove centered on the axis,
the movable member has a front side member disposed on a front side surface which is one surface of the plate-like member, a rear side member disposed on a rear side surface which is the other surface of the plate-like member, and a connecting member which connects the front side member and the rear side member through the through groove,
A first operating portion operated by an operator is provided on the front member, and the slit portion and the edge portion are provided on the back member.

According to the above characteristic configuration, a first operating section operated by an operator is provided on the front side of the plate-like member constituting the main body member, and a slit section and an edge section are provided on the back side of the plate-like member constituting the main body member. In other words, the first operating section that needs to be operated by the operator so as to rotate is provided on the front side to make it easier for the operator to operate, while the slit section and edge section that do not need to be operated by the operator can be provided on the back side to make them inoperable by the operator.

Another characteristic feature of the cable operating device of the present invention is that the shape of the edge when viewed in the axial direction is curved in an arc.

If the edge of the movable member is linear as viewed in the axial direction, when the linear portion abuts against the end of the cylindrical body while rotating around the axis, the direction in which the linear portion abuts against the end of the cylindrical body changes significantly. For example, as the linear edge rotates, the linear portion may not only abut against the end of the cylindrical body from a direction parallel to the axial direction of the cylindrical body, but may also abut against the end of the cylindrical body from diagonally below, or from diagonally above, etc. In other words, not only may the linear portion push the end of the cylindrical body along the axial direction, but the linear portion may also push up the end of the cylindrical body from diagonally below intersecting with the axial direction, or may push down the end of the cylindrical body from diagonally above intersecting with the axial direction.
However, in this characteristic configuration, the shape of the edge of the movable member when viewed from the axial direction is curved like an arc, so when the curved portion abuts against the end of the cylindrical body while rotating around the axis, the direction in which the curved portion abuts against the end of the cylindrical body does not change significantly. In other words, there is an advantage in that the direction in which the movable member presses the end of the cylindrical body is stable.

Another characteristic feature of the cable operating device of the present invention is that the movable member is displaced so as to move linearly relative to the main body member along the displacement surface.

According to the above characteristic configuration, the operator can apply an operating force to the cylindrical body by applying an operating force that causes the movable member to move linearly.

In still another characteristic configuration of the cable operating device according to the present invention, the main body member has a plate-like member having a fitting portion that extends linearly along a direction in which the movable member moves linearly,
the movable member includes a front side member disposed on a front side, which is one surface of the plate-like member, and having a fitted portion that fits into the fitting portion, a rear side member disposed on a rear side, which is the other surface of the plate-like member, and a connecting member that connects the front side member and the rear side member;
A first operating portion operated by an operator is provided on the front member, and the slit portion and the edge portion are provided on the back member.

According to the above characteristic configuration, a first operating section operated by an operator is provided on the front side of the plate-like member constituting the main body member, and a slit section and an edge section are provided on the back side of the plate-like member constituting the main body member. In other words, the first operating section that the operator needs to operate so as to move in a straight line is provided on the front side to make it easier for the operator to operate, while the slit section and edge section that the operator does not need to operate can be provided on the back side to make them inoperable by the operator.

Another characteristic feature of the cable operating device of the present invention is that it is equipped with a second operating part that is connected to the inner cable and that is operated by an operator in a direction to push the inner cable toward the fixed part and in a direction to pull the inner cable out from the fixed part.

According to the above characteristic configuration, even if the movable member is displaced in response to the operating force of the operator, the operating force does not act on the inner cable, so the inner cable can be appropriately pushed toward the fixed part and pulled out from the fixed part by the operating force applied by the operator to the second operating part.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which a control cable is provided on a vehicle door. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the structure of a control cable. 1A to 1C are diagrams illustrating a specific example of a cable manipulation device according to a first embodiment. 1A to 1C are diagrams illustrating a specific example of a cable manipulation device according to a first embodiment. 2A to 2C are diagrams illustrating components of the cable manipulation device of the first embodiment. 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating a specific example of a cable manipulation device according to the second embodiment. 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating a specific example of a cable manipulation device according to the second embodiment. 13A to 13C are diagrams illustrating components of a cable manipulation device according to a second embodiment. 13A to 13C are diagrams illustrating components of a cable manipulation device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a state in which a control cable 1 is provided on a vehicle door 25. As shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, a vehicle door 25 is provided with a latch device 30 including a latch mechanism 31 for fastening the vehicle door 25 to a vehicle body (not shown) and a lock mechanism 32 for locking the operation of the latch mechanism 31. In this case, a cable operation device D that can be operated by an operator such as a passenger is provided on the passenger compartment side of the vehicle door 25. Since the latch device 30 and the cable operation device D are connected by a control cable 1, an operation performed by the operator on the cable operation device D is transmitted to the latch device 30 via the control cable 1. For example, the operator can operate the latch mechanism 31 to open the vehicle door 25. In addition, the operator can operate the lock mechanism 32 by operating the cable operation device D to switch the operation of the latch mechanism 31 between a locked state and an unlocked state.

Figure 2 is a diagram showing the structure of the control cable 1. As shown in the figure, the control cable 1 comprises a tubular outer casing 1a, a spring cable 1b that is covered by the outer casing 1a and serves as an example of a cylindrical body that transmits operating forces, and an inner cable 1c that is disposed in the inner space of the spring cable 1b. In other words, the inner cable 1c is surrounded by the spring cable 1b. The spring cable 1b and the inner cable 1c can each independently slide in the axial direction.

The inner cable 1c of this embodiment is made of a single metal wire and is used as a push-pull cable that transmits push-pull operating forces. By making the inner cable 1c out of a single metal wire, the rigidity of the inner cable 1c can be increased. As a result, the operation applied to the inner cable 1c can be transmitted more reliably.
The inner cable 1c may be made of a stranded wire having a plurality of metal wires. By making the inner cable 1c of a stranded wire having a plurality of metal wires, the inner cable 1c is less likely to break even if it is bent, for example.

In this embodiment, the cylindrical body surrounding the inner cable 1c is made of a spring cable 1b in which wires are wound in a spiral shape with a space inside. The wires that make up the spring cable 1b are filaments made of metal or resin, and are formed by winding the wires in a spiral shape. The spring cable 1b is used as a push cable that transmits a pushing force.

In this way, the control cable 1 has the advantage that it requires little installation space because it is composed of a single member with the inner cable 1c inserted into the space inside the spring cable 1b. Also, since it has a coaxial structure with the inner cable 1c inserted into the space inside the spring cable 1b, rather than a structure where, for example, two cables are bundled in parallel, it can be easily bent in any direction. As a result, for example, the control cable 1 can be installed in a bent state in a narrow space.

In addition, because the inner cable 1c and the spring cable 1b are covered by the tubular outer casing 1a, the axial sliding of the inner cable 1c and the spring cable 1b is not impeded even if the outer casing 1a comes into contact with other components. As a result, the control cable 1 can properly transmit the operating force applied to the inner cable 1c and the spring cable 1b.

For example, as described below, one end of the spring cable 1b is connected to the latch mechanism 31, and the other end of the spring cable 1b is connected to a movable member 5 having a first operating part (front member 6) that can be operated by an operator. Then, the operator can operate the spring cable 1b with the movable member 5 to open the vehicle door 25.

One end of the inner cable 1c is connected to a locking mechanism 32 for locking the operation of the latch mechanism 31, and the other end of the inner cable 1c is connected to a second operating unit 20 that can be operated by an operator. The operator can then operate the inner cable 1c using the second operating unit 20 to switch the operation of the latch mechanism 31 between a locked state and an unlocked state.

When the spring cable 1b is connected to the latch mechanism 31 and the inner cable 1c is connected to the lock mechanism 32, the inner cable 1c is inserted into the space inside the spring cable 1b, creating a coaxial structure. In this case, the inner cable 1c cannot be cut unless the spring cable 1b is cut, and only the inner cable 1c connected to the lock mechanism 32 cannot be cut, so it is possible to prevent theft of the vehicle by cutting the control cable 1 of the vehicle door 25.

Figures 3 and 4 are diagrams showing a specific example of a control cable 1 and a cable operating device D1 (D) that applies an operating force to the control cable 1. Figure 3 shows the cable operating device D1 as seen from the front side, i.e., from the passenger compartment side where the operator can operate it. Figure 4 shows the cable operating device D1 as seen from the back side, i.e., from the inside of the vehicle door 25 where the operator cannot operate it.

The figure shows three mutually orthogonal directions: the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction. One side of the X direction is the X1 direction, and the other side is the X2 direction. One side of the Y direction is the Y1 direction, and the other side is the Y2 direction. For example, the X direction is the direction along the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle, the Y direction is the direction along the vertical direction, and the Z direction is the direction along the thickness direction of the vehicle door 25. The X-Y plane is the plane along the panel plane on the passenger compartment side of the vehicle door 25.

The cable operating device D1 includes a main body member 2 having a fixing portion 3 for fixing the outer casing 1a, and a movable member 5 that is displaced relative to the main body member 2 in response to the operating force of the operator. Figure 5 shows the structure of the movable member 5.

The main body member 2 has a plate-like member 4 having an arc-shaped through groove 8 centered on the axis 40. The movable member 5 is assembled to the main body member 2 in a state in which the movable member 5 can be displaced to one side or the other relative to the main body member 2. In this embodiment, the movable member 5 can be displaced to one side or the other along the arc-shaped through groove 8 of the main body member 2.

The movable member 5 has a front member 6 arranged on one surface of the plate-like member 4, a rear member 7 arranged on the other surface of the plate-like member 4, and a connecting member 18 that connects the front member 6 and the rear member 7 through a through groove 8.

The front member 6 is located on the vehicle interior side where the operator can operate it, and the first operating part operated by the operator is provided on the front member 6. The back member 7 is located on the inside side of the vehicle door 25 where the operator cannot operate it, and the slit portion 7a and edge portion 7b are provided on the back member 7.

The spring cable 1b and the inner cable 1c protrude linearly in the X2 direction in the figure from the portion of the outer casing 1a fixed by the fixing portion 3 or in the vicinity thereof. The movable member 5 has a slit portion 7a through which the inner cable 1c protruding linearly from the outer casing 1a is inserted, and an edge portion 7b formed around the slit portion 7a on the surface of the movable member 5. The edge portion 7b is formed in a ring shape that surrounds the opening of the slit portion 7a. As the edge portion 7b has a surface facing the X1 direction, the edge portion 7b faces the spring cable 1b protruding in the X2 direction.

The movable member 5 can be displaced in one direction or the other relative to the main body member 2 along a predetermined displacement plane (X-Y plane in the figure) that includes the direction in which the slit portion 7a extends and the direction in which the inner cable 1c protrudes from the outer casing 1a. In this embodiment, the movable member 5 is displaced in one direction or the other relative to the main body member 2 so as to rotate around a predetermined axis 40 along the displacement plane (X-Y plane in the figure) as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Specifically, the front side member 6, which is the first operating part operated by the operator, can be displaced in the X1 direction and the X2 direction around the axis 40, and the back side member 7, which is formed integrally with the front side member 6, is also displaced in the X1 direction and the X2 direction around the axis 40 at the same time.

When the operator moves the front member 6 in the X1 direction, i.e., when the movable member 5 is displaced in one direction (the X1 direction in the figure), with the inner cable 1c inserted through the slit portion 7a, the edge portion 7b of the movable member 5 comes into contact with the end portion 9 of the spring cable 1b, pushing the end portion 9 towards the outer casing 1a.

In this embodiment, the shape of the edge 7b when viewed in the direction along the axis 40 is curved to draw an arc. If the edge 7b of the movable member 5 when viewed in the direction along the axis 40 is straight, when the straight portion abuts against the end 9 of the spring cable 1b while rotating around the axis 40, the direction in which the straight portion hits the end 9 of the spring cable 1b changes significantly. For example, as the straight edge 7b rotates, the straight portion may not only hit the end 9 of the spring cable 1b from a direction parallel to the axial direction of the spring cable 1b (X direction in the figure), but may also hit the end 9 of the spring cable 1b from diagonally below, or from diagonally above. In other words, not only when the straight portion pushes the end 9 of the spring cable 1b along the axial direction (X direction in the figure), but also when the straight portion pushes up the end 9 of the spring cable 1b from diagonally below intersecting the axial direction, or when the straight portion pushes down the end 9 of the spring cable 1b from diagonally above intersecting the axial direction, may occur. However, in this embodiment, the shape of the edge 7b of the movable member 5 when viewed from the direction of the axis 40 (viewed from the direction along the Z direction) is curved like an arc, so when the curved portion abuts against the end 9 of the spring cable 1b while rotating around the axis 40, the direction in which the curved portion abuts against the end 9 of the spring cable 1b does not change significantly. In other words, there is an advantage in that the direction in which the movable member 5 pushes into the end 9 of the spring cable 1b is stable.

While the edge 7b of the movable member 5 and the end 9 of the spring cable 1b are in contact with each other, the amount of pushing in of the end 9 of the spring cable 1b towards the outer casing 1a changes according to the amount of displacement of the movable member 5. For example, as the amount of displacement of the movable member 5 in the X1 direction around the axis 40 increases, the amount of pushing in of the end 9 of the spring cable 1b towards the outer casing 1a increases. Although not shown, in the latch device 30, the spring cable 1b is biased towards the cable operating device D1 by, for example, a spring, so that when the operator stops moving the front side member 6 in the X1 direction, the spring force of the spring pushes the spring cable 1b back to its original position. When the spring cable 1b is pushed back to its original position, the edge 7b of the movable member 5 is pushed back in the X2 direction by the end 9 of the spring cable 1b, i.e., the movable member 5 as a whole is displaced in the X2 direction.

In this way, one end of the spring cable 1b is connected to the latch mechanism 31 of the latch device 30, and the other end of the spring cable 1b is connected to the movable member 5 having the first operating portion (front member 6). Therefore, when an operator uses the front member 6 to push the spring cable 1b toward the outer casing 1a, the pushing operation is transmitted to the latch mechanism 31 via the control cable 1, and as a result, the vehicle door 25 can be opened.

The cable operating device D1 is connected to the inner cable 1c and includes a second operating part 20 that is operated by an operator in a direction to push the inner cable 1c toward the fixed part 3 (X1 direction) and in a direction to pull the inner cable 1c out from the fixed part 3 (X2 direction). The inner cable 1c is connected to a connecting part 20a of the second operating part 20.

In this way, one end of the inner cable 1c is connected to the lock mechanism 32 for locking the operation of the latch mechanism 31 of the latch device 30, and the other end of the inner cable 1c is connected to the connecting portion 20a of the second operating unit 20 that can be operated by the operator. Therefore, when the operator, for example, pushes and pulls the inner cable 1c using the second operating unit 20, the push and pull operations are transmitted to the lock mechanism 32 via the control cable 1, and as a result, the operation of the latch mechanism 31 can be switched between a locked state and an unlocked state.

As described above, the movable member 5 can be displaced to one side or the other relative to the main body member 2 along a predetermined displacement plane (X-Y plane) including the direction in which the slit portion 7a extends and the direction in which the inner cable 1c protrudes from the outer casing 1a. In addition, when the movable member 5 is displaced to one side in response to the operating force of the operator, the edge portion 7b of the movable member 5 abuts against the end portion 9 of the spring cable 1b with the inner cable 1c inserted into the slit portion 7a, and the end portion 9 is in an abutting state in which it pushes the end portion 9 toward the outer casing 1a. In other words, even if the movable member 5 is displaced in response to the operating force of the operator and the movable member 5 and the spring cable 1b abut, interference between the movable member 5 and the inner cable 1c is suppressed. In this way, even if the movable member 5 is displaced in response to the operating force of the operator, the operating force is appropriately applied to the spring cable 1b while preventing the operating force from acting on the inner cable 1c.

In addition, the first operating part (front member 6) that the operator needs to operate so as to rotate around the axis 40 can be installed on the front side to make it easier for the operator to operate, while the slit portion 7a and edge portion 7b that the operator does not need to operate can be installed on the back side to make them inoperable by the operator. Also, the rotation plane when rotating the first operating part (front member 6) is a plane that follows the panel plane that constitutes the passenger compartment side of the vehicle door 25. This has the advantage of making it easier for the operator to operate.

Second Embodiment
A cable operating device D2 (D) according to the second embodiment will be described below, but a description of the same configuration as in the first embodiment will be omitted.

Figures 6 and 7 are diagrams showing a specific example of a control cable 1 and a cable operating device D2 (D) that applies an operating force to the control cable 1. Figure 6 is a diagram showing the cable operating device D2 as viewed from the front side, i.e., from the passenger compartment side where the operator can operate it. Figure 7 is a diagram showing the cable operating device D2 as viewed from the back side, i.e., from the inside side of the vehicle door 25 where the operator cannot operate it.

The figure shows three mutually orthogonal directions: the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction. One side of the X direction is the X1 direction, and the other side is the X2 direction. One side of the Y direction is the Y1 direction, and the other side is the Y2 direction. For example, the X direction is the direction along the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle, the Y direction is the direction along the vertical direction, and the Z direction is the direction along the thickness direction of the vehicle door 25. The X-Y plane is the plane along the panel plane on the passenger compartment side of the vehicle door 25.

The cable operating device D2(D) comprises a main body member 10 having a fixing portion 11 for fixing the outer casing 1a, and a movable member 13 that is displaced relative to the main body member 10 in response to the operating force of the operator. Figure 8 shows the structure of the movable member 13. Figure 9 shows the structure of the main body member 10.

The main body member 10 has a plate-like member 12 having an engagement portion 16 that extends linearly along the direction in which the movable member 13 moves linearly. The movable member 13 has a front side member 14 that is disposed on one surface, the front side, of the plate-like member 12 and has an engaged portion 17 that engages with the engagement portion 16 of the main body member 10, a back side member 15 that is disposed on the other surface, the back side, of the plate-like member 12, and a connecting member 19 that connects the front side member 14 and the back side member 15. The two are assembled together in a state in which the movable member 13 can be displaced in one direction and the other along the Y direction relative to the main body member 10.

The front member 14 is located on the vehicle interior side where the operator can operate it, and the first operating part operated by the operator is provided on the front member 14. The back member 15 is located on the inside side of the vehicle door 25 where the operator cannot operate it, and the slit portion 15a and edge portion 15b are provided on the back member 7.

The spring cable 1b and the inner cable 1c protrude linearly from the outer casing 1a at or near the portion fixed by the fixing portion 11. The movable member 13 has a slit portion 15a through which the inner cable 1c protruding linearly from the outer casing 1a is inserted, and an edge portion 15b formed around the slit portion 15a on the surface of the movable member 13. The edge portion 15b is formed in a ring shape surrounding the opening of the slit portion 15a. As the edge portion 15b has a surface facing the X1 direction, the edge portion 15b faces the spring cable 1b protruding in the X2 direction.

The movable member 13 can be displaced in one direction and the other direction relative to the main body member 10 along a predetermined displacement plane (X-Y plane) that includes the direction in which the slit portion 15a extends and the direction in which the inner cable 1c protrudes from the outer casing 1a. In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the movable member 13 is displaced so as to move linearly in one direction (Y2 direction) and the other direction (Y1 direction) relative to the main body member 10 along the displacement plane (X-Y plane in the figure). Specifically, the front side member 14, which is the first operating part arranged facing the operator, can be displaced in the Y1 direction and the Y2 direction, and the back side member 15, which is integrally formed with the front side member 6, is also displaced in the Y1 direction and the Y2 direction at the same time.

A groove 22 that extends linearly in the X direction is formed in the plate-shaped member 12 of the main body member 10. The end 9 of the spring cable 1b fits into the groove 22 and can slide along the groove 22 in the X direction.

When the operator moves the front member 14 in the Y2 direction, i.e., when the movable member 13 is displaced in one direction (Y2 direction), the edge 15b of the movable member 13 comes into contact with the end 9 of the spring cable 1b with the inner cable 1c inserted through the slit portion 15a, and pushes the end 9 towards the outer casing 1a (i.e., in the X1 direction).

In this embodiment, the shape of the edge 15b is linear when viewed in the Z direction. While the edge 15b of the movable member 13 and the end 9 of the spring cable 1b are in contact with each other, the amount of pushing when the end 9 of the spring cable 1b is pushed toward the outer casing 1a changes depending on the amount of displacement of the movable member 13. For example, when the movable member 13 is displaced in the Y2 direction, the end 9 of the spring cable 1b slides on the surface of the edge 15b while apparently maintaining a state of contact with the edge 15b of the movable member 13. At the same time, the end 9 of the spring cable 1b slides in the X1 direction along the groove 22 while maintaining a state of contact with the edge 15b of the movable member 13. As the amount of displacement when the movable member 13 is displaced in the Y2 direction increases, the amount of pushing when the end 9 of the spring cable 1b is pushed toward the outer casing 1a increases. Although not shown, in the latch device 30, the spring cable 1b is biased toward the cable operating device D2 by, for example, a spring, so that when the operator stops moving the front member 14 in the Y2 direction, the spring force pushes the spring cable 1b back to its original position. When the spring cable 1b is pushed back to its original position, the end 9 of the spring cable 1b pushes the edge 15b of the movable member 13 back in the Y1 direction, i.e., the movable member 13 as a whole is displaced in the Y1 direction.

In this way, one end of the spring cable 1b is connected to the latch mechanism 31 of the latch device 30, and the other end of the spring cable 1b is connected to the movable member 13 having the first operating portion (front member 14). Therefore, when an operator uses the front member 14 to push the spring cable 1b toward the outer casing 1a, the pushing operation is transmitted to the latch mechanism 31 via the control cable 1, and as a result, the vehicle door 25 can be opened.

The cable operating device D2 is connected to the inner cable 1c and has a second operating part 21 that is operated by an operator in a direction to push the inner cable 1c toward the fixed part 11 (X1 direction) and in a direction to pull the inner cable 1c out from the fixed part 11 (X2 direction).

In this way, one end of the inner cable 1c is connected to the locking mechanism 32 for locking the operation of the latching mechanism 31 of the latch device 30, and the other end of the inner cable 1c is connected to the connecting portion 21a of the second operating unit 21 that can be operated by the operator. Therefore, when the operator, for example, pushes and pulls the inner cable 1c using the second operating unit 21, the pushing and pulling operations are transmitted to the locking mechanism 32 via the control cable 1, and as a result, the operation of the latching mechanism 31 can be switched between a locked state and an unlocked state.

As described above, in the cable operating device D2 of this embodiment, the first operating part (front member 14) that the operator needs to operate so as to move in a straight line is installed on the front side to make it easier for the operator to operate, while the slit portion 15a and edge portion 15b that the operator does not need to operate are installed on the back side to make them impossible for the operator to operate. In addition, when operating the first operating part (front member 14), the operating direction is a surface that follows the panel plane that constitutes the passenger compartment side of the vehicle door 25. This has the advantage of making it easier for the operator to operate.

<Another embodiment>
In the above embodiment, a specific example of the configuration of the cable manipulation device has been described, but the configuration can be modified as appropriate.

In the above embodiment, specific examples of the shapes of the edges 7b, 15b of the surfaces of the movable members 5, 13 that come into contact with the end 9 of the spring cable 1b are shown, but these shapes can be changed as appropriate.
Specifically, in the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the edge 7b of the movable member 5 is curved to form an arc when viewed in the direction of the axis 40 (when viewed in the direction along the Z direction), but the curved shape may be any circular or elliptical shape different from that shown in the figure, or may be a shape that combines arcs of multiple curvatures.
Similarly, in the above embodiment, an example was described in which the edge 15b of the movable member 13 has a straight shape when viewed in the direction along the Z direction, but the edge 15b of the movable member 13 may have a curved shape when viewed in the direction along the Z direction.

In the above embodiment, the spring cable 1b is used as the cylindrical body, but the configuration can be changed as appropriate as long as it transmits an operating force, is inserted inside the outer casing 1a, and allows the inner cable 1c to slide inside. For example, the cylindrical body may include a liner, a plurality of wires twisted in a spiral around the liner, and a coating layer formed on the outside of the wires, or a cylindrical body with a resin coating layer around the outer periphery of the spring cable 1b, which is a wire wound in a spiral. In the above embodiment, the cylindrical body is used as a push cable that transmits a pushing operating force, but it may also be used as a pull cable that transmits a pulling operating force.

The configurations disclosed in the above embodiment (including other embodiments, the same applies below) can be applied in combination with configurations disclosed in other embodiments, provided no contradictions arise. Furthermore, the embodiments disclosed in this specification are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Appropriate modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The present invention can be used in a cable operating device that can appropriately apply operating force to a control cable that can appropriately transmit operating force while reducing the installation space.

1: Control cable 1a: Outer casing 1b: Spring cable (cylindrical body)
1c: inner cable 2: main body member 3: fixed portion 4: plate-like member 5: movable member 6: front side member (first operating portion)
7: Back side member 7a: Slit portion 7b: Edge portion 8: Through groove 9: End portion 10: Main body member 11: Fixed portion 12: Plate-like member 13: Movable member 14: Front side member (first operating portion)
15: Back side member 15a: Slit portion 15b: Edge portion 16: Fitting portion 17: Fitted portion 18: Connection member 20: Second operating portion 21: Second operating portion 40: Axis D (D1, D2): Cable operating device

Claims (8)

A cable operating device that applies an operating force to a control cable,
the control cable includes a tubular outer casing, a cylindrical body covered by the outer casing and configured to transmit an operating force, and an inner cable disposed in an inner space of the cylindrical body, the cylindrical body and the inner cable being independently slidable in an axial direction;
a main body member having a fixing portion for fixing the outer casing;
a movable member that is displaced relative to the main body member in response to an operating force by an operator,
the cylindrical body and the inner cable linearly protrude from the outer casing at or near a portion fixed by the fixing portion,
the movable member has a slit portion, through which the inner cable is inserted and which protrudes linearly from the outer casing, and an edge portion formed around the slit portion on a surface of the movable member, and is displaceable in one direction and the other relative to the main body member along a predetermined displacement plane that includes a direction in which the slit portion extends and a direction in which the inner cable protrudes from the outer casing,
A cable operating device that is configured so that when the movable member is displaced in one direction, with the inner cable inserted through the slit portion, the edge portion of the movable member abuts against the end portion of the tubular body, pushing the end portion toward the outer casing. The cable operating device according to claim 1, wherein while the edge of the movable member and the end of the cylindrical body are in the abutting state, the amount by which the end of the cylindrical body is pushed into the outer casing changes according to the amount of displacement of the movable member. The cable operating device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the movable member is displaced so as to rotate about a predetermined axis relative to the main body member along the displacement surface. The main body member has a plate-like member having an arc-shaped through groove centered on the axis,
the movable member has a front side member disposed on a front side surface which is one surface of the plate-like member, a rear side member disposed on a rear side surface which is the other surface of the plate-like member, and a connecting member which connects the front side member and the rear side member through the through groove,
The cable operating device according to claim 3 , wherein a first operating portion operated by an operator is provided on the front member, and the slit portion and the edge portion are provided on the back member. The cable operating device according to claim 3, wherein the edge portion has a curved shape when viewed in the axial direction. The cable operating device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the movable member is displaced so as to move linearly relative to the main body member along the displacement surface. the main body member has a plate-like member having a fitting portion that extends linearly along a direction in which the movable member moves linearly,
the movable member includes a front side member disposed on a front side, which is one surface of the plate-like member, and having a fitted portion that fits into the fitting portion, a rear side member disposed on a rear side, which is the other surface of the plate-like member, and a connecting member that connects the front side member and the rear side member;
The cable operating device according to claim 6 , wherein a first operating portion operated by an operator is provided on the front member, and the slit portion and the edge portion are provided on the back member. The cable operating device according to claim 1, further comprising a second operating part that is connected to the inner cable and that is operated by an operator in a direction to push the inner cable toward the fixed part and in a direction to pull the inner cable out from the fixed part.

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