JP2548781Y2 - Inclinometer - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an inclinometer which is installed in front of a driver's seat of a vehicle or the like and displays the inclination of a road surface in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An inclinometer generally comprises a scale for indicating an inclination angle, a display body which faces the scale and indicates a tilt angle, and a rotating body which is linked to the display body and has a weight. Even when the inclination of the road surface changes during traveling, the weight uses the law of gravity that it always faces in the vertical direction, and transmits the relative rotation of the rotating body to the inclination of the road surface to the display body, Thereby, the inclination in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction is displayed.

[0003] In this kind of inclinometer, if the surface on which the inclinometer is installed is not a horizontal plane, the initial indicated value does not indicate the zero position, and therefore a position adjusting device for correcting the initial indicated value to the zero position is provided. ing. As an inclinometer position adjustment device, there is an anomalous device that changes the position of the scale indicating the inclination angle as a simple device, but usually a correction mechanism is provided in the rotation transmission mechanism on the display body side to adjust the position. Is going. Examples of such a system include a system having a configuration for changing the relative position between the rotating body having the weight and the display body (for example, Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 58-130209), A system having a configuration for changing the relative position of the body (for example, Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 62-55110) is generally used.

The former, ie, Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 58-130209, uses a balance spring as the position adjusting device, and fixes the inner end of the balance spring to the rotating body side having the weight. Is fixed to a driving member, and the balance spring is elastically urged by rotating a zero adjustment knob connected to the driving member to change the torque balance between the rotating member and the driving member, thereby changing the torque balance between the rotating member and the driving member. Is changed so that the zero position adjustment of the display body is performed as a result.

The latter, that is, the one disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. Sho 62-55110, uses a substantially rectangular swing arm for the position adjusting device,
A rotating body having the weight is pivotally supported at one end of the swing arm,
In addition, a cam mechanism is installed at the other end of the swing arm, and the swing arm is rotated by the cam mechanism to incline the axis of the rotating body in a direction perpendicular to the rotation direction of the axis. The display body is rotated by the tilting operation of the shaft, and as a result, the zero position adjustment of the display body is performed.

[0006]

The position adjusting device utilizing the balance of torque of the balance spring described above has an advantage that the mechanism itself is simple, but the inner end and the outer end of the thin balance spring are respectively separated. Since it must be fixed to a predetermined member, it is difficult to assemble it with the work of joining fine parts, and further, the elastic force of the balance spring deteriorates due to aging, and the torque is reduced as much as possible. A balance may not be obtained, which may cause a disadvantage that the position adjustment function is not sufficiently exhibited.

On the other hand, a device using a substantially U-shaped swinging arm for the position adjusting device has a structure mainly including a link mechanism.
The position adjustment function has certainty compared to the one using the balance balance of the balance spring, but as described above, the swing arm is rotated, and a cam mechanism is attached to the swing arm. The axis of the rotating body is tilted in a direction orthogonal to the direction of rotation of the axis, and the display body is rotated by the tilting operation of the axis, whereby the zero position adjustment of the display body is performed. However, there is a disadvantage that the number of parts is large, the mechanism is complicated, and assembly is difficult.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an inclinometer which has the advantages of the two position adjusting devices and can eliminate the disadvantages.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to achieve the above-mentioned object, and for convenience of description, the reference numerals used in the embodiments are used to denote the scales 1 and 2 indicating the inclination angle.
1 'and display bodies 2 and 2' which face the scale and indicate the angle of inclination. The rotation of the weights 7 and 7 'is transmitted to the display bodies 2 and 2', and the front and rear directions and left and right directions are provided. In the inclinometer for displaying the inclination of each direction, the rotating shafts 4 and 4 ′ connected to the display bodies 2 and 2 ′, the first gears 6 and 6 ′ driven by the rotating shafts, A second gear, which is arranged in parallel with the gear, rotates concentrically with the first gear and has weights 7, 7 ';
Gears 8 and 8 ′, rotating bodies 9 and 9 ′ provided in parallel with the first and second gears and rotatably provided, and attached to the rotating body and attached to the first and second gears. A pinion 10, 10 'that straddles and meshes with both gears, and a correction shaft 1 that is connected to the rotating bodies 9, 9' directly or via a train wheel.
2, 13 and a correction knob 14, wherein the first gears 6, 6 'and the second gears 8, 8' are formed with different numbers of teeth. By rotating the rotating bodies 9, 9 ', the pinion 1
Reference numerals 0 and 10 'denote inclinometers which rotate while meshing around the first gears 6, 6' and the second gears 8, 8 '.

[0010]

According to the inclinometer of the present invention, when the inclination of the road surface changes during traveling, the weights 7, 7 'are always oriented vertically, so that the second gears 8, 8' having the weights 7, 7 'are provided. Will rotate relatively by the angle of inclination of the road surface. This gear 8,
The rotation of 8 'is transmitted to the display bodies 2, 2' via the pinions 10, 10 'and the first gears 6, 6', whereby the inclination in the front-back direction and / or the left-right direction is displayed. .

If the place where the case 18 is installed is not a horizontal plane, and therefore the initial designated value does not point to the zero position, a position adjustment for correcting the initial designated value to the zero position is performed. This is because, when the case 18 is installed, the correction knob 14 is tilted by a predetermined angle in the front-rear direction and / or the left-right direction. By turning the correction knob 14 while pulling it forward, a position adjustment for correcting the initial designated value to the zero position is performed.

That is, when the correction knob 14 is turned, its rotation is alternatively transmitted to the gears 11 and 11 ′ via the correction shaft 12, and the rotation of the rotating members 9 and 11 ′ by the rotation of the gears 11 and 11 ′.
9 'rotates, and the pinions 10, 10' rotate around the two gears while engaging with the first gears 6, 6 'and the second gears 8, 8' with the rotation of the rotating bodies 9, 9 '. To rotate. When the pinions 10, 10 'rotate around the gears, the gears are formed with different numbers of teeth.
Both gears make a relative angular change by the difference.
Since the weights 7, 7 'of the gears 8, 8' are always vertically oriented, the positions of the gears 8, 8 'do not change.
Therefore, the relative angle change between the two gears is expressed as the angle change of the first gears 6, 6, and as a result, the gear 6,
Rotation shafts 4 and 4 'fixed to 6' and display bodies 2 and 2 '
Moves by the angle change. In this way, when the correction knob 14 is turned, the display bodies 2 and 2 'move. Therefore, the correction knob is appropriately rotated to adjust the indication (index) of the display bodies 2 and 2' to the zero position.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the embodiments shown in FIGS. The inclinometer according to the present embodiment includes scales 1, 1,... Indicating a tilt angle in the front-rear direction and scales 1 ′, 1 ′,. A display body 2 for the direction and a display body 2 ′ for the left and right direction, and as described later, transmits the rotation of the weight to the display bodies 2 and 2 ′ so that the inclination in the front and rear direction and the left and right direction is reduced. It is an inclinometer to be displayed. In this example,
The scales 1 and 1 'in the front and rear and left and right directions and the display bodies 2 and 2' are arranged in a superimposed manner. It is configured so that it can be grasped at the same time.

The display body 2 for the front-rear direction is formed of a metal small-diameter pipe bent in a substantially L-shape, and its end is bent in the same direction as the tip, and is pressed into the tip of the rotating shaft 4. It is fixed. Reference numeral 3 denotes a member for holding a small-diameter pipe serving as the display body 2. The member 3 has a central portion 3a fixed to the rotating shaft 5 and a pipe holding groove 3b, and is provided on the opposite side of the pipe holding groove 3b. Is provided with a semicircular portion 3c for balancing the load of the cantilevered display body 2. Therefore, when the rotating shaft 4 rotates, the display body 2 also rotates with the rotation, and the tip of the pipe indicates the inclination angle in the front-rear direction. In the present embodiment, the pipe holding groove 3
By b, even if the display body 2 has a pipe shape, it can be protected, so that the rotation transmission of the rotating shaft 4 and the display of the inclination state can be reliably performed. Also, the member 3 has a semicircular portion 3c.
Is provided, even if the display body 2 is not a disk-shaped one but a load is shifted, the load is balanced as described above and a smooth operation state can be obtained.

The display body 2 'for the left and right direction is formed of a disk-shaped member whose front surface is bulged into a convex spherical shape, an index is provided at the center, and the tip of the rotating shaft 4' is provided at the back surface. It is stuck. Therefore, when the rotation shaft 4 'rotates, the display 2' also rotates with the rotation, and the index indicates the inclination angle in the left-right direction.

The rotating shafts 4 and 4 'have a positional relationship in which these axes are orthogonal to each other, and the base ends of both shafts are rotatably supported by support blocks 5 and 5', respectively. , 2 ′ and the support blocks 5, 5 ′, a first gear 6, 6 ′ driven by the rotating shafts 4, 4 ′ (in this embodiment, pressed into and fixed to the rotating shafts 4, 4 ′); Gear 6,
6 ', the second gears 8, 8 concentrically rotate with the first gear (in the embodiment, mounted on the rotating shafts 4, 4' so as to be able to slip) and have weights 7, 7 '. , And rotatable members 9, 9 ′ which are provided in parallel with the first and second gears and are rotatably provided (in the embodiment, freely mounted on the rotating shafts 4, 4 ′).
Is provided. And the pinion 1 is attached to the rotating bodies 9 and 9 '.
0 and 10 'are rotatably mounted, and the pinion 1
0, 10 'are the first gears 6, 6' and the second gear 8,
The gears are meshed with each other over each of 8 '. Therefore, when the rotating bodies 9, 9 'rotate, the pinions 10, 1
0 'is the first gear 6, 6' and the second gear 8, 8 '
And rotates around both gears while meshing with each other.

The first gears 6, 6 'and the second gears 8, 8' are formed with different numbers of teeth.
Incidentally, in this embodiment, the first gears 6, 6 'have 38 teeth and the second gears 8, 8' have 40 teeth, and the difference between the two gears is very small. Even if one pinion meshes with the first and second gears, no problem such as poor meshing occurs.

The rotating bodies 9 and 9 'always have gears 11 and
11 ', and these gears 11, 1
1 ′ is between the correction axes 12, 13 and the correction knob 14,
The rotational force of the correction knob 14 is alternatively transmitted. That is, the correction axis 12 on the side of the correction knob 14
, A gear 15 which is appropriately engaged with and disengaged from the gear 11 ′ is fixed in a state where the gear 15 is normally disengaged from the gear 11 ′. The correction shaft 13 is linked to the correction shaft 12 by bevel gears 16a and 16b, and is provided in a direction orthogonal to the correction shaft 12. The gear 11 is fixed to the correction shaft 13. And the correction axis 1
The bevel gear 2 is always elastically urged in the direction of the bevel gear 16b by the spring 17, and usually the bevel gear 16a and the bevel gear 1
6b are engaged.

Therefore, in a normal case, when the correction knob 14 is turned, this rotational force is transmitted to the gear 11 via the correction shaft 12, the bevel gear 16a and the bevel gear 16b, and the correction shaft 13, and the rotation of the gear 11 The rotation rotates the rotating body 9, and the rotation of the rotating body 9 causes the pinion 10 to rotate the first gear 6 and the second gear 6.
And rotates around both gears while meshing with each of the gears 8. At this time, the gear 1 fixed to the correction shaft 12
Since 5 is away from the gear 11 ', the rotational force of the correction knob 14 is not transmitted to the gear 11' and the subsequent train.

Also, the correction knob 1 against the spring 17
When the knob 14 is turned while the gear 15 and the gear 11 ′ are engaged, the rotational force is transmitted to the gear 11 ′ via the correction shaft 12 and the gear 15, and the rotation of the gear 11 ′ is performed. The rotation rotates the rotating body 9 ', and the rotation of the rotating body 9' causes the pinion 10 'to rotate around the first gear 6' and the second gear 8 'while meshing with each of the gears. I do. At this time, since the bevel gear 16a is separated from the bevel gear 16b, the rotational force of the correction knob 14 is not transmitted to the other correction shaft 13. When the correction knob 14 is released, the correction shaft 12 moves in the direction of the bevel gear 16b by the elastic return force of the spring 17, and the bevel gear 16a and the bevel gear 1 are moved.
6b re-engages, while the gear 15 separates from the gear 11 'and the gears 15, 11' are disengaged.

The display bodies 2 and 2 ', the correction knob 14, the correction shafts 12 and 13 associated therewith, and each gear are provided in the case 1
8 and the case cover 19, and the scales 1 ', 1',...

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

In this embodiment, when the case 18 is placed on a horizontal plane, that is, the initial indicated value points to the zero position (the initial indicated value does not need to be corrected to the zero position).
In this case, the indications (indexes) of the display bodies 2 and 2 'are located at the zero points of the scales 1 and 1', respectively. When the inclination of the road surface changes during traveling, the case 18 is accordingly inclined by the inclination angle (hereinafter referred to as “angle α”).

In this case, the weights 7, 2 of the second gears 8, 8 '
7 'is always in the vertical direction, so that if the case 18 is tilted by the angle α, the gears 8, 8' are rotated by the angle α relative to the case 18. On the other hand, the first gears 6, 6 'rotate together with the second gears 8, 8' via the pinions 10, 10 ', so that the gears 6, 6' are also relatively to the case 18 by the angle α. Rotate. (However, since the number of teeth of the gears 6, 6 'and the gears 8, 8' are slightly different from each other at 38 and 40 as described above, strictly speaking, the relative rotation angle of the gears 6, 6 'is the angle α However, since the angle α is generally small, there is no problem if the relative rotation angles of the gears 6 and 6 ′ are regarded as the angle α).

When the first gears 6, 6 'rotate relative to the case 18 by an angle α, the rotating shafts 4, 4' and the display bodies 2, 2 'fixed to the gears 6, 6' are also rotated. The display body 2, 2 'is rotated by the angle α, so that the scales 2, 1' show the scales 1, 1 'corresponding to the angle α. That is, scale 1,
Due to the position indicated by 1 ', now in the fore and aft direction and / or
It is determined that it is inclined by the angle α in the left-right direction.

The basic operation of the inclinometer according to the present invention is as described above. Next, the place where the case 18 is installed is not a horizontal plane, and the initial indicated value does not indicate the zero position. Position adjustment for correcting the indicated value to the zero position will be described.

When the case 18 is installed, it is assumed that the case 18 is inclined by an angle β in the front-rear direction and / or the left-right direction. If the inclination is in the front-rear direction, turn the correction knob 14 as it is, and if the inclination is in the left-right direction, turn the correction knob 14 while pulling it toward you, move it by the angle β to the opposite side, and set the initial indicated value to the zero position. Adjust the position to correct.

When the correction knob 14 is turned, the rotation is transmitted to the gears 11 and 11 'via the correction shaft, and the gears 11 and 1' are rotated.
1 'rotates the rotating bodies 9, 9', and with the rotation of the rotating bodies 9, 9 ', the pinions 10, 10' move the first gears 6, 6 'and the second gears 8, 8'. Rotate around both gears while meshing with '.

For convenience of explanation, the following description will be made taking an example in which the pinions 10, 10 'make one rotation around both gears while meshing with the first gears 6, 6' and the second gears 8, 8 '. I do. No matter where the pinions 10, 10 'are located, the weights 7, 7' of the gears 8, 8 'are always oriented vertically, so that the positions of the gears 8, 8' do not change. Therefore, since the gears 8, 8 'do not move, the pinions 10, 1 are not moved.
0 'is the first gear 6, 6' and the second gear 8, 8 '
After one rotation around the pinion, the pinion 10,
10 'engages with both gears by the number of teeth of the gears 8, 8' while rotating. However, since the number of teeth of the first gears 6, 6 'is 38, when the pinions 10, 10' make one rotation and mesh with the gears 6, 6 '40 times together with the gears 8, 8', they return to the original position. , The gears 6, 6 'are 40 minus 38,
That is, the pinions 10, 10 'rotate and move in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the pinions 10, 10' by an angle of two teeth. At this time, since the positions of the gears 8 and 8 'do not change as described above,
The gear 6 'is relatively rotated with respect to the gears 8, 8' by an angle equal to the number of teeth of the gears 6, 6 '(360 ° × 2/38 ≒ 19 °). As a result, the rotating shafts 4 and 4 'and the display bodies 2 and 2' fixed to the gears 6 and 6 'move by the amount of the rotational movement.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the correction knob 1
By rotating the pinion 4, the pinions 10, 10 '
The rotation angle of the pinions 10, 10 'is about 19 ° when one rotation about the gears 6, 6 ′ and the second gears 8, 8 ′ is performed, and about 9.5 ° when the rotation is １ ／. Since the positions of the display members 2 and 2 ′ are adjusted in proportion to each other, the correction knob 14 can be appropriately rotated to adjust the indication (index) of the display members 2 and 2 ′ to the zero position.

In the above embodiment, the pinion 1
Although the rotating bodies 9 and 9 'to which 0 and 10' are attached have been described as gears, the rotating bodies 9 and 9 'are not limited to gears as long as the rotating force from each correction shaft is transmitted. Any possible member can be used. In addition, the connection between the correction shaft and the rotating bodies 9 and 9 ′ and the connection between the rotating shafts 4 and 4 ′ and the display bodies 2 and 2 ′ are performed directly or indirectly via a train wheel. Appropriate means can be selected.
2 'is not limited to the one shown in the drawing, and other forms can be used.

[0032]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, the present invention is provided with a conventional inclinometer, that is, a scale for indicating the tilt angle and a display for indicating the tilt angle. In contrast to a conventional inclinometer that transmits to the display body and displays the inclination in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, a first gear driven by a rotation shaft connected to the display body and a first gear arranged in parallel with the first gear. A second gear having a weight, a rotator provided in parallel with the first and second gears and rotatably provided, and a rotator attached to the rotator and straddling the first and second gears. With a simple configuration that only includes a pinion that meshes with both gears, a small and reliable inclinometer can be obtained.

As described above, according to the present invention, the present invention can be implemented with the same simple structure as that using the conventional balance spring, and since the position adjusting mechanism is provided by the wheel train configuration, the balance spring is used. The disadvantage that the assembling is difficult as in the case and the performance may be deteriorated can be eliminated. In addition, there is no need to worry about performance degradation, and it has reliability comparable to that of a conventional swing arm and cam mechanism.However, this conventional one has a large number of parts and a complicated mechanism. Although there is a drawback that the assembling work is also difficult, the present invention can solve such a conventional drawback by providing a simple configuration as described above.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an inclinometer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the inclinometer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the inclinometer, showing the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional plan view of the inclinometer, showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view showing an embodiment of the present invention, and is a vertical right side view of the inclinometer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,1 'scale 2,2' display body 4,4 'rotating shaft 6,6' first gear 7,7 'weight 8,8' second gear 9,9 'rotating body 10,10' pinion 11, 11 'gear 12 correction shaft 13 correction shaft 14 correction knob

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A scale for indicating a tilt angle, and a display facing the scale and indicating a tilt angle, transmitting rotation of a weight to the display to adjust the tilt in the front-back direction and the left-right direction. In each of the inclinometers for displaying, a rotating shaft connected to the display body, a first gear driven by the rotating shaft, and a coaxially arranged with the first gear to rotate concentrically with the first gear. A second gear having a weight, a rotator provided in parallel with the first and second gears and rotatably provided, and a first gear attached to the rotator and the first gear being attached to the first gear and the second gear.
And a pinion straddling the second gear and meshing with both gears;
A correction shaft and a correction knob connected to the rotating body directly or via a train wheel, wherein the first gear and the second gear have different numbers of teeth, and the correction knob is An inclinometer wherein the pinion rotates while meshing around the first gear and the second gear by rotating the rotating body to rotate.