JP3298002B2 - Air damper - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement of a cylinder type air damper used for, for example, an automobile glove box or a cup holder.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional air damper of this kind, there is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-105482. Although not specifically shown, the conventional air damper includes a cylindrical cylinder body having both ends opened, a piston body moving in the cylinder body, and a seal cap for closing one end opening of the cylinder body. An orifice is formed in the piston body, and an annular groove is formed on the peripheral surface of the orifice. An O-ring is movably fitted in the groove and the bottom of the groove is formed. A communication groove is formed in the groove, and the communication groove is opened and closed by moving an O-ring in the groove. In addition, a plurality of locking holes are formed on the peripheral surface of the seal cap, and the protrusions provided on the cylinder body side are locked in the locking holes, so that one end opening side of the cylinder body can be formed. It is configured to be attached. The other end opening of the cylinder body penetrates the piston rod portion.

Therefore, when this air damper is used in a glove box of an automobile, the cylinder body is fixed to the instrument panel side, and the tip of the piston rod protruding from the other end opening of the cylinder body is connected to the glove box side. When the glove box is moved in the opening direction, the piston rod portion is gradually pulled out from the cylinder body, and the piston body moves in the cylinder body in the same direction, thereby passing through the orifice. The flow resistance of the air ensures that the glove box moves slowly open. In this case, the communication groove is closed by the movement of the O-ring in the groove.

[0004] When the glove box is moved in the closing direction, the piston rod portion is gradually pushed into the cylinder body, and the piston body moves in the cylinder body in the same direction. The O-ring moves in the concave groove to open the above-mentioned communication groove and release the air in the cylinder body, so that the piston body quickly moves in the cylinder body in the opposite direction, thereby closing the glove box. Will be encouraged.

[0005]

Therefore, in the conventional air damper, the air damper is fixed to a gap defined between the instrument panel and the glove box and is provided for use. In view of a demand for a large glove box and a space saving of the gap accompanying the glove box, an air damper which is small and can obtain a large output is desired.

However, for this purpose, it is necessary to reduce the size of the cylinder body and make the orifice on the piston body side as small as possible. Since it is extremely difficult to make, it was hardly expected to reduce the size of the air damper itself. Therefore, in the field, the appearance of an air damper that can obtain a large output while being small is highly desired.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been developed in view of the above circumstances, and the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that a support member and an opening / closing member supported by the support member to be opened and closed are provided. An air damper fixed to the cylinder body, the cylinder body having a plurality of cylinder parts independently arranged in a line, and a plurality of piston rod parts individually moving in each cylinder part of the cylinder body. A structure in which a seal surface is formed on the periphery of the one end opening side of the cylinder body, and an opposing seal portion of a seal cap that is movable in the axial direction of the cylinder body is adopted on the seal surface. did.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air damper fixed between a support and an opening and closing member supported by the support so as to be openable and closable, wherein a plurality of air dampers independently arranged in a line A cylinder body having a cylinder portion, and a piston body having a plurality of piston rod portions individually moving in each cylinder portion of the cylinder body, and each cylinder portion is gathered around a periphery of one end opening of the cylinder body. A sealing chamber wall is formed, and the collecting chamber wall is closed with one seal cap, and a sealing surface is formed on the inner diameter side of the collecting chamber wall, and the sealing cap is provided with a sealing portion that comes into contact with and separates from the sealing surface. A configuration for forming was adopted.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, based on the premise of the second aspect, a structure is provided between the cylinder body and the seal cap for regulating a position at which the seal portion of the seal cap is separated from the sealing surface.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, based on the second aspect, the base ends of the piston rod portions are integrally connected, and a stopper claw is provided on the other end opening side of the cylinder body via a hinge piece. A configuration is adopted in which the stopper pawls are connected to each other and locked in a lock hole formed in the cylinder body so that at least the tip of the stopper pawl faces the inside of one cylinder.

[0011]

[0012]

[0013]

[0014]

[0015]

[0016]

Therefore, in the first aspect of the present invention,
The cylinder body has a plurality of cylinders arranged independently in a line, and the piston body has a plurality of piston rods corresponding to it. And a high-output air damper can be provided, and by moving the piston rod portion within each cylinder portion, the seal portion on the seal cap side is brought into contact with or separated from the seal surface on the one end opening side, thereby achieving one-way operation. The air damper of the system can be provided immediately.

In the second aspect of the present invention,
The cylinder body has a plurality of cylinders arranged independently in a line, and the piston body has a plurality of piston rods corresponding to it. And a high output air damper can be provided, and the wall of the collecting chamber can be closed with one seal cap, so the number of parts can be reduced regardless of the number of cylinders and piston rods. Is not changed, and the one-way air damper can be immediately provided by moving the piston rod portion in each cylinder portion to move the seal portion on the seal cap side toward and away from the sealing surface of the collecting chamber wall.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the air accumulated in each cylinder can be efficiently released by regulating the position of the seal separated from the sealing surface.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to effectively prevent the piston rod from coming off from the cylinder by locking the stopper claw to the lock hole.

[0021]

[0022]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an air damper according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 of cylinder body 1, piston body 2 and seal cap 3
Although it is made up of parts, it is characterized by adopting the following configuration.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the cylinder body 1 has a flat cylindrical shape with both ends opened, and has two cylinder parts 4 which are independently arranged in a line inside. And an elliptic cylindrical collecting chamber wall 5 which is slightly larger in diameter than the general surface and communicates with the inside of each cylinder part 4 to gather toward one end opening 1a. It is formed continuously, an elliptical sealing surface 6 is formed on the inner diameter side of the base of the collecting chamber wall 5, and a plurality of locking holes 7 and a notch 8 are provided at a fixed interval on the edge side of the collecting chamber wall 5. Are formed alternately. The two cylinders 4 are set so that the inner diameters of the circles are the same.

A forked stopper claw 9 is connected to the other end opening 1b via a hinge piece 10 and a lock hole 11 for locking the stopper claw 9 is formed in the vicinity thereof. Then, the stopper claw 9 is locked in the lock hole 11 so that each tip of the stopper claw 9 faces the two cylinder portions 4 individually.

The piston body 2 is formed of a resin material containing rubber, and as shown in FIG. 3, has two piston rod parts which individually move in the respective cylinder parts 4 of the cylinder body 1. 13, the base end side of each piston rod portion 13 is integrally connected via a mounting piece 14, and the free distal end side of each piston rod portion 13 is larger than the inner diameter of the corresponding cylinder portion 4. An annular seal projection 15 having a slightly large diameter is formed, and the lower surface side thereof is hollowed out in a concave shape, so that the annular seal projection 15 is positively elastically bent in each cylinder portion 4. It has a configuration. Accordingly, the piston body 2 itself has a flat shape similar to the cylinder body 1 as a whole.

The seal cap 3 is formed of a resin material containing a rubber material which is more flexible than the piston main body 2 and is movable in the axial direction of the cylinder main body 1 toward the collecting chamber wall 5 as shown in FIG. Elliptical substrate 16 attached to
And a sealing flange 17 which is an elliptical sealing portion extending from the elliptical substrate 16 and projecting in the radial direction, and an orifice 18 is opened at the center thereof, and a peripheral surface of the elliptical substrate 16 is formed. A locking piece 19 movably locked in the locking hole 7 and a positioning piece 20 locked in the notch 8
The seal flange 17 is brought into contact with and separated from the sealing surface 6 of the collecting chamber wall 5 by a pressure fluctuation accompanying the movement of the piston rod portion 13 in each cylinder portion 4.

Therefore, when assembling the air damper having such a configuration, first, each piston rod portion 13 is inserted into the corresponding cylinder portion 4 from the other end opening portion 1b side of the cylinder main body 1, and then, As shown in FIG. 5, when the stopper claw 9 is locked in the lock hole 11 of the cylinder body 1 via the hinge piece 10, this prevents each piston rod portion 13 from coming off the cylinder portion 4, so that Thereafter, when the sealing cap 3 is pushed into the collecting chamber wall 5 while applying the positioning pieces 20 to the cutouts 8 formed in the collecting chamber wall 5, each locking piece 19 of the seal cap 3 is turned on. Since it is locked in the locking hole 7 formed in the collecting chamber wall 5, a one-way air damper can be easily assembled.

Therefore, when actually used in a glove box rotatably supported on the instrument panel side of an automobile, as shown in FIG. The piston body 2 may be fixed to the inner wall of the space S on the instrument panel (not shown) side with screws 21 via the mounting piece 14 and the screw 21 to the side surface of the glove box B via the mounting piece 14. However, since the cylinder body 1 itself has a flat shape in which two cylinder parts 4 are juxtaposed as described above, for example, the inner wall of the space S on the instrument panel side and the glove box B Even if the gap defined between the cylinder body 1 and the side face is narrow, the cylinder main body 1 can be fixed in parallel to the gap, so that it is possible to sufficiently satisfy the present demand.

When the glove box B is rotated in the opening direction, the piston rod portions 13 are gradually pulled out from the corresponding cylinder portions 4 in synchronization with each other, and the annular seal projection 15 is moved through the cylinder portion 4. At this point, as shown in FIG. 7, the elliptical substrate 16 of the seal cap 3 causes the locking piece 19 to move the locking piece 19 to the collecting chamber wall 5 as shown in FIG. Lock hole 7
And the seal flange 17 is brought into close contact with the sealing surface 6 of the collecting chamber wall 5 like a suction cup, so that air passes only through the orifice 18 and flows from the inside of the collecting chamber wall 5. The glove box B flows into each of the cylinder portions 4, thereby obtaining a high-power damper effect even with a small size, and ensuring that the glove box B moves slowly to the open state.

Conversely, when the glove box B is rotated in the closing direction, the piston rod portions 13 are gradually pushed into the corresponding cylinder portions 4 in synchronization with the rotation of the glove box B in response to the rotation. 15 also moves in the same direction in the cylinder portion 4, but this time, as shown in FIG. 8, due to the pressure fluctuation in each cylinder portion 4, the air accumulated in each cylinder portion 4 forms an ellipse. The elliptical substrate 16 of the seal cap 3 is held until the locking piece 19 formed on the cylindrical substrate 16 comes into contact with the hole edge opposite to the locking hole 7 of the collecting chamber wall 5.
Moves in the collecting chamber wall 5 while the position is regulated in the opposite direction, and separates the seal flange 17 from the seal surface 6,
Since the air accumulated in each cylinder portion 4 is efficiently released, each piston rod portion 13 can return to the original position without any resistance, and the closing operation of the glove box B can be performed. Will be encouraged.

Next, when using a cup holder which is supported on the instrument panel side of the automobile so as to be able to be pulled out via a housing H, as shown in FIG. One rear portion is cut out, the cylinder body 1 is disposed in the cutout area, the cylinder body 1 is fixed to the housing H side via the mounting piece 12 with the screw 21, and the piston body 2 is mounted on the mounting piece 14.
In this case, the cylinder body 1 itself has a flat shape in which the two cylinder portions 4 are arranged side by side. Even if the gap defined between H and the side surface of the tray T is small, and the gap defined between the upper and lower opposing wall surfaces of the housing H is narrow, the cylinders are parallel to the respective gaps. Since the main body 1 can be fixed, it is possible to sufficiently respond to current demands. In the figure, 2
Reference numeral 3 denotes an urging spring for urging the tray T in the opening direction, and reference numeral 24 denotes a cam member for locking the tray T to a closed position in the housing H against the spring pressure of the urging spring 23.

Therefore, when the air damper is used as a cup holder, in principle, similarly to the case of the glove box B, when the tray T is pulled out in the opening direction by the spring pressure of the biasing spring 23, Each piston rod portion 13 is gradually pulled out from the corresponding cylinder portion 4 synchronously, and the pressure change in each cylinder portion 4 causes the elliptical substrate 16 of the seal cap 3 to move its locking piece 19 to the collecting chamber wall. 5 moves until it comes into contact with the edge of the locking hole 7 to bring the seal flange 17 into close contact with the sealing surface 6 of the collecting chamber wall 5, so that the air flows into each cylinder portion 4 through only the orifice 18. Thus, even if the tray T is small, a high output damper effect can be obtained, and the tray T can be guaranteed to move slowly to the open state.

Conversely, when the tray T is pushed in the closing direction against the spring pressure of the biasing spring 23, each piston rod 1
3 are gradually pushed into the corresponding cylinder portions 4 in synchronization with each other.
The air accumulated in each cylinder section 4 is used to remove the elliptical substrate 1
The elliptical substrate 16 of the seal cap 3 moves in the opposite direction in the collecting chamber wall 5 until the locking piece 19 formed in the collecting chamber 6 contacts the edge of the collecting chamber wall 5 opposite to the locking hole 7. As a result, the seal flange 17 is separated from the seal surface 6 and the air accumulated in each cylinder portion 4 is efficiently released, whereby the closing operation of the tray T is promoted.

In the above-described first embodiment, two cylinder portions 4 of the cylinder body 1 and two corresponding piston rod portions 13 of the piston body 2 are used. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is optional to arrange three or more cylinder portions 4 together with the piston rod portion 13 depending on the implementation.
Even in this case, since only three components are required, the number of components will never increase.

[0035]

[0036]

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the cylinder body has a plurality of cylinder portions independently arranged in a line, and the piston body has In relation to having a plurality of piston rod portions corresponding to this, it is possible to provide a small and high-output air damper by making the air damper itself a flat shape, and also to provide a piston rod portion in each cylinder portion. By moving the seal portion on the seal cap side toward and away from the seal surface on the one end opening side, the one-way air damper can be provided immediately.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the cylinder body has a plurality of cylinder portions independently arranged in a line, and the piston body has a plurality of piston rod portions corresponding thereto. Since the air damper itself has a flat shape, it is possible to provide a small, high-output air damper, and it is possible to close the collecting chamber wall with one seal cap. Regardless of the number of piston rod parts, the number of parts does not change, and by moving the piston rod part in each cylinder part, the seal part on the seal cap side contacts and separates from the seal surface of the collecting chamber wall. , One-way air damper can be provided immediately.

According to the third aspect, by restricting the position of the seal portion separated from the sealing surface, the air accumulated in each cylinder portion can be efficiently released.

According to the fourth aspect, the stopper rod is locked to the lock hole, so that the piston rod can be effectively prevented from coming off from the cylinder.

[0041]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an air damper according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are cross-sectional views of a cylinder main body.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a piston body.

FIG. 4 is a half sectional view of a seal cap.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a state where an air damper is assembled.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state used in a glove box.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of an essential part for explaining a state in which air is introduced from an orifice into each cylinder to obtain a damper effect.

FIG. 8 is an essential part cross-sectional view for explaining a state in which air accumulated in each cylinder is released to the outside.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state used in a cup holder.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F16F 9/02 F16F 9/32 F16F 9/34

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] An air damper fixed between a support and an opening / closing member supported by the support so as to be openable and closable, the cylinder having a plurality of cylinders independently arranged in a line. A main body, and a piston main body having a plurality of piston rod portions individually moving in each cylinder portion of the cylinder main body. An air damper wherein an opposing seal portion of a seal cap movable in an axial direction of a cylinder body is brought into contact with or separated from the seal cap. 2. An air damper fixed between a support and an opening and closing member supported by the support so as to be openable and closable, the cylinder having a plurality of cylinders independently arranged in a line. A main body and a piston main body having a plurality of piston rods individually moving in the respective cylinders of the cylinder main body, and a collecting chamber wall for collecting the respective cylinders is formed on a periphery of one end opening of the cylinder main body. Then, the collective chamber wall is closed with one seal cap, a seal surface is formed on the inner diameter side of the collective chamber wall, and a seal portion that comes into contact with and separates from the seal surface is formed on the seal cap. Air damper. 3. The air damper according to claim 2, wherein means for regulating a position where the seal portion of the seal cap is separated from the seal surface is provided between the cylinder body and the seal cap. 4. A base member of each piston rod portion is integrally connected, and a stopper claw is connected to an opening of the other end of the cylinder body via a hinge piece to form the stopper claw on the cylinder body. 3. The air damper according to claim 2, wherein at least the tip of the stopper claw is made to face the inside of one cylinder by engaging with the lock hole.