JP3452650B2 - Control cable length adjustment device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a length adjusting device for easily adjusting a mounting length of a control cable connected between an accelerator pedal and a throttle valve, which is installed in an automobile, for example. Is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional device for adjusting the length of a control cable of this type, there is, for example, a device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 4-71813.

As shown in FIG. 1, the main structure of this conventional device is a hollow cylinder, the conduit of the pulling control cable is fixed to the base end thereof, and the inner cable of the pulling control cable passes through the hollow part from the tip end. It has a hollow cylindrical shape, and a slider (A) which projects and has circumferential locking tooth rows formed along the axial direction on surfaces diametrically opposed to each other in a certain area of the outer peripheral surface. A holder having a main body having at least one circumferential slit penetrating the hollow portion and the outer periphery thereof and a fixing portion to be attached to an attachment counterpart member, and in which the slider slidably penetrates into the hollow portion. (B) has a substantially cylindrical shape, and has a locking claw that is fitted and held on the outer periphery of the holder and that penetrates the slit and engages with the locking teeth of the slider. Rotate from position to holder And a claw member (C) configured to release the engagement between the locking claw and the locking tooth when the slider is rotated substantially 90 °, and the slider is pushed out from the end of the main body of the holder. Spring member (D) for biasing against
And a spring receiver (E) for positioning one end of the spring member (D) at a predetermined position of the conduit.

[0004]

However, in the length adjusting device having the conventional structure, the holder (B) and the claw member (C) are complicated in structure (shape), and the holder (B) is complicated. There is a factor that the die cost and the molding cost for resin-molding the claw member (C) are increased and the cost is increased.

Further, there has been a drawback that it takes time and effort to assemble the above-mentioned respective components into the length adjusting device, resulting in poor assembling workability. The object of the present invention is to eliminate the deficiency in the conventional example.
The length adjustment device is constructed by paying attention to the points.
Assembling workability of the length adjustment device by simplifying the shape of the components
Easy and reliable cable length adjustment work
We provide a control cable length adjuster
It is something to try.

[0006]

The first aspect of the present invention is the first aspect of the present invention.
As described in,
-Fixed through the end of the casing and diametrically
A tue with many teeth arranged symmetrically along the generatrix direction.
And the tube has a first position and a second position in the circumferential direction.
Is movable to and from the position of
Is allowed to move in the axial direction, and in the second position
Engagement that engages the teeth of the tube and integrates with said tube
The locking piece with a claw and the tube can move axially
And the locking piece to a predetermined axial position.
Has a slit for movably guiding and
The holder that restricts rotation in the circumferential direction and the tube
Is inserted so that it can move in any direction, and
A guide plate that rotates in the circumferential direction integrally with the tube;
Press the guide plate to move the locking piece to the predetermined position in the axial direction.
The guide plate to the second position.
And a coil spring that urges in a circumferential direction toward the installation.
To a length adjustment device of the control cable, wherein
It is something .

The second invention is, as described in claim 2,
End of outer casing in control cable
It is inserted and fixed in the section, and a large number of
A tube with teeth arranged along the generatrix direction, and the tube
The first position and the second position in the circumferential direction
Movable in the axial direction of the tube in the first position
Directional movement is allowed, and the tube at the second position is
Has engaging claws that engage teeth and are integrated with the tube
The locking piece and the tube are inserted so that they can move axially.
And the locking piece can be moved to a predetermined axial position.
Has an axial slit for guiding to
Move the locking piece between the first position and the second position
A holder having a circumferential slit that enables
The stopper is biased to a predetermined position in the axial direction, and
A coil for urging the stop piece in the circumferential direction toward the second position.
Control cable having a spring
The length adjusting device is used.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail based on the embodiments shown in the drawings.

Embodiment 1 In FIGS. 2 to 5, reference numeral 1 is a control cable connected between an accelerator pedal (not shown) and a throttle valve (not shown). The control cable 1 is an outer casing. 2 and an inner shaft 3 which is inserted into the outer casing 2.

Reference numeral 4 denotes an outer casing terminal fixing tube (hereinafter simply referred to as a tube) through which the inner shaft 3 is inserted and the end portion of the outer casing 2 is fitted and fixed. Has a large number of teeth 5 projecting at symmetrical positions in the tube diameter direction.

Reference numeral 6 is an insertion hole 7 through which the tube 4 is inserted.
Is a holder having, and inside the insertion hole 7,
A metal locking piece 10 having a claw portion 9 that is meshed with a groove 8 formed between the teeth 5, and a contour shape of the tube 4 including the teeth 5 as shown in FIG. Has a through hole 11 having the same shape as that of the tube 4
Is free to move in the axial direction thereof, but in the circumferential direction of the through hole 11, the guide plate 12 is locked so that the teeth 5 of the tube 4 are locked and do not rotate, and one end is A through hole 15 which is locked in a through hole 13 bored in the guide plate 12 and is provided in a lid 14 which is attached to the holder 6 at the other end.
Coil spring 16 to be engaged is furnished to.

The shape of the groove bottom 8A of each groove 8 described above is shown in FIG.
As shown in Fig. 4, the diametrical teeth formed on the tube 4 are positioned so as to be horizontal (first position) , and if the tube 4 is rotated counterclockwise by about 90 degrees, (Second position) As shown in FIG. 3, the claw portion 9 of the locking piece 10 can be locked in the concave groove 8 of the tube 4, but when the tube 4 is rotated further. Also,
The edge of the claw portion 9 is formed into a flat surface that engages with the groove bottom surface of the concave groove 8 and prevents the rotation of the tube 4. That is, the engagement piece 10 and the tube 4 are disengaged from each other by rotating the tube 4 by about 90 degrees, and when the engagement piece 10 is set at a fixed position, the tube 4 is rotated below or above the rotation angle. It is formed so that it cannot move.

An insertion hole 20 for inserting the tube 4 is formed in the central portion of the lid body 14.

Reference numeral 17 designates a mounting screw for attaching the lid 14 to the holder 6, but a fixing means such as locking, which does not use this mounting screw, may be adopted. Also, the locking piece 1
Operation pieces 18 are projected at two diametrical positions of 0,
The both operation pieces 18 are loosely fitted in a guide slit 19 formed in the generatrix direction of the holder 6, and the rear end portion of the slit is provided so as to project outward from the outer peripheral surface of the holder 6. It is a thing.

The configuration of this embodiment has been described above. Next, the operation thereof will be described. The tube 4 into which the control cable 1 is inserted and the outer casing 2 of the control cable 1 is fixed is a holder 6 and It is inserted through the insertion hole 7 and the insertion hole 20 provided in the lid body 14.

Inside the holder 6, a locking piece 10 having a claw portion 9 that meshes with teeth 5 formed in the generatrix direction of the tube 4 is installed. The locking piece 10 is provided inside the holder 6. It is pressed against the inner surface (thrust direction) of the holder 6 by the pressing force of the guide plate 12 which receives the elastic force of the coil spring 16 installed therein. further,
One end of the coil spring 16 is locked in the through hole 15 provided in the lid body 14, and the other end is locked in the through hole 13 provided in the guide plate 12, so that the coil spring 16 has a circumferential elastic force. Is transmitted to the guide plate 12, and as a result, the guide plate 12 is urged in the circumferential direction.

Therefore, the guide plate 12 has a coil spring 16
The tube 4 is about to rotate in the circumferential direction by the circumferential biasing force of the guide plate 12 because it is biased in the circumferential direction by receiving the elastic force in the twisting direction of the tube 4.
A claw of a locking piece 10 that has an operating piece 18 that is locked in a slit 19 that is formed in the generatrix direction of the holder 6 in the concave groove 8 of the holder 6 and that is locked non-rotatably by the holder 6. Since the portion 9 is locked and the edge of the claw 9 and the groove bottom 8A are locked, the tube 4 is not rotated counterclockwise more than that shown in FIG.

Therefore, the teeth 5 of the tube 4 inserted in the holder 6 are engaged with the locking pieces 10 which are positioned at fixed positions in the holder 6, and as a result, the holder 6 and the tube 4 are positioned and controlled. The length of the cable 1, that is, the cable length between the accelerator pedal and the throttle valve is determined.

However, since the control cable is extended due to long-term use of the control cable, it is necessary to adjust the length of the control cable so as to reduce (absorb) the extension.

Therefore, at the time of adjusting the length of the control cable, the tube 4 to which the control cable 1 is connected is resisted against the circumferential urging force of the coil spring 16 as shown in FIG.
6 is rotated clockwise about 90 degrees from the meshing position shown in FIG. 6, and the teeth 4 of the tube 4 and the claw portion 9 of the locking piece 10 are unlocked, so that the tube 4 is controlled. With the cable 1, it is possible to move in the thrust direction, by which the position of the tooth 5 meshed with the claw portion 9 is displaced, and if the tube 4 is restored again without countering the elastic force of the coil spring 16, The position of the tube is displaced, whereby the length of the control cable 1 is adjusted.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, the tube 4
The length of the control cable can be adjusted by a very simple operation of one-touch of rotating the coil about 90 degrees against the elastic force of the coil spring and then moving it in the thrust direction. Further, since the device constituting member of the present embodiment has an extremely simple and simple structure, the productivity and economical efficiency of the device are greatly improved.

Embodiment 2 In FIG. 7 to FIG. 10, this embodiment omits the guide plate 12 shown in the above Embodiment 1 and also uses the locking piece 1.
0 is provided with a locking hole 21 for locking one end of the coil spring 16 and the other end of the coil spring 16 is locked in the through hole 15 provided in the lid body 14. It is locked and connected to 21.

Further, the holder 6 is formed with a slit 22 for guiding the operation piece 18 formed on the locking piece 10 along the circumferential direction from the rear end of the slit 19 in the generatrix direction. Further, the insertion hole 7 of the tube 4 formed on the end surface of the holder 6 has the same shape as the contour shape of the tube 4 including the teeth 5 as shown in FIG. 10, and the tube 4 is inserted into the insertion hole 7 in the axial direction. It is formed so that it can move freely, but the teeth 5 of the tube 4 are not locked in the circumferential direction of the insertion hole 7 to rotate. Other structures are the same as those in the first embodiment described above.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The tube 4 inserted into the insertion hole 7 formed in the holder 6
Is inserted into the holder 6 so as to be movable in the axial direction but not rotatable in the circumferential direction.

Further, the locking piece 10 arranged in the holder 6 is biased in the circumferential direction by the elastic force of the coil spring 16 in the circumferential direction, and the operating piece 18 of the locking piece 10 is formed in the holder 6. It is locked at a position (second position) where it abuts the end of the slit 22, and in this state, the claw portion 9 of the locking piece 10 meshes with the tooth 5 of the tube 4, that is, inside the recess 8. It's getting in.

Therefore, the tube 4 is locked to the holder 6 via the locking piece 10, and as a result, the tube 4 is locked.
The length of the control cable 1 connected to the is fixed.

Therefore, in order to adjust the length of the control cable, the operating piece 18 is operated so that the engaging piece 10 is rotated about 90 degrees along the slit 22 against the elastic force of the coil spring 16. When moved (the first position) , the engagement between the claw portion 9 of the engagement piece 10 and the tooth 5 of the tube 4 is released, so that the tube 4 can be moved in the axial direction, which causes the displacement of the tube. At the same time, the length of the control cable 1 can be adjusted.

Therefore, according to the second embodiment, the tube 4
Since it can be moved in the thrust direction without twisting in the circumferential direction, the length of the control cable 1 can be adjusted without exerting a stress in the twisting direction, and the length of the control cable can be smoothly adjusted. .

According to the second embodiment, the first embodiment is the same as the first embodiment.
Since the guide plate 12 shown in 1 is omitted, the economical efficiency and the assembling workability associated with the reduction in the number of parts are improved. In the above embodiment, the locking piece 10 is made of metal, but it is not limited to metal.

Reference Example FIGS. 11 to 16 do not show an embodiment of the present invention .
Shows a reference example which serves as a reference for the present invention. This reference example, in particular those having a holder 6 'and lid 14', a feature on the structure of 'locking piece 10 to be included in the' the holder 6. That is, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the holder 6 ′ is formed with a recess 24 having a substantially U-shaped front face into which an engaging piece 10 ′ described below is fitted, on the inner end surface 23 thereof. The locking claw 25 that is meshed with the lid 14
Are integrally formed.

The locking piece 10 'in this reference example is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 16, the operation piece 18 in the locking piece 10 shown in the first embodiment is deleted and the locking piece 10 is removed.
Is formed so as to be housed in the recess 24.
The engagement mode of the locking piece 10 'with the tube 4 and the teeth 5 is the same as that of the above-mentioned embodiment. Then, in order to assemble the length adjusting device in this reference example , first, the engaging piece 10 'is fitted into the recess 24 in the holder 6'and the engaging piece 10'.
Is positioned so as not to move (rotate) in its circumferential direction. Next, a guide plate 12 having the same structure as the guide plate 12 shown in the first embodiment is fitted adjacent to the locking piece 10 '. The guide plate 12 is rotatable in the circumferential direction.

Next, while holding both ends of the coil spring 16 in the through hole provided in the guide plate 12 and the through hole provided in the lid body 14 ', the holder body 6'is covered with the lid body 1'.
4'is attached and fixed, and then the holder 6'and the lid 1
Insert the tube 4 into the insertion holes 7 and 20 with 4 '(through)
By doing so, the length adjusting device is completed.

To insert the tube 4 into the through holes 7 and 20, first insert the tube 4 from the lid 14 'side and engage the tube insertion end with the inside of the through hole 11 of the guide plate 12. The guide plate 12 is rotated together with the tube 4 by about 80 degrees against the elastic force of the coil spring 16 while maintaining the joint. At this time, as shown in FIG.
Since the tooth 5 formed at is in the disengagement position with the locking piece 10 ′, this tube 4 can be moved to any position in the thrust direction (axial direction) thereof.
The length of the control cable connected to this tube 4 can be adjusted.

After the completion of the length adjustment, if the turning force of the tube 4 is released, the restoring force of the coil spring 16 returns the tube 4 to the position shown in FIG.
Since the locking piece 10 'and the locking piece 10' are meshed with each other, the movement of the tube 4 in the thrust direction is prevented (regulated) and held in a fixed position.

Therefore, according to this reference example , since the length of the control cable can be adjusted by a one-touch operation of moving the tube 4 in the thrust direction while rotating the tube 4, the workability of the adjustment is good. Further, in this embodiment, since the locking piece 10 'is engaged with the recess 24 provided in the holder 6'and the locking piece 10' is positioned, the locking piece 10 ', the holder 6'and the tube are As a result, there is no backlash between them, and the effect is that the assembly accuracy and reliability of the device are good.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention, the tube is rotated against the elastic force of the coil spring or the locking piece is rotated against the elastic force of the coil spring.
The tube is displaced in the thrust direction at the first position to change (shift) the meshing position between the engaging claw portion of the locking piece and the tooth.
By doing so, the length of the control cable can be adjusted, so that there is an effect that the length of the control cable can be adjusted by a very simple one-touch operation.

Further, the control cable length adjusting device of the present invention has its constituent members having a simple shape and has good assembling workability, so that the productivity and economical efficiency of the device are greatly improved. It

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a structural explanatory view showing a conventional control cable attachment device.

FIG. 2 is a structural explanatory view of a cable length adjusting device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a left side view of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing the engagement between the tube and the guide plate of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing the relationship between the tube and the locking piece of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a structural explanatory view showing a cable length adjusting device of a second embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a left side view of FIG. 7.

9 is a plan view of FIG. 7. FIG.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing the engagement between the tube and the holder of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a structural explanatory view showing a cable length adjusting device of a reference example of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of only a holder according to a reference example of the present invention.

13 is a right side view of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of only a guide plate.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing a meshing state between a tube and a locking piece according to a reference example of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory view when the tube and the locking piece of the reference example of the present invention are in a non-engaged state.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Control cable 2 ... Outer casing 3 ... Inner shaft 4 ... Tube 5 ... Teeth 6 ... Holder 7 ... Insertion hole 8 ... Recessed groove 9 ... Claws 10 and 1
0 '... locking piece 11 ... through hole 12 ... guide plate 13 ... through hole 14 ... lid 15 ... through hole 16 ... coil spring 17 ... mounting screw 18 ... operation piece 19 ... slit 20 ... insertion hole 21 ... locking hole 22 ... Slit 23 ... Inner end surface 24 ... Dimple 25 ... Locking claw 26 ... Through hole

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F16C 1/22

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An outer of a control cable
Inserted and fixed to the end of the casing, and the diametrical
Tube with many teeth arranged in the nominal position along the generatrix direction
And the tube has a first position and a second position in the circumferential direction.
Is movable between the first and second positions of the tube.
Axial movement is allowed, and in the second position the tu
The engaging claw that engages with the teeth of the bush and is integrated with the tube.
The locking piece and the tube are inserted so as to be movable in the axial direction, and
A guide that guides the locking piece so that it can move to a predetermined axial position.
Has a lid and restricts the rotation of the locking piece in the circumferential direction.
The holder and the tube are inserted so as to be movable in the axial direction, and
Rotate in the circumferential direction integrally with the tube with respect to the holder
The guide plate and the guide plate are pressed to lock the locking piece in the predetermined axial direction.
The guide plate is urged toward the position and the guide plate is moved to the second position.
And a coil spring that urges it in the circumferential direction toward the position
A control cable length adjusting device characterized in that 2. Outer of control cable
Inserted and fixed to the end of the casing, and the diametrical
Tube with many teeth arranged in the nominal position along the generatrix direction
When, A first position and a second position in the circumferential direction with respect to the tube.
Is movable to and from the position of
Is allowed to move in the axial direction, and in the second position
Engagement that engages the teeth of the tube and integrates with said tube
A locking piece having a claw portion, While the tube is inserted so as to be movable in the axial direction,
A shaft that guides the locking piece so that it can move to a predetermined axial position.
Has a direction slit, and at the predetermined position, the locking piece is
A circumference that is movable between a first position and the second position.
A holder with directional slits, While biasing the locking piece to a predetermined position in the axial direction,
Biasing the locking piece in the circumferential direction toward the second position
And a coil spring. Roll
Cable length adjustment device.