JP4106062B2 - Turn signal switch - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a turn signal switch attached to a steering column or the like of an automobile and used as a direction indicator, and more particularly, to a cancel mechanism for automatically returning an operation lever provided in the turn signal switch to a neutral position.

  The turn signal switch of an automobile supports the base end side of the operating lever in a housing that is integrated with the steering column and the like so that the driver can turn the front end side of the operating lever from the neutral position to the left or right. By turning to the position, the left or right turn lamp blinks. In such a turn signal switch, a cam portion is provided on the inner surface of the housing side and is engaged with the cam portion on the operation lever side in order to hold the operation lever at three positions of the left and right direction indicating positions and the neutral position. The drive unit is provided via a spring, and when the handle is rotated in the direction opposite to the indicated direction with the operating lever rotated to either the left or right direction indicating position, the operating lever is neutral. A cancel mechanism for automatically returning the position is provided.

  Conventionally, as a cancel mechanism of such a turn signal switch, a cancel lever is supported on the housing so as to be able to rotate and move forward and backward, and a protrusion provided on one end of the cancel lever is engaged with a cam hole provided on the operation lever side, A member provided with a spring member that elastically biases the other end of the cancel lever in a direction protruding from the housing is known.

  In the turn signal switch schematically configured as described above, when the operating lever is in the neutral position, the operating lever is locked in the neutral position by engaging the driving body with the center of the cam portion provided in the housing. . In this case, the cancel lever is retracted by engaging the protrusion with the peak portion of the cam hole, and the tip of the cancel lever is located outside the rotation locus of the cancel protrusion provided on the rotor that rotates in conjunction with the handle. Therefore, even if the handle is rotated in this state, the cancel protrusion does not contact the cancel lever.

  On the other hand, when the driver rotates the operation lever from the neutral position to either the left or right direction, the operation lever is locked at the direction indication position by the drive body moving from the center of the cam portion to either the left or right lock portion. Accordingly, the left or right turn lamp blinks. In this case, the cancel lever is moved forward from the peak portion of the cam hole to the valley portion and is urged by the spring member, and the tip of the cancel lever protrudes into the rotation locus of the cancel protrusion. In this state, when the handle is rotated in the direction opposite to the instruction direction, the cancel lever contacts with the cancel protrusion and rotates during the return operation. As a result, the protrusion of the cancel lever comes into contact with and presses the end of the cam hole, so that the drive body is released from the lock portion of the cam portion and moves to the center stable position, and the operation lever is in the direction opposite to the indicated direction. To automatically return to the neutral position.

  As described above, the conventional turn signal switch is configured to automatically return the operation lever locked at the direction indicating position to the neutral position by the driving force from the cancel lever rotated by the cancel protrusion. When the canceling operation is performed in a state where the driver presses the operation lever locked at the direction indicating position, there is a possibility that the components of the power transmission system including the canceling lever are damaged.

  The present invention has been made in view of the actual situation of the prior art, and the purpose of the present invention is to ensure that the components of the power transmission system are not affected even when the canceling operation is performed with the operating lever in the operating position being pressed. An object of the present invention is to provide a turn signal switch capable of preventing breakage.

  In order to achieve the above object, a turn signal switch of the present invention includes a housing having a cam portion, an operation lever rotatably supported by the housing, and the operation lever in cooperation with the cam portion. A driving body that is held at three positions of the first and second operation positions and the neutral position, and is rotatably supported by the housing via a support shaft, and the operation lever is neutralized from the first and second operation positions. A first lever member that returns to a position, a second lever member that is rotatably supported by the first lever member and the housing via a long hole, and the second lever member. A spring member that is elastically biased in the longitudinal direction of the long hole; a rotation member that is rotatably supported by the operation lever; and a return spring that automatically returns the rotation member to a center position. Said first Provided is a drive portion that can be brought into contact with and separated from the bar member and a cam portion that can be brought into and out of contact with the second lever member, and when the operation lever is in a neutral position, the cam portion makes the second lever member a handle. When the operating lever is in the first or second operating position, the second lever member is rotated by the urging force of the spring member when the canceling lever rotates in conjunction with the reverse movement. It was configured to advance into the trajectory.

  According to the turn signal switch configured as described above, even if the canceling operation is performed in a state where the driver presses the operation lever at the operating position, the rotation member is returned to the return spring by the rotation of the first lever member. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the components of the power transmission system including the first and second levers and the driving member of the rotating member from being damaged.

  A turn signal switch according to the present invention includes a housing having a cam portion, an operation lever rotatably supported by the housing, and the operation lever in cooperation with the cam portion and first and second operation positions. A driving body that is held at three neutral positions, and a first lever member that is rotatably supported by the housing via a support shaft and returns the operation lever from the first and second operation positions to the neutral position. A second lever member rotatably supported by the first lever member and the housing via long holes, and elastically biasing the second lever member in the longitudinal direction of the long holes. A spring member that is rotatably supported by the operation lever, and a return spring that automatically returns the rotary member to a center position. The rotary member is in contact with the first lever member. Separable drive A cam locus that can be moved toward and away from the second lever member, and when the operation lever is in a neutral position, a rotation locus of a cancel protrusion that rotates the second lever member in conjunction with a handle by the cam portion. Since the second lever member is moved forward into the rotation trajectory of the cancel projection by the biasing force of the spring member when the operating lever is in the first or second operating position, the second lever member is moved backward. Even if the cancel operation is performed with the driver holding the operating lever in the operating position, the rotation of the first lever member is absorbed by the rotating member rotating against the return spring, It is possible to prevent damage to the components of the power transmission system including the first and second levers, the drive unit of the rotating member, and the like.

  FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a turn signal switch according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows an operation lever in a first case provided in the turn signal switch. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the turn signal switch, FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the turn signal switch, FIG. 5 is a front view of a rotating member provided in the turn signal switch, FIG. These are explanatory drawings showing the cancel operation of the turn signal switch.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the turn signal switch according to this embodiment includes first and second cases 1 and 2 that are joined and integrated to form a housing, and are rotatably supported by both cases 1 and 2. Placed on the upper surface of the second case 2, the rotating member 4 rotatably supported by the operating lever 3, the return spring 5 that automatically returns the rotating member 4 to the center position. The first and second lever members 6, 7 and the torsion coil spring 8 that elastically biases the second lever member 7 in a direction protruding from the second case 2 are mainly configured. The first and second cases 1 and 2 are fixed to a stator member such as a column cover or a combination switch (not shown).

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a V-shaped cam surface 9 is formed inside the first case 1, and this cam surface 9 has a central trough 9 a and protruding locks located on both sides. Part 9b. The first case 1 and the second case 2 are integrated using a means such as a snap joint, and holes 1a and 2a serving as pivot points of the operation lever 3 are formed in both cases 1 and 2, respectively. A first support shaft 10 and a second support shaft 11 are erected on the inner bottom surface of the second case 2 at a predetermined interval, and the first lever member 6 rotates on the first support shaft 10. It is supported freely. A first through hole 12 and a second through hole 13 are formed in the first lever member 6, and a hole fitted to the first support shaft 10 between these through holes 12 and 13. 6a is formed. Further, a support shaft 6b is erected at the tip of the first lever member 6, and a second lever member 7 is rotatably supported by the support shaft 6b.

  The second lever member 7 is formed with a first long hole 7a fitted into the support shaft 6b and a second long hole 7b fitted into the second support shaft 11, and these The longitudinal directions of the long holes 7a and 7b are set on the same line. Further, a contact portion 7c and a cam portion 7d are provided upright at both front and rear ends of the second lever member 7, and the cross-sectional shape of the cam portion 7d is formed in a semicircular shape. One arm of a torsion coil spring 8 is engaged with the second lever member 7, and the second lever member 7 is elastically moved in the longitudinal direction of the long holes 7 a and 7 b by the torsion coil spring 8. It is energized. The winding portion of the torsion coil spring 8 is inserted into a boss 2 b erected on the inner bottom surface of the second case 2, and the other arm is hooked on the side wall of the second case 2. A step portion 2c and a rib 2d are formed on the inner bottom surface of the second case 2 so as to contact the bottom surface of the second lever member 7, and the second case 2 and the second case 2 are formed by the step portion 2c and the rib 2d. The contact resistance between the lever members 7 is reduced.

  A printed circuit board 14 is attached to the bottom surface of the second case 2, and a pair of slider receivers 15 and 16 that slide on the printed circuit board 14 are exposed on the inner bottom surface side of the second case 2. . One slider receiver 15 is movable in the short direction of the second case 2 and is driven by the turning operation of the operation lever 3 in the left or right turn direction, and blinking operation of a left turn or right turn lamp (not shown). I do. The other slider receiver 16 is movable in the longitudinal direction of the second case 2 and is driven by an upward swinging operation of the operation lever 3 to perform a lighting operation of a beam lamp (not shown). Both of these slider receivers 15 and 16 are provided with movable contacts (both not shown) that come in contact with and separate from the fixed contacts formed on the printed circuit board 14.

  A holder 17 is attached to the operation lever 3, and support shafts 17 a and 17 b that are fitted in the holes 1 a and 2 a are projected from both upper and lower surfaces of the holder 17. The operation lever 3 and the holder 17 rotate integrally in the horizontal direction with a straight line connecting both holes 1a and 2a (both support shafts 17a and 17b) as a rotation axis. It is connected so that it can swing by a predetermined angle in the vertical direction with respect to 17. A pair of spring receiving portions 17 c and 17 d are formed on the upper surface of the holder 17, and a cylindrical portion 17 e is formed on the front surface of the holder 17. A driving body 18 is slidably held inside the cylindrical portion 17e, and the tip of the driving body 18 is always in pressure contact with the cam surface 9 of the first case 1 by a spring (not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 5, a cylindrical body 4a formed on the rotating member 4 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 17e, and the rotating member 4 is rotatably held by the holder 17 with the cylindrical portion 17e as a guide surface. ing. A pair of spring receiving portions 4 b and 4 c are formed on the upper portion of the rotating member 4, and both arms of the return spring 5 wound around the cylindrical body 4 a are connected to both the spring receiving portions 4 b and 4 c and the holder 17. The rotating member 4 is always urged toward the center position by being hooked on the spring receiving portions 17c and 17d. Further, a cam portion 4d having a semicircular cross-sectional shape is suspended from the lower end of the cylindrical body 4a, and this cam portion 4d faces the cam portion 7d of the second lever member 7. Further, a driving portion 4e reaching the second through hole 13 of the first lever member 6 is suspended from the lower end of the rotating member 4, and the above-mentioned one slider receiving member is provided in the driving portion 4e. A protrusion 4f that engages with the body 15 is suspended. A protrusion 19 is formed at the lower end of the operation lever 3, and this protrusion 19 is engaged with the other slider receiver 16 described above (see FIG. 2).

  Next, the operation of the turn signal switch configured as described above will be described mainly with reference to FIG. First, as shown in FIG. 3, when the operation lever 3 is in the neutral position, the tip of the driving body 18 abuts against the central valley 9a of the cam surface 9 and is stable at that position by the elasticity of a spring (not shown). Is held in. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6A, the cam portion 4d of the rotating member 4 and the cam portion 7d of the second lever member 7 are in contact with each other at the apexes, and the second lever member 7 is The torsion coil spring 8 is retracted against the urging force. Therefore, the contact portion 7c of the second lever member 7 is located outside the rotation locus of the cancel projection 20 provided on the rotor that rotates in conjunction with the handle, and even if the handle is rotated in this state, The cancel protrusion 20 does not contact the contact portion 7c of the second lever member 7, and the operation lever 3 is maintained in the neutral position.

  When the operating lever 3 is rotated from this neutral position in either direction of arrow A or B in FIG. 3, the tip of the drive body 18 gets over the slope of the cam surface 9 and is locked by the lock portion 9b. The position is stably held by 9b. For example, when the operation lever 3 is rotated in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 3, the rotation member 4 rotates in conjunction with the operation lever 3, and the cam portion 4d and the drive portion 4e shown by hatching in FIG. ) To the position shown in (b). As a result, the cam portion 4 d of the rotating member 4 is disengaged from the apex of the cam portion 7 d of the second lever member 7, and the second lever member 7 receives the elastic force of the torsion coil spring 8 and both the long holes 7 a. , 7b, and the contact portion 7c advances into the rotation locus of the cancel protrusion 20. Further, as the operating lever 3 rotates in the direction of arrow B, the protrusion 4f provided at the lower end of the rotating member 4 moves the slider receiver 15 in the horizontal direction. The right turn lamp (not shown) blinks.

In the right turn state shown in FIG. 6B, when the handle is rotated in the reverse direction (the arrow direction in the figure), the cancel protrusion 20 is brought into contact with the contact portion 7c of the second lever member 7 during the return operation. I hit it. As a result, the second lever member 7 rotates about the second support shaft 11 in the clockwise direction in the drawing, and accordingly, the first lever 6b has a support shaft 6b that engages with the first long hole 7a. Since the lever member 6 of the first lever member 6 rotates clockwise about the first support shaft 10, the second through hole 13 of the first lever member 6 is rotationally displaced upward in FIG. Thereby, since the periphery of the 2nd through-hole 13 presses the drive part 4e of the rotation member 4 upward, the drive body 18 remove | deviates from the lock part 9b of the cam surface 9, and transfers to the center trough part 9a, The operation lever 3 and the first and second lever members 6 and 7 are automatically returned to the neutral position shown in FIG. Here, the distance between the support shaft 6b and the second support shaft 11 is L1, the distance between the contact portion 7c and the second support shaft 11 is L2, and the distance between the support shaft 6b and the first support shaft 10 is L3, the distance between the first support shaft 10 and the drive portion 4e is L4, the distance between the drive portion 4e and the hole 2a (rotation center of the operating lever 3) is L5, and between the support shaft 17a (hole 2a) and the lock portion 9b. , L6 (see FIG. 3), the cancel ratio Pi (the ratio of the driving force generated in the lock portion 9b of the cam surface 9 when the force generated by the cancel projection 20 is 1) is
Pi = (L2 / L1) × (L3 / L4) × (L5 / L6) (1)
It can be expressed as

  6B, when the handle is rotated in the reverse direction while pressing the operating lever 3 in the right turn state shown in FIG. 6B, the peripheral edge of the second through-hole 13 is positioned on the driving portion 4e of the rotating member 4 as described above. However, since the operating lever 3 is pressed, it does not automatically return. In this case, the rotating member 4 rotates against the return spring 5 on the peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 17c. When the cancel projection 20 passes through the contact portion 7c of the second lever member 7, the rotating member 4 is automatically returned to the center position of the holder 17 by the return spring 5, so that the right turn shown in FIG. Maintained in a state. Thus, since the rotation of the first lever member 6 due to the canceling operation is absorbed by the rotation of the rotating member 4, damage to the components of the power transmission system including the levers 5, 6 and the drive unit 4e is prevented. Is done.

  In the right turn state shown in FIG. 6B, when the handle is further rotated in the right turn direction, the cancel protrusion 20 contacts the contact portion 7c of the second lever member 7 from the opposite direction to the arrow in FIG. In contact with each other, the second lever member 7 and the first lever member 6 rotate in the counterclockwise direction opposite to the cancel operation described above. In this case, the cam portion 7d of the second lever member 7 smoothly rotates and slides on the peripheral surface of the cam portion 4d of the rotating member 4, and the peripheral edge of the second through hole 13 is driven by the first lever member 6. Since the rotary lever is displaced in a direction away from the portion 4e, the operation lever 3 is not returned to the neutral position but is maintained at the right turn position.

1 is an exploded perspective view of a turn signal switch according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the state which incorporates an operation lever in the 1st case with which this turn signal switch is equipped. It is a cross-sectional view of the turn signal switch. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of this turn signal switch. It is a front view of the rotation member with which this turn signal switch is equipped. It is explanatory drawing which shows cancellation operation | movement of this turn signal switch.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st case 2 2nd case 3 Operation lever 4 Rotating member 4d Cam part 4e Drive part 5 Return spring 6 1st lever member 6b Support shaft 7 2nd lever member 7a 1st long hole 7b 2nd length Hole 7c Contact portion 7d Cam portion 8 Torsion coil spring 9 Cam surface 10 First support shaft 11 Second support shaft 12 First through-hole 13 Second through-hole 17 Holder 18 Driving body 20 Cancel projection

Claims (1)

A housing having a cam portion, an operation lever rotatably supported by the housing, and holding the operation lever at three positions of the first and second operation positions and the neutral position in cooperation with the cam portion. A drive body, a first lever member rotatably supported by the housing via a support shaft and returning the operation lever from the first and second operation positions to the neutral position, and the first lever member And a second lever member rotatably supported by the housing via a long hole, a spring member for elastically urging the second lever member in the longitudinal direction of each long hole, and the operation lever A rotating member that is rotatably supported, and a return spring that automatically returns the rotating member to the center position,
The rotating member is provided with a drive part that can be brought into contact with and separated from the first lever member and a cam part that can be brought into and out of contact with the second lever member, and when the operation lever is in a neutral position, When the second lever member is retracted out of the rotation locus of a cancel projection that rotates in conjunction with a handle, and the operating lever is in the first or second operating position, the second lever member is moved to the spring member. A turn signal switch configured to advance into the rotation trajectory of the cancel protrusion with an urging force.

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