JP4481955B2 - Vehicle direction indication device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular direction indicating device that facilitates stopping at a neutral position when a bracket positioned at a left turn instruction position or a right turn instruction position is returned to a neutral position.

  In the vehicle direction indicating device, the steering wheel is rotated in a direction opposite to the indicated direction in a state where the bracket rotated by the operation lever is located at the left turn instruction position or the right turn instruction position. The bracket is configured to be returned toward the neutral position via the cancel mechanism. At this time, if the bracket passes the neutral position and the opposite turn switch is turned on, the opposite turn signal lamp may be lit (so-called reverse lighting). In particular, in recent years, there is a situation where the reverse lighting is likely to occur due to the fact that there is no room in the contact portion of the turn switch as the unit is downsized, and countermeasures are desired.

Patent Document 1 discloses the following as a countermeasure against the reverse lighting as described above. Protrusions are provided on the outer surface of the bracket, and two cantilevered elastically deformable brake convexes are provided on the cover of the unit case that accommodates the bracket. When the bracket is in the neutral position, Is positioned between the two brake convex portions, and in a state where the bracket is positioned at the left turn instruction position, the convex portion is positioned beyond one brake convex portion. Then, when the bracket is rotated in the direction of returning to the neutral position via the cancel mechanism, the convex portion of the bracket hits one brake convex portion, and pushes up and passes through the brake convex portion. At this time, since the convex portion hits the brake convex portion, the momentum of the bracket is weakened, the bracket is likely to stop at the neutral position, and the occurrence of reverse lighting can be prevented.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-231402 (FIG. 1)

  The thing of the above-mentioned patent document 1 has the following faults. The two brake convex portions provided on the unit case side cover must be displaced upward and escape when the bracket side convex portion hits. For this reason, a space for displacing the brake convex portion is required on the upper surface side of the cover of the unit case, which becomes a restriction when installing the vehicle direction indicator. In addition, since the cover requires a slit (opening) for enabling elastic deformation of the brake convex portion around the brake convex portion, there is a risk that foreign matter may enter the unit case from the slit. There is.

  The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances described above, and its purpose is to make it easier to stop at the neutral position when the bracket positioned at the left turn instruction position or the right turn instruction position is returned to the neutral position, and when installing. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicular direction indicating device that is less restricted and that can prevent foreign matter from entering a unit case.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, a vehicle direction indicating device according to the present invention includes a unit case, and is disposed in the unit case, between the left turn instruction position and the right turn instruction position centered on the neutral position together with the operation lever. A bracket provided rotatably, a moderation mountain provided in the unit case and having a neutral position trough, a left turn crest, and a right turn crest, and a housing formed in the bracket The bracket is held in the neutral position by the tip portion entering the neutral position trough portion of the moderate mountain, and the left turn is provided. A moderation piece that holds the bracket at the left turn instruction position and the right turn instruction position by riding on the position mountain part and the right turn position mountain part, and the bracket turns the left turn. An operation force in a direction to return the bracket to the neutral position based on the fact that the cancel cam rotated by the steering wheel is rotated in the direction opposite to the indicated position direction of the bracket while being positioned at the indicated position or the right turn indicating position. And a canceling mechanism for providing the moderation piece through the cam surface provided on the outer peripheral portion of the moderation piece, the tip side of the moderation piece moving down and inclined, and the opening formed in the bracket. A pusher that is provided so as to be movable in a direction intersecting the movement direction of the moderation piece, has one end abutted against the cam surface, and the bracket is positioned at the left turn instruction position or the right turn instruction position. The other end of the pusher is separated from the unit case, and the bracket is in the left turn instruction position or When returning from the right turn instruction position to the neutral position direction, one end of the pusher is pushed by the cam surface with the movement of the moderation piece, and the other end of the pusher protrudes toward the unit case and contacts the unit case. It is characterized by having a configuration that weakens the momentum of the bracket.

  In the above configuration, when the bracket is positioned at the neutral position, the tip of the moderation piece enters the neutral position trough of the moderation mountain. In this state, the distal end portion of the moderation piece is in a state of most protruding from the housing portion of the bracket to the moderation mountain side. Accordingly, one end of the pusher is pushed by the cam surface of the moderation piece, and the other end of the pusher protrudes toward the unit case and is in contact with the unit case.

  When the bracket is turned from the neutral position to the left turn instruction position or the right turn instruction position, the tip of the moderation piece slides on the slope of the moderation mountain and rides on the left turn position mountain or right turn position mountain It becomes. In this state, the distal end portion of the moderation piece is pushed by the moderation mountain and moved to the accommodating portion side. Along with this, one end of the pusher is lowered along the inclination of the cam surface of the moderation piece, and the other end of the pusher is separated from the unit case.

  When the bracket is returned to the neutral position by the cancel mechanism from the left turn instruction position or the right turn instruction position, one end of the pusher is pushed by the cam surface along with the movement of the moderation piece in the projecting direction. The other end protrudes toward the unit case and comes into contact with the unit case and slides. As a result, the momentum of the bracket is weakened, the tip of the moderation piece remains in the trough for the neutral position, and the bracket is likely to stop at the neutral position.

  In the present invention, when the bracket is returned from the left turn instruction position or the right turn instruction position toward the neutral position, the pusher comes into contact with the unit case and slides along with the movement of the moderation piece, thereby reducing the momentum of the bracket. The bracket is easy to stop in the neutral position. And since the pusher slides only on the unit case side, unlike the case where the elastically deformable brake convex part is provided on the unit case side, no special space is required on the outer surface side of the unit case, There are few installation restrictions. Further, since it is not necessary to form an opening in the unit case for forming the brake convex portion, it is possible to prevent foreign matter from entering the unit case.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, in FIG. 3, a roll connector 1 that constitutes a power feeding connection portion is disposed below a steering wheel (not shown) and has a function of feeding power to electrical components on the steering wheel side. As is well known, the roll connector 1 has a configuration in which a flat cable wound like a mainspring spring is provided between a fixed portion and a rotating portion that rotates integrally with the steering wheel. A cancel cam 2 protruding downward is provided at the bottom. The cancel cam 2 is provided in a rotating portion, and is rotated around a steering shaft (not shown) as the steering wheel rotates. 4 and 5, K indicates a rotation locus in a range where the cancel cam 2 rotates.

  Now, the unit case 3 of the vehicular direction indicating device is provided in a fixed state below the steering wheel and on the side portion of the roll connector 1. In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, the unit case 3 includes a hollow lower case 4, an insulator 5 provided at the bottom of the lower case 4, and a cover attached to the upper surface opening of the lower case 4. 6.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the bracket 7 is provided in the unit case 3 so as to be rotatable in the direction of arrow A in FIG. An accommodation portion 7b (see (a-2) in FIG. 1)) having an open front end is formed on the distal end portion side of the bracket 7 at a position close to one side. In the accommodation portion 7b, A moderation piece 8 and a moderation spring (biasing means) 9 for urging the moderation piece 8 outward are provided. In this case, the moderation piece 8 has a prismatic shape that is long in the moving direction, and the distal end portion 8a has a tapered curved surface. The accommodating portion 7 b also has a rectangular cross section in accordance with the moderation piece 8. Inside the lower case 4, a turn mode mountain (a mode mountain in the present invention) 10 (see (a-1) in FIG. 1) is provided. The tip 8a is slidably pressed.

  The turn moderation mountain 10 is provided with a neutral position trough portion 10a and a left turn position crest portion 10b and a right turn position crest portion 10c that are located on both sides of the neutral position trough portion 10a. As the piece 8 is selectively held by the neutral position trough portion 10a, the left turn position crest portion 10b, and the right turn position crest portion 10c, the bracket 7 is selectively used for the neutral position, the left turn instruction position, and the right turn instruction position. Is supposed to be retained. 1 (a-1), (a-2) and FIG. 4 show a state in which the bracket 7 is held in the neutral position. In this case, the moderation piece 8, the moderation spring 9, and the moderation mountain 10 for turn constitute a moderation mechanism 11 for turn.

  An operation lever 12 is inserted into the bracket 7. In FIGS. 4 and 5, the operation lever 12 is omitted. The operation lever 12 rotates together with the bracket 7 in the direction of the arrow A described above, and can rotate about the shaft portion 13 with respect to the bracket 7 in the direction of the arrow B in FIG. It has become a structure. A housing portion 12a having an open front end is formed at the end of the operating lever 12 on the bracket 7 side, and a moderation piece 14 and a moderation spring for biasing the moderation piece 14 outward in the housing portion 12a. 15 are provided. A dimmer / passing moderation surface 16 is provided inside the bracket 7, and the moderation piece 14 is in pressure contact with the dimmer / passing moderation surface 16. In this case, the moderation piece 14, the moderation spring 15 and the moderation surface 16 for dimmer / passing constitute a moderation mechanism 17 for dimmer / passing.

  A holder operation member 18 is attached to the end of the operation lever 12 on the bracket 7 side. A movable contact holder 20 having a movable contact 19 is provided on the upper surface side of the insulator 5 so as to be slidable in the left-right direction in FIG. The lower end portion of the holder operation member 18 is inserted into the movable contact holder 20, and the movable contact holder is moved via the holder operation member 18 when the operation lever 12 is rotated in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 3. 20 is slid in the direction of arrow C (left-right direction), and accordingly, the movable contact 19 slides on the upper surface of the insulator 5. The insulator 5 is provided with a fixed contact 21 on a surface on which the movable contact 19 slides, and the fixed contact 21 and the movable contact 19 contacting and separating from the fixed contact 21 constitute a dimmer / passing switch. .

  A cancel mechanism 24 of the vehicle direction indicator is disposed below the unit case 3, and the cancel mechanism 24 will be described below. An auxiliary bracket 25 is attached to the lower end of the bracket 7 so as to rotate integrally with the bracket 7. A mountain-shaped cam surface 26 is provided on the lower surface of the auxiliary bracket 25. A back plate 27 is provided below the bracket 7 so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction, and is always held at a predetermined position shown in FIG. A pair of pressed portions 29 are provided on the lower surface side of the back plate 27 so as to face each other. These pressed parts 29 are opened in a C shape so that the distance between them is wide on the side of the auxiliary bracket 25 when viewed from above.

  A ratchet 30 is disposed below the auxiliary bracket 25 and the back plate 27. A shaft portion 31 protrudes in the upper and lower sides at the middle portion in the longitudinal direction of the ratchet 30, and a lower portion of the shaft portion 31 is movably inserted into the guide hole 5 a formed in the insulator 5. The ratchet 30 has its tip 30a protruding outward from the lower case 4 of the unit case 3 and is urged by the ratchet spring 32 in the direction of arrow E (see FIGS. 3 and 4). Yes. In the state of FIG. 4 in which the bracket 7 is held at the neutral position, the upper portion of the shaft portion 31 is in contact with the apex of the peak portion of the cam surface 26 and is prevented from moving in the arrow E direction. At this time, the rear end portion 30 b of the ratchet 30 is inserted between the pressed portions 29 and 29 of the back plate 27.

  A movable contact holder 33 that moves in response to the rotational movement of the bracket 7 is provided below the bracket 7, and a movable contact 34 for a turn switch is attached to the movable contact holder 33. The insulator 5 is provided with a movable contact 34 and a fixed contact (not shown) constituting a turn switch.

  As shown in FIG. 1 (a-2), a cam surface 40 is formed on the outer peripheral portion on the upper surface side of the moderation piece 8 of the turn moderation mechanism 11 so that the tip portion 8a side is inclined downward. Further, in the bracket 7, an opening 41 is formed in the upper wall of the accommodating portion 8 b that accommodates the moderation piece 8 so as to be positioned at a portion corresponding to the cam surface 40 and open in the vertical direction. A pusher 42 is inserted into the opening 41 so as to be movable in the vertical direction. A lower end portion 42 a which is one end portion of the pusher 42 is formed to be an inclined surface along the cam surface 40 and is in contact with the cam surface 40. An upper end portion 42b which is the other end portion of the pusher 42 is formed in a tapered curved surface.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described.
In the state of FIG. 4 in which the bracket 7 is located at the neutral position, the tip 8a of the moderation piece 8 enters the neutral position trough 10a for the turn moderation mountain 10 as shown in FIG. It is in a state. In this state, the distal end portion 8a of the moderation piece 8 is in a state of most protruding from the accommodating portion 7b of the bracket 7 toward the turn moderation mountain 10 side. Accordingly, the lower end portion 8a of the pusher 42 is pushed up by the upper portion of the cam surface 40 of the moderation piece 8, and the upper end portion 42b of the pusher 42 protrudes toward the cover 6 side of the unit case 3 and is in contact with the inner surface of the cover 6 (See FIG. 1 (a-2)).

  At this time, the upper portion of the shaft portion 31 of the ratchet 30 is in contact with the apex of the peak portion of the cam surface 26, and movement in the direction of arrow E is prevented. In this state, the tip 30 a of the ratchet 30 protrudes outward from the lower case 4 of the unit case 3, but is positioned outside the rotation locus K of the cancel cam 2. Therefore, in this state, the cancel cam 2 does not hit the ratchet 30 regardless of the direction in which the cancel cam 2 rotates as the steering wheel rotates.

  When the operation lever 12 is rotated, for example, in the direction of the left turn instruction position while the bracket 7 is positioned at the neutral position, the bracket 7 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 4 about the shaft portion 7a. The Then, the tip 8a of the moderation piece 8 slides on the slope of the left turn position mountain portion 10b in the turn moderation mountain 10 and is held when the left turn position mountain portion 10b is ridden. As a result, the bracket 7 is held at the left turn instruction position shown in FIG. 5, and accordingly, a left turn switch (not shown) of the turn switch is turned on. In this state, as shown in FIGS. 1 (b-1) and 1 (b-2), the tip 8a of the moderation piece 8 is pushed by the left turn position peak portion 10b and moved toward the accommodating portion 7b. Become. Accordingly, the lower end portion 42a of the pusher 42 is lowered along the inclination of the cam surface 40 of the moderation piece 8, and the upper end portion 42b of the pusher 42 is separated from the cover 6 of the unit case 3 (FIG. 1 (b- 2)).

  At this time, as the auxiliary bracket 25 moves together with the bracket 7, the ratchet 30 moves in the direction of arrow E so that the shaft portion 31 moves down the peak portion of the cam surface 26, and the tip portion 30 a moves to the cancel cam. 2 and the rear end 30b comes into contact with one of the pressed parts 29.

  When the steering wheel is rotated in the left direction (counterclockwise direction in FIG. 5) in the left turn instruction position state of FIG. 5, the cancel cam 2 hits the ratchet 30 from the counterclockwise direction. However, as the ratchet 30 rotates in the clockwise direction around the shaft portion 31, the passage of the cancel cam 2 is allowed. Accordingly, in this case, the bracket 7 and the operation lever 12 are held at the left turn instruction position, and the turn switch is also turned on.

  In the state of FIG. 5, when the steering wheel is rotated in the right direction (clockwise direction) opposite to the direction indicated by the bracket 7, the cancel cam 2 comes into contact with the ratchet 30 from the clockwise direction. The counterclockwise rotational force acts on the shaft portion 31 as a center. Then, the rear end portion 30b of the ratchet 30 presses one of the pressed portions 29, and an operating force is applied to the bracket 7 to rotate it in the clockwise direction (the direction in which the bracket 7 is returned to the neutral position). When the operating force at this time exceeds the holding force of the turning moderation mechanism 11, the tip 8a of the moderation piece 8 passes the tip of the left turn position peak 10b toward the neutral position valley 10a side, and the left turn position peak. The bracket 7 and the operation lever 12 are rotated in the clockwise direction by sliding on the slope of the portion 10b.

  At this time, while the distal end portion 8a of the moderation piece 8 slides on the slope of the left turn position peak portion 10b, the moderation piece 8 moves in the direction in which the distal end portion 8a projects, and the moderation piece 8 moves in the projecting direction. Accordingly, the lower end portion 42a of the pusher 42 is pushed by the cam surface 40, and the upper end portion 42b of the pusher protrudes toward the cover 6 and comes into contact with and slides on the inner surface of the cover 6 (FIG. -2)). As a result, the momentum of the bracket 7 in the clockwise direction is weakened, the tip 8a of the moderation piece 8 remains in the neutral position trough 10a, and the bracket 7 and the operation lever 12 are held in the neutral position ( FIG. 1 (a-1) and FIG. 4). Accordingly, the racket 7 and the operation lever 12 are surely stopped at the neutral position, and accordingly, the left turn switch of the turn switch is turned off. Further, the ratchet 30 is returned to the original position in FIG. 4 by the action of the cam surface 26, and comes off the rotation locus K of the cancel cam 2.

  The above description is for the case where the operation lever 12 and the bracket 7 are rotated to the left turn instruction position. However, when the operation lever 12 and the bracket 7 are turned to the right turn instruction position, their movements are opposite to those described above. The operation is basically the same as the case of turning to the left turn instruction position.

According to the above-described embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
When the bracket 7 is returned from the left turn instruction position or the right turn instruction position to the neutral position direction by the cancel mechanism 24, the upper end portion 42b of the pusher 42 is moved to the cover 6 of the unit case 3 along with the movement of the moderation piece 8 in the turn moderation mechanism 11. By sliding in contact with the inner surface, the momentum of the bracket 7 is weakened, and the bracket 7 is likely to stop at the neutral position. Thus, reverse lighting can be prevented.

  Since the upper end portion 42b of the pusher 42 only slides on the cover 6 side of the unit case 3, the upper surface side of the cover 6 is different from the case where the elastically deformable brake convex portion is provided on the unit case side. No special space is required, and there are few restrictions on installing the vehicle direction indicator. In addition, since it is not necessary to form an opening in the cover 6 for forming a convex portion for braking, entry of foreign matter into the unit case 3 can be prevented. Furthermore, the operability when the bracket 7 is rotated by the operation lever 12 is also good.

The main part of one Example of this invention is shown, (a-1) is a top view of the principal part in the state which has a bracket in a neutral position, (a-2) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the principal part in the same state , (B-1) is a plan view of the main part in a state where the bracket is in the left turn instruction position, and (b-2) is a longitudinal sectional view of the main part in the same state. Exploded perspective view Longitudinal section Cross-sectional plan view of the main part with the bracket in the neutral position Cross-sectional plan view of the main part with the bracket in the left turn instruction position

Explanation of symbols

  In the drawings, 2 is a cancel cam, 3 is a unit case, 6 is a cover, 7 is a bracket, 7b is a receiving portion, 8 is a moderation piece, 8a is a tip, 9 is a moderation spring (biasing means), and 10 is for a turn. Moderation mountain (moderation mountain), 10a is a neutral position valley, 10b is a left turn position, 10c is a right turn position, 11 is a turn moderation mechanism (moderation mechanism), 12 is an operating lever, and 24 is cancelled. Mechanism, 30 is a ratchet, 40 is a cam surface, 41 is an opening, 42 is a pusher, 42a is a lower end (one end), and 42b is an upper end (the other end).

Claims (1)

Unit case,
A bracket disposed in the unit case and provided to be rotatable between a left turn instruction position and a right turn instruction position around a neutral position together with an operation lever;
A moderation mountain provided in the unit case and having a trough portion for a neutral position, a mountain portion for a left turn position, and a mountain portion for a right turn position,
The bracket can be moved by being moved to the accommodating portion formed in the bracket, and urged toward the moderation mountain side by an urging means, and the tip portion enters the neutral position trough portion of the moderation mountain. A moderation piece that holds the bracket at the left turn instruction position and the right turn instruction position by holding it in a neutral position and riding on the left turn position peak part and the right turn position peak part,
The bracket is returned to the neutral position based on the fact that the cancel cam rotated by the steering wheel in a state where the bracket is positioned at the left turn instruction position or the right turn instruction position is rotated in a direction opposite to the direction of the bracket indicated position. In a vehicle direction indicating device provided with a canceling mechanism that applies an operation force in a direction,
A cam surface provided on an outer peripheral portion of the moderation piece, and a tip end side in a moving direction of the moderation piece is inclined downward;
A pusher provided through the opening formed in the bracket so as to be movable in a direction intersecting the moving direction of the moderation piece, and having one end abutting against the cam surface;
When the bracket is positioned at the left turn instruction position or the right turn instruction position, the other end of the pusher is separated from the unit case, and the bracket is in the neutral position direction from the left turn instruction position or the right turn instruction position. As the moderation piece moves, one end of the pusher is pushed by the cam surface, and the other end of the pusher protrudes toward the unit case to make contact with the unit case. A vehicular direction indicating device characterized in that it is configured.

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