JP4523349B2 - Cable-type operating device and cable-type steering device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a cable type operating device in which a driving member and a driven member are connected via an operating cable, a driving pulley connected to a steering handle and a driven pulley that is connected to a steering gear box that turns a wheel and rotates. The present invention relates to a cable-type steering device in which the two are connected via an operation cable.

  Such a cable-type steering device is known from Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 below.

The operation cable of the cable-type steering device is an inner cable slidably housed in the outer tube, and the inner cable that transmits the steering torque input to the steering handle to the steering gear box is composed of a metal wire. Therefore, permanent elongation is inevitable with long-term use. When permanent elongation occurs in the inner cable, the play of the steering handle becomes large and the steering feeling is lowered. Therefore, what is described in Patent Document 2 is biased by a compression coil spring at an intermediate position between the driving pulley and the driven pulley. By pressing the pressed elastic member against the inner cable, the permanent elongation of the inner cable is compensated.
JP-A-8-2431 JP-A-10-109657

  However, in the case where the elastic member biased by the compression coil spring is pressed against the inner cable to compensate for the permanent elongation, when the tension of the inner cable is increased by abruptly operating the steering handle, the compression coil spring is caused by the tension. Since the elastic member is shrunk and the elastic member is pushed back, the tension of the inner cable is reduced, and the rigidity of the steering wheel is lowered, which causes a problem that the steering feeling is lowered.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and provides a sense of rigidity when a drive member or a steering handle is suddenly operated while compensating for the extension of the inner cable of the operation cable of the cable type operation device or the cable type steering device. The purpose is to secure.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, an operation cable in which an inner cable is slidably accommodated is provided inside the outer tube, and both ends of the outer tube are respectively supported by fixing portions. In addition, in the cable type operation device in which both ends of the inner cable are connected to the driving member and the driven member, tension adjusting means for generating a resilient force for applying tension to the inner cable, and the inner force by the driving force input to the driving member. A damping force generating means for causing the tension adjusting means to apply a damping force for holding the tension of the inner cable in an increased state when the tension of the cable increases , and the damping force generating means is an inner member driven by the driving member. cable type operation instrumentation which comprises said damping force increases characteristics as the driving speed is greater cable There is proposed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the drive pulley connected to the steering handle and rotated and the driven pulley connected to the steering gear box for turning the wheel and rotated at the both ends are connected to the drive pulley housing and the driven pulley. In a cable-type steering device in which an inner cable with both ends wound around a drive pulley and a driven pulley is slidably stored in an outer tube supported by a pulley housing and is connected via an operation cable, tension is applied to the inner cable. The tension adjusting means that generates the elastic force to be applied, and when the inner cable tension is increased by the steering torque input to the steering handle, the tension adjusting means acts on the tension adjusting means to maintain the tension of the inner cable in an increased state. and a damping force generation means for, the damping force generating means Cable steering apparatus is proposed which is characterized by having the damping force increases characteristics as the driving speed is greater of the inner cable which is driven by the drive pulley.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the second aspect, the tension adjusting means moves the end of the outer tube away from either the drive pulley housing or the driven pulley housing. A cable-type steering device is proposed, which is a spring that biases.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the second aspect, the damping force generating means includes a cylinder provided in one of the drive pulley housing and the driven pulley housing, and an outer tube. A piston connected to the end and slidably fitted to the cylinder, first and second oil chambers defined inside the cylinder and separated by the piston, and first and second formed in the piston A cable-type steering device is proposed which is composed of a choke that communicates an oil chamber.

  The drive pulley housing 12, the driven pulley housing 14, the casing 67, and the bracket 70 of the embodiment correspond to the fixed portion of the present invention, and the drive pulley 22 and the air mix lever 64 of the embodiment correspond to the drive member of the present invention. The driven pulley 25 and the arm 65 of the embodiment correspond to the driven member of the present invention, and the spring 51 of the embodiment corresponds to the tension adjusting means of the present invention.

According to the configuration of the first aspect, when the inner cable of the operation cable of the cable type operating device is permanently extended and the tension is reduced, the permanent tension is applied to the inner cable by the elastic force generated by the tension adjusting means. Elongation can be compensated. When the tension of the inner cable increases by applying a sudden force to the drive member, the damping force generating means keeps the tension of the inner cable in the increased state even if the outer tube tries to move by being pulled by the inner cable. Is exerted on the tension adjusting means, so that a decrease in the tension of the inner cable can be suppressed to ensure a feeling of rigidity of the operating member, and a decrease in operating feeling can be prevented.

According to the configuration of the second aspect, when the inner cable of the operation cable of the cable-type steering apparatus is permanently stretched to reduce the tension, the tension is applied to the inner cable by the elastic force generated by the tension adjusting means. Elongation can be compensated. When the driver applies a sudden steering torque to the steering handle and the tension of the inner cable increases, the damping force generation means keeps the tension of the inner cable in an increased state even if the outer tube tries to move by being pulled by the inner cable. Since the damping force to be applied acts on the tension adjusting means, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the tension of the inner cable to secure a sense of rigidity of the steering wheel and to prevent a decrease in steering feeling.

  According to the configuration of the third aspect, the tension of the inner cable is adjusted by the spring that urges the end portion of the outer tube in a direction away from the drive pulley housing or the driven pulley housing, so that the structure of the tension adjusting means is simplified. be able to.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the first and second cylinders are slidably fitted to the cylinders provided in the drive pulley housing or the driven pulley housing and are slidably fitted to the end portions of the outer tube, and are partitioned inside the cylinder. 2 Since the oil chamber communicated with the choke formed in the piston, when a sudden steering torque is input to the steering handle and the outer tube is pulled by the inner cable, the piston connected to the outer tube moves in the cylinder. Thus, the hydraulic oil in the first and second oil chambers passes through the choke of the piston, and the movement of the outer tube can be prevented by the resistance force at that time, so that the tension of the inner cable can be maintained.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on examples of the present invention shown in the accompanying drawings.

  1 to 5 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a cable type steering apparatus, FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of FIG. 4, FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1, and FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a drive pulley housing 12 provided in front of a steering handle 11 of an automobile and a driven pulley housing 14 provided above a steering gear box 13 are composed of two operation cables 15, such as a Bowden cable. 16 is connected. Tie rods 17L, 17R extending in the left-right direction of the vehicle body from both ends of the steering gear box 13 are connected to knuckles (not shown) that support the left and right wheels WL, WR.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a drive pulley shaft 21 connected to the steering handle 11 is rotatably supported by the drive pulley housing 12, and a drive pulley 22 is fixed to the drive pulley shaft 21. The two operation cables 15 and 16 are composed of outer tubes 15o and 16o and inner cables 15i and 16i that are slidably accommodated therein. A pulley groove 22a is formed in a spiral shape on the outer peripheral surface of the drive pulley 22, and cable guide grooves 22b and 22b are connected to both ends of the pulley groove 22a on both end faces, and are connected to the cable guide grooves 22b and 22b. Pin holes 22c and 22c are formed.

  The inner cables 15i, 16i of the operation cables 15, 16 are respectively press-fitted into the pin holes 22c, 22c of the drive pulley 22 from the pin 23, 23 fixed to one end thereof, and then into the pulley groove 22a from the cable guide grooves 22b, 22b. It is wound and pulled out in substantially the same direction from both ends in the diameter direction of the drive pulley 22.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, a driven pulley 25 is fixed to a driven pulley shaft 24 that is rotatably supported by the driven pulley housing 14. The winding structure and the fixing structure of the inner cables 15i and 16i with respect to the driven pulley 25 are the same as those of the driving pulley 22 described in FIG. 2, and pins 26 and 26 fixed to the other ends of the inner cables 15i and 16i are provided. Inner cables 15 i and 16 i that are press-fitted into the pin holes 25 c and 25 c of the driven pulley 25 and are connected to the pins 26 and 26 are formed on the cable guide grooves 25 b and 25 b formed on the end face of the driven pulley 25 and on the outer peripheral surface of the driven pulley 25. It is wound around the spiral pulley groove 25a.

  A pinion 27 is provided at the tip of a driven pulley shaft 24 that protrudes from the driven pulley housing 14 into the steering gear box 13. The steering rod is supported in the steering gear box 13 so as to be slidable in the left-right direction. It meshes with a rack 29 formed on 28. A power steering motor 30 is supported on the driven pulley housing 14, and a worm 32 provided on the output shaft 31 inside the driven pulley housing 14 meshes with a worm wheel 33 provided on the driven pulley shaft 24. Accordingly, the torque of the power steering motor 30 is transmitted to the driven pulley shaft 24 via the worm 32 and the worm wheel 33.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the outer tube 16o of one operation cable 16 includes a spirally wound rectangular cross-section metal wire 41, a synthetic resin coating 42 covering the inner peripheral surface of the metal wire 41, and a metal wire. 41 and a synthetic resin coating 43 covering the outer peripheral surface of the base 41, and a base 44 is fixed by caulking to the tip thereof. A synthetic resin bush 45 is housed on the inner peripheral surface of the base 44 projecting from the end of the outer tube 16o to improve slippage with the inner cable 16i.

  An outer pipe 46 is fitted in a mounting hole 12a formed in the drive pulley housing 12, and movement in the left direction in the figure is restricted by an annular stopper 47 screwed to the outer peripheral surface thereof. The base 44 of the outer tube 16o is fitted to the inner periphery of the inner pipe 48, and the left end of the base 44 is engaged with the stepped portion 48a at the left end of the inner pipe 48, so that the leftward movement in the figure is restricted. A stopper 49 is screwed into the inner periphery of the right end of the inner pipe 48, and the pressing portion 49a at the left end presses the right end of the base 44 leftward, so that the base 44, the inner pipe 48 and the stopper 49 are integrated. Is done.

  A spring 51 is housed in a compressed state between a spring seat 50 locked to a step 46a on the inner peripheral surface of the outer pipe 46 and a flange 49b of a stopper 49 screwed to the right end of the inner pipe 48. The inner pipe 48 is urged to the right with respect to the outer pipe 46 by the elastic force. At this time, the circlip 52 is attached to the left end of the inner pipe 48 so that the outer pipe 46 does not fall out of the inner pipe 48.

  A piston 48b formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner pipe 48 is slidably fitted to a cylinder 46b formed on the inner peripheral surface of the outer pipe 46, and the first oil partitioned by the piston 48b inside the cylinder 46b. A chamber 53 and a second oil chamber 54 are partitioned. The left end of the first oil chamber 53 and the right end of the second oil chamber 54 are sealed by O-rings 55 and 56, respectively. A choke 48c that communicates the first oil chamber 53 and the second oil chamber 54 is formed in the piston 48b.

  The structure of the outer tube 15o of the other operation cable 15 is the same as the structure of the outer tube 16o of the one operation cable 16 described above.

  Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention having the above configuration will be described.

  When the driver operates the steering handle 11, the rotation of the drive pulley 22 connected to the steering handle 11 is transmitted to the driven pulley 25 via the operation cables 15 and 16, and the rotation of the driven pulley 25 is driven to the driven pulley shaft 24 and the pinion 27. The wheels WL and WR that are transmitted to the tie rods 17L and 17R via the rack 29 and the steering rod 28 and connected to the tie rods 17L and 17R are steered.

  At this time, the steering torque input by the driver to the steering handle 11 is detected by a steering torque sensor (not shown), and the driving force of the power steering motor 30 is adjusted so that the steering torque is determined according to the vehicle speed or the like. By being transmitted to the driven pulley shaft 24 through the worm 32 and the worm wheel 33, the steering operation of the driver is assisted by the driving force of the power steering motor 30.

  When the cable type steering apparatus is assembled, initial tension is applied to the inner cables 15i, 16i, and the flanges 49b, 49b of the stoppers 49, 49 are in contact with the right ends of the outer pipes 46, 46 (see FIG. 3). When the inner cable 15i, 16i is permanently extended from this state and the tension is lowered, the stoppers 49, 49 are urged to the right side by the elastic force of the springs 51, 51 set in the compressed state. And the inner pipes 48, 48, the caps 44, 44, and the outer tubes 15o, 16o are pushed out to the right (see FIG. 5). Thus, the outer tubes 15o, 16o move to the right relative to the inner cables 15i, 16i, whereby the tension of the inner cables 15i, 16i can be increased to compensate for the permanent elongation. Moreover, since the outer tubes 15o, 16o are only urged to the right side by the springs 51, 51, the structure is very simple.

  Now, when the driver suddenly operates the steering handle 11, the tension of the inner cables 15i, 16i increases, so that the outer tubes 15o, 16o pulled by the inner cables 15i, 16i become It tries to move to the left while compressing the springs 51, 51. If the outer tubes 15o, 16o are moved to the left in this way, the tension of the inner cables 15i, 16i is reduced, so that the steering handle 11 is lightened and the rigidity is lost, and the steering feeling is lowered. End up.

However, in this embodiment, the inner pipes 48, 48 integrated with the outer tubes 15 o, 16 o are pulled to the left, so that the pistons 48 b, 48 b provided on the inner pipes 48, 48 are fixed to the drive pulley housing 12. , 46, it is difficult for hydraulic oil in the first and second oil chambers 53, 54 to pass through the chokes 48c, 48c formed in the pistons 48b, 48b even if the cylinders 46b, 46b are moved leftward. because it is, the outer tubes 15o, moving large blocking resistance to the left of 16o, i.e. a hydraulic damping force is generated. Accordingly, the damping force generating means 57, 57 has a characteristic that the hydraulic damping force increases as the driving speed of the inner cables 15i, 16i driven by the driving pulley 22 increases.

  Thus, by providing resistance to the movement of the pistons 48b, 48b with the hydraulic damping force generated by the damping force generating means 57, 57, the outer tubes 15o, 16o are pulled by the inner cables 15i, 16i and moved to the left. Can be prevented, the tension of the inner cables 15i, 16i can be prevented from decreasing, the steering wheel 11 can be secured, and the steering feeling can be prevented from being lowered.

  6 to 8 show a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an overall perspective view of a cable type operating device of a vehicle air conditioner. FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 in FIG.

  Inside the blower motor unit 61 of the vehicle air conditioner is provided an air mix damper (not shown) that adjusts the temperature of the air supplied to the passenger compartment by distributing a part of the air that has passed through the cooler to the heater core. The rotating shaft 62 that adjusts the opening degree of the air mix damper protrudes outside the blower motor unit 61. An air mix lever 64 as a drive member is movably provided in the temperature adjusting unit 63 provided in the instrument panel in the passenger compartment, and the air mix lever 64 and the driven shaft provided on the rotating shaft 62 are provided. The arm 65 as a member is connected by an operation cable 66 such as a Bowden cable. The operation cable 66 includes an outer tube 66o and an inner cable 66i as in the first embodiment.

  The air mix lever 64 is pivotally supported by the casing 67 of the temperature adjusting unit 63 via a fulcrum pin 68, and the operation unit 64a at the tip of the air mix lever 64 is exposed through the long hole 67a formed in the casing 67. One end of the outer tube 66o of the operation cable 66 is supported on the side surface of the casing 67 with the same structure as that shown in FIG. One end portion of the inner cable 66 i protruding from the outer tube 66 o is connected to the air mix lever 64 via the pin 69. The other end of the outer tube 66o is fixed to a bracket 70 provided on the side surface of the blower motor unit 61, and the other end of the inner cable 66i is connected to an arm 65 provided on the rotary shaft 62 via a pin 71.

  Thus, when the occupant pushes the operation portion 64a of the temperature adjustment portion 63 left and right to swing the air mix lever 64 around the fulcrum pin 68, the inner cable 66i of the operation cable 66 is pushed and pulled with respect to the outer tube 66o. For this reason, the rotation of the rotary shaft 62 via the arm 65 causes the air mix damper in the blower motor unit 61 to swing, and the temperature of the air blown into the passenger compartment is adjusted.

  Next, the action of adjusting the tension of the operation cable 66 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 5, the operation cable 16 is replaced with an operation cable 66, and the drive pulley housing 12 is replaced with a casing 67.

  When the cable type operation device is assembled, initial tension is applied to the inner cable 66i, and the flange 49b of the stopper 49 is in contact with the right end of the outer pipe 46 (see FIG. 3). When the inner cable 66i is permanently stretched from this state and the tension is lowered, the stopper 49 is urged to the right side by the elastic force of the spring 51 set in the compressed state, and the inner pipe 48 integrated with the stopper 49, the base 44 and the outer tube 66o are pushed out to the right (see FIG. 5). Thus, the outer tube 66o moves to the right relative to the inner cable 66i, whereby the tension of the inner cable 66i is increased and the permanent elongation can be compensated.

  When the occupant suddenly operates the operation portion 64a of the air mix lever 64 in the right direction, the tension of the inner cable 66i increases, so the outer tube 66o pulled by the inner cable 66i compresses the spring 51 with the flange 49b of the stopper 49. While trying to move to the left. If the outer tube 66o moves to the left side in this way, the tension of the inner cable 66i decreases, so that the air mix lever 64 becomes too light and the operation feeling is lowered.

  However, in this embodiment, the inner pipe 48 integrated with the outer tube 66o is pulled to the left, so that the piston 48b provided on the inner pipe 48 moves to the left in the cylinder 46b provided on the outer pipe 46 fixed to the casing 67. Even if trying to do so, it is difficult for the hydraulic oil in the first and second oil chambers 53 and 54 to pass through the choke 48c formed in the piston 48b, so that there is a large resistance to prevent the outer tube 66o from moving to the left side. appear.

  Thus, by applying resistance to the movement of the piston 48b by the hydraulic damping force generated by the damping force generating means 57, the outer tube 66o is prevented from being pulled to the left by the inner cable 66i, and the inner cable 66i. It is possible to prevent the tension of the air from decreasing and to secure a sense of rigidity of the air mix lever 64 and to prevent a decrease in operation feeling.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, various design changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  For example, in the embodiment, the drive pulley housing 12 or the casing 67 is provided with springs 51 and 51 and damping force generating means 57 and 57. They may be provided on the driven pulley housing 14 side or the blower motor unit 61 side.

Overall perspective view of cable-type steering device 2-2 line enlarged sectional view of FIG. Part 3 enlarged view of FIG. 4-4 enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG. Action explanatory diagram corresponding to FIG. Overall perspective view of cable-type operating device for vehicle air conditioner 7-7 enlarged sectional view of line 7-7 Sectional view taken along line 8-8 in FIG.

11 Steering handle 12 Drive pulley housing (fixed part)
13 Steering gear box 14 Driven pulley housing (fixed part)
15 Operation cable 15i Inner cable 15o Outer tube 16 Operation cable 16i Inner cable 16o Outer tube 22 Drive pulley (drive member)
25 Driven pulley (driven member)
46b Cylinder 48b Piston 48c Choke 53 First oil chamber 54 Second oil chamber 51 Tension adjusting means (spring)
57 Damping force generating means 64 Air mix lever (drive member)
65 Arm (driven member)
66 Operation cable 66i Inner cable 66o Outer tube 67 Casing (fixed part)
70 Bracket (fixed part)
WL wheel WR wheel

Claims (4)

The outer tube (15o, 16o, 66o) is provided with an operation cable (15, 16, 66) in which the inner cable (15i, 16i, 66i) is slidably accommodated. Both ends are respectively supported by the fixing portions (12, 14, 67, 70), and both ends of the inner cable (15i, 16i, 66i) are connected to the driving member (22, 64) and the driven member (25, 65), respectively. In cable type operation device,
Tension adjusting means (51) for generating elastic force for applying tension to the inner cables (15i, 16i, 66i), and inner cables (15i, 16i, 66i) by the driving force input to the driving members (22, 64) And a damping force generating means (57) for causing the tension adjusting means (51) to act on the tension adjusting means (51) when the tension of the inner cable (15i, 16i, 66i) is increased .
The damping force generating means (57) has a characteristic that the damping force increases as the driving speed of the inner cables (15i, 16i, 66i) driven by the driving members (22, 64) increases. Cable-type operating device. Both ends drive a driving pulley (22) connected to the steering handle (11) and rotating, and a driven pulley (25) connected to the steering gear box (13) for turning the wheels (WL, WR) and rotating. Inner cables (15i, 16i) having both ends wound around a drive pulley (22) and a driven pulley (25) inside an outer tube (15o, 16o) supported by the pulley housing (12) and the driven pulley housing (14). ) Is slidably stored in the cable type steering device connected via the operation cables (15, 16).
The tension of the inner cable (15i, 16i) is increased by the tension adjusting means (51) that generates a resilient force that applies tension to the inner cable (15i, 16i) and the steering torque input to the steering handle (11). A damping force generating means (57) for applying a damping force to the tension adjusting means (51) to keep the tension of the inner cables (15i, 16i) in an increased state ,
The damping force generation means (57) has a characteristic that the damping force increases as the driving speed of the inner cables (15i, 16i) driven by the driving pulley (22) increases. .   The tension adjusting means (51) is a spring that urges the end of the outer tube (15o, 16o) in a direction away from either the drive pulley housing (12) or the driven pulley housing (14). The cable-type steering device according to claim 2, wherein the cable-type steering device is characterized.   The damping force generating means (57) is connected to a cylinder (46b) provided in one of the drive pulley housing (12) and the driven pulley housing (14) and an end of the outer tube (15o, 16o). A piston (48b) slidably fitted into the cylinder (46b), and first and second oil chambers (53, 54) partitioned inside the cylinder (46b) and separated by the piston (48b). And a choke (48c) formed in the piston (48b) and communicating with the first and second oil chambers (53, 54). .

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