JP5008616B2 - Control cable device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a control cable device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a control cable device that is used as a backup when a by-wire system that controls electrical equipment by transmitting an electrical signal according to a driver's operation fails.

  Conventionally, as a shift operation device, a shift lever provided in a vehicle interior and a transmission provided in an engine room are connected by a push-pull control cable, and the operation of the shift lever is transmitted to the transmission via the push-pull control cable. It is known that a transmission operation is performed.

  On the other hand, the push-pull control cable is not connected between the transmission lever and the transmission, the operation amount of the transmission lever is converted into an electrical signal, and the electrical signal is transmitted to the actuator provided in the transmission. There is known a shift-by-wire system in which a transmission is changed by an actuator based on a signal. A shift-by-wire system is conventionally known in which a manual shift operation device is provided so that a shift operation of a transmission can be manually performed for backup when an actuator fails (Patent Document 1). reference).

  In the manual speed change operation device of Patent Document 1, a handle is attached to the output shaft of the motor of the actuator, and the speed change operation of the transmission is performed by rotating the handle manually to rotate the output shaft of the motor. Also, one end of the control cable is connected to the output part of the actuator, a handle or lever is connected to the other end of the control cable, and the transmission or gearshift operation is performed by operating the handle or lever from a position away from the actuator. (See Patent Documents 2 to 4), and further, a clutch (see Patent Document 5) provided between a control cable and an actuator is also known.

JP 2008-2568 A JP 2007-309393 A JP 2003-28293 A Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-16061 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-16064

  However, the handles and levers of the manual transmission operation devices disclosed in Patent Documents 2 to 5 are all provided in the console and instrument panel in the vehicle cabin, and need not be waterproof. On the other hand, when the handle and lever of the manual speed change operation device are provided outside the vehicle compartment such as the engine room as in Patent Document 1, consideration must be given to waterproofing and dustproofing. There is a problem that it must be covered with a cover. In addition, when the handle or lever is covered with a cover, there is a problem that the space for the cover and the lever in addition to the space for the handle or lever is required at the installation location, and the number of parts increases.

  Therefore, the present invention can operate vehicle equipment from a position away from the actuator, and can save space, waterproof and dust-proof the manual operation part in the normal operation state of the actuator. An object of the present invention is to provide a control cable device including a cap that can easily operate vehicle equipment in the event of a failure.

The control cable device of the present invention is a control cable device that transmits operation by the driver through the control cable.
An inner cable of the control cable is slidably accommodated in an outer casing fixed to the vehicle body via a fixing means;
The terminal member on the side operated by the driver of the outer casing is detachably closed by a cap via the first engaging means, and the terminal member on the side operated by the driver of the inner cable is a second terminal member. Engaging means is provided, and the cap is engaged with the second engaging means in a state where the engagement between the outer casing and the cap by the first engaging means is released. 3 engagement means is provided.

Further, the control cable device of the present invention includes an actuator for operating the equipment in accordance with an instruction of the operation instruction means operated by the driver,
An electrical signal corresponding to the instruction is transmitted to the actuator so as to obtain a desired operation of the actuator, and the amount of movement of the output portion of the actuator is controlled according to the electrical signal transmitted to the actuator. , A by-wire system in which a driver's operation is transmitted to the equipment according to the amount of movement,
It is preferable that the inner cable is connected to the equipment.

  In the control cable device of the present invention, it is preferable that the cap is provided with a hollow portion that accommodates a terminal member of the inner cable and allows movement of the terminal member of the inner cable in the axial direction. .

  Moreover, it is preferable that the cap is provided with a protruding portion P that protrudes in the outer peripheral direction.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the said cap is provided with the to-be-attached part H which can attach the operation assistance member which a driver | operator grasps.

  According to the control cable device of the present invention, a sealed space is defined on the terminal member of the outer casing by functioning as a cap that is engaged, fixed, and closed with the terminal member in a normal operation state of the actuator. It is possible to achieve waterproofing and dustproof without providing a separate cover, and when the actuator fails, it is separated from the end member of the outer casing, and the inner cable is pressed against the end member of the inner cable. It can function as a handle for pulling operation.

  Hereinafter, a control cable device of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a shift-by-wire system including a control cable device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state of the control cable device of the present invention excluding synchronization means, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a view showing sliding of the inner cable terminal member within the cap in a normal operating state of the actuator of the control cable device of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a control cable of the present invention. FIGS. 6 (a), 6 (b), 7 (a), and 7 (b) are diagrams for explaining a manual operation when the actuator of the apparatus fails. It is a figure which shows the other form of an engagement means and a 3rd engagement means.

  1 to 4, the shift-by-wire system 1 includes an operation instruction unit 2 operated by a driver or the like, an actuator 3 that operates a vehicle equipment in accordance with an instruction from the operation instruction unit 2, and an operation A controller 4 that receives an electrical signal corresponding to an instruction from the instruction means 2 and transmits it to the actuator 3, a transmission 5, a transmission lever 6 of the transmission 5 that is an input part of vehicle equipment, a control cable device 10, The control cable device 10 includes an inner cable 11, a synchronization means 12 for synchronizing the movement of the inner cable 11 and the movement of the shift lever 6 as an input part of the vehicle equipment, and the synchronization of the inner cable 11. An inner cable terminal member 111 operated by a driver fixed to the distal side of the means 12; An outer casing 13 in which the outer cable 11 is slidably accommodated, an outer casing terminal member 131 fixed to the distal side of the synchronization means 12 of the outer casing 13, and a cap 14 engaged with the outer casing terminal member 131 Consists of

  As the operation instruction means 2 of the present invention, an operation lever, a push button, a numeric keypad, an operation dial, or the like can be used, and is not particularly limited. In order to obtain a desired shift state corresponding to “parking”, “reverse”, “neutral”, “drive”, “second speed”, etc., the operation instruction means 2 is operated, for example, “drive” There is no particular limitation as long as an electrical signal such as a pulse corresponding to the operation can be transmitted to the controller 4, and a synchro electric machine, a servo motor, a stepping motor, or the like can also be used.

  As the actuator 3, for example, an electric motor, a worm fixed to the rotating shaft of the electric motor, a worm wheel meshing with the worm, a pinion coaxially and integrally formed with the worm wheel, a rack meshing with the pinion, and the movement of the rack are synchronized. Although it can comprise from the output part 31 transmitted to a means, the actuator 3 is not limited to this structure. For example, conventionally known torque transmission means such as a key, a key groove, a chain, and a belt can be partially applied, and a reciprocating linear motion may be transmitted using a solenoid. Further, the output unit 31 of the actuator 3 is preferably fixed to the synchronization means 12.

  The controller 4 is connected to the operation instructing means 2 and the actuator 3 by a wire harness, radio, etc., and transmits and receives electrical signals between the operation instructing means 2 and the actuator 3 to obtain a desired shift state selected by the driver. The transmission 5 is controlled. Specifically, when the operation instruction means 2 is the operation lever 21, the operation lever 21 is changed from the “parking” state to, for example, “reverse”, “neutral”, “drive”, “second speed”. When the operation lever 21 is operated, the operation amount is transmitted as a clock pulse to the controller 4 to drive the actuator 3. Different operation signals (binary data) for each operation position, for example, reverse (0001), neutral (0010), and drive (0011) are stored in the shift register. Of these binary data, Desired data is sent to the controller 4, the motor rotates in response to the desired data, the actuator 3 is driven, and the transmission lever 6 of the transmission 5 is rotated via the synchronization means 12.

  The amount of movement of the output unit 31 of the actuator 3 is controlled by the controller 4, and the output unit 31 is connected to the inner cable 11 and the transmission lever 6 of the transmission 5 via the synchronization means 12. The movement of the inner cable 11 and the transmission lever 6 is synchronized by the synchronization means 12.

  When the actuator 3 is operating normally, the shift lever 6 is moved by the movement of the actuator 3 via the synchronization means 12 to perform the speed change operation of the transmission 5 and the inner cable connected to the synchronization means 12. 11 slides in the outer casing 13.

  The synchronizing means 12 is not particularly limited as long as the speed change lever 6 and the inner cable 11 can be synchronized. For example, the inner cable 11 and the output portion 31 of the actuator 3 are both fixed, and the output portion 31 of the actuator 3 is fixed. A connecting member 121 that can move linearly in the same direction as the moving direction, and a second inner cable 122 that transmits the linear movement of the connecting member 121 to the speed change lever 6 can be used. In addition, the synchronizing means 12 can use an actuator such as a hydraulic pressure, a pneumatic pressure, or a linear motor.

  A normal push-pull control cable is used as the inner cable 11 and is slidably accommodated in the outer casing 13. One end of the inner cable 11 is connected to the synchronization means 12, and a second engagement means C <b> 2 is provided at the other end, that is, the distal end of the synchronization means 12 of the inner cable 11. The second engagement means C2 can be engaged with the third engagement means C3 provided on the cap 14 when the actuator 3 fails, for example, when a failure occurs in the electric motor or the like. The outer casing 13 is fixed to the vehicle body via known fixing means such as a bracket B. It is preferable to provide a watertight means W at the end of the outer casing 13 on the synchronization means 12 side so that water does not enter the outer casing 13. The watertight means W is preferably a member made of bellows rubber.

  A cap 14 is provided on the distal side of the synchronization means 12 of the outer casing 13. The cap 14 includes first engaging means C1 that fixes the outer casing terminal member 131 and the cap 14 in a liquid-tight manner. The first engagement means C1 is engaged with the outer casing terminal member 131, and the outer casing terminal member 131 is provided with a fourth engagement means C4 that engages with the first engagement means C1. Is preferred. The engaging means is preferably a male screw or a female screw, but is not particularly limited as long as it can be fixed in a liquid-tight manner, and an O-ring may be further provided. The material of the cap 14 is not particularly limited as long as it is a material that does not have a problem in strength in operation, such as iron, aluminum, and synthetic resin.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the cap 14 is provided with a first engagement means C1 at one end of a hollow cylindrical member and a third engagement means C3 at the other end. Note that the shape of the cap 14 is not limited to a hollow cylindrical shape, and may be, for example, a rectangular tube shape such as a hollow quadrangular prism, a pentagonal prism, or a hexagonal prism. As the third engagement means C3 that can be engaged with the second engagement means C2 provided on the inner cable terminal member 111, known engagement means such as a male screw or a female screw can be used.

  As for the shape of the cap 14, the outer periphery of the end portion on the first engagement means C1 side of the cap 14 has a protruding portion P protruding in a partial conical shape so that it can be easily operated during manual operation. Further, since the cap 14 is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape, the inner cable terminal member 111 slides in the hollow portion when the actuator 3 is in a normal operating state. In addition, an insertion port H that is an attached portion that can be used as an operation assisting member by attaching an operation assisting member to the first engagement means C1 side of the cap 14 so as to be easily operated during manual operation. Is preferably provided. By pulling the cap 14 by inserting a tool such as a screwdriver into the insertion port H as an operation assisting member, the pulling operation of the inner cable 11 can be facilitated. The operation assisting means is not limited to the insertion port H, and a locking portion can be provided on the first locking means C1 side of the cap 14 or can be separately engaged with the first locking means C1. A handle may be provided.

  It is preferable that a cover 15 is further provided on the third engagement means C3 side of the cap 14 in order to prevent water from collecting in the engagement means C3. The cover 15 is preferably a rubber cover that is easy to remove, but may be a known engagement member such as a screw that engages with the third engagement means C3.

  Although not shown, in order to easily disengage the cap 14 from the outer casing terminal member 131, a flat portion that can be engaged with a tool such as a spanner is provided on the cap 14 and the outer casing terminal member 131. Also good.

  Next, the operation of the control cable device 10 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the normal operation state of the actuator 3, the cap 14 enters water into the outer casing terminal member 131 from the fourth engagement means C4 side, and water enters the cap 14 from the first engagement means C1 side. Intrusion is prevented by the fourth engagement means C4 and the first engagement means C1. That is, as shown in FIG. 5A, the first engagement means C1 and the fourth engagement means C4 are engaged, and the third engagement means C3 side is covered with the cover 15. is there. During normal operation, the inner cable 11 is pushed and pulled in conjunction with the movement of the synchronization means 12 according to the instruction from the operation instruction means 2. As shown in FIG. 4, the inner cable terminal member 111 slides in the hollow portion inside the cap 14, so that the inner cable 11 slides stably.

  Next, when the actuator 3 fails, the electric motor or the like does not operate, so the synchronization means 12 does not move, the shift lever 6 cannot be moved, and the inner cable 11 does not slide. If the speed change lever 6 is in “reverse” or “parking” at this time, it will be an obstacle to the movement of the vehicle, etc., so the synchronizing means 12 and the speed change lever 6 must be moved via the inner cable 11. I must. For this purpose, first, as shown in FIG. 5B, the cover 15 is removed, and the first engagement means C1 of the cap 14 and the fourth engagement means C4 of the outer casing terminal member 131 are disengaged. The cap 14 is removed from the outer casing terminal member 131.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5C, the direction of the cap 14 is changed, and the second engaging means C2 of the inner cable 11 and the third engaging means C3 of the cap 14 are engaged. In this state, as shown in FIG. 5 (d), the inner cable 11 is pushed and pulled by pushing and pulling the cap 14. Therefore, the pushing and pulling operation of the inner cable 11 is performed via the synchronization means 12 and the speed change lever 6. Therefore, the transmission can be changed even when the actuator fails.

  Moreover, the insertion port H is provided in the 1st engaging means C1 side of the cap 14, The inner cable 11 can be easily operated by using insertion members, such as a driver. Further, the outer periphery of the end portion of the cap 14 on the first engagement means C1 side has a protruding portion P protruding in a partial conical shape, so that it can be easily grasped by a hand.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the shapes of the second locking means C2 and the third locking means C3 are not limited to the male screw and the female screw as shown in FIG. A key shape as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B may be used. That is, the third engaging means C3 as shown in FIG. 6 (a) has a key-shaped protrusion, and the second engaging means C2 has a keyhole-shaped recess, By inserting the key-shaped protrusion of the engaging means C3 into the keyhole-shaped recess of the second engaging means C2 and rotating it around the axis of the cap 14, the second engaging means C2 and the third engaging means are engaged. The means C3 is engaged, and the inner cable 11 can be pushed and pulled. Similarly, it is also possible to provide a key-shaped projection on the second engagement means C2 and a recess having a keyhole shape on the third engagement means C3.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, by providing a U-shaped locking portion on the second engagement means C2 and a hook on the third engagement means C3. The pulling operation of the inner cable 11 becomes possible. Similarly, a hook can be provided on the second engagement means C2, and a U-shaped locking portion can be provided on the third engagement means C3. Alternatively, the second engagement means C2 and the third engagement means can be provided. By providing the hook with the means C3, the inner cable 11 can be pulled.

  Further, the control cable device 10 of the present invention can be operated in the same manner even when the controller 4 or the operation instruction means 2 is lost.

  Further, instead of the push-pull control cable, a pull control cable or a rotation transmission control cable may be used.

  The control cable device of the present invention is not limited to a shift-by-wire system, but can be applied to an electric parking brake system, a power slide door system, and a power lift gate.

It is the schematic which shows the shift-by-wire system containing the control cable apparatus of this invention. It is a figure which shows the state except the synchronization means among the control cable apparatuses of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the synchronization means of the control cable apparatus of this invention. (A) And (b) is a figure which shows sliding within the cap of the inner cable terminal member at the time of normal operation | movement of the actuator of the control cable apparatus of this invention. It is a figure explaining the manual operation at the time of the actuator failure of the control cable apparatus of this invention. (A) And (b) is a figure which shows the other form of the 2nd engagement means used for the control cable apparatus of this invention, and a 3rd engagement means. (A) And (b) is a figure which shows the other form of the 2nd engagement means used for the control cable apparatus of this invention, and a 3rd engagement means.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Shift by wire system 2 Operation instruction | indication means 21 Operation lever 3 Actuator 31 Output part 4 Controller 5 Transmission 6 Shift lever 10 Control cable apparatus 11 Inner cable 111 Inner cable terminal member 12 Synchronizing means 121 Connecting member 122 2nd inner cable 13 Outer casing 131 outer casing terminal member 14 cap 15 cover B bracket C1 first engagement means C2 second engagement means C3 third engagement means C4 fourth engagement means H insertion port P projecting portion W watertight means

Claims (5)

In the control cable device that transmits the operation by the driver through the control cable,
An inner cable of the control cable is slidably accommodated in an outer casing fixed to the vehicle body via a fixing means;
The terminal member on the side operated by the driver of the outer casing is detachably closed by a cap via the first engaging means, and the terminal member on the side operated by the driver of the inner cable is a second terminal member. Engaging means is provided, and the cap is engaged with the second engaging means in a state where the engagement between the outer casing and the cap by the first engaging means is released. 3. A control cable device comprising three engaging means. Provided with an actuator for operating the equipment in accordance with instructions from the operation instruction means operated by the driver,
An electrical signal corresponding to the instruction is transmitted to the actuator so as to obtain a desired operation of the actuator, and the amount of movement of the output portion of the actuator is controlled according to the electrical signal transmitted to the actuator. , A by-wire system in which a driver's operation is transmitted to the equipment according to the amount of movement,
The control cable device according to claim 1, wherein the inner cable is connected to the equipment. The control cable device according to claim 1, wherein the cap is provided with a hollow portion that accommodates a terminal member of the inner cable and allows movement of the terminal member of the inner cable in the axial direction. The control cable device according to claim 1, wherein the cap is provided with a protruding portion (P) protruding in an outer peripheral direction. The control cable device according to claim 1, wherein the cap is provided with a mounted portion (H) to which an operation assisting member to be gripped by a driver can be attached.

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