JP5656618B2 - Automotive instrument - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an automotive instrument that teaches a measured value by indicating a scale corresponding to the measured value on a scale plate with a pointer member.

  FIG. 5 shows a conventional example of a combination meter unit incorporated in an instrument panel of an automobile.

  In the combination meter unit 100, a speedometer 110 and a tachometer 120 are arranged side by side on the display panel 101 of the unit.

  The illustrated speedometer 110 and tachometer 120 are automotive meters that teach measurement values by indicating the scales 112 and 122 on the scale plates 111 and 121 corresponding to the measurement values with the pointer members 113 and 123.

  Each of the speedometer 110 and the tachometer 120 is configured such that the pointer members 113 and 123 pivot around the base ends 113a and 123a of the respective pointer members. Further, the scales 112 and 122 are provided in an arc shape that serves as a movement locus of the tips of the pointer members 113 and 123 when the pointer members 113 and 123 are turned.

  FIG. 6 shows a conventional example of a speedometer improved to express a novel instrument design.

  The speedometer 130 shown in FIG. 6 has a configuration in which the pointer member 133 is pivoted about the proximal end 133a of the pointer member, and the scale 132 on the scale plate 131 is the pointer member 133 when the pointer member 133 is pivoted. 5 is common to the speedometer 110 in FIG. 5 in that it is provided in an arc shape that is a movement locus of the tip of the member 133.

  However, in the case of the speedometer 130, when not measuring, the needle member 133 rotates to the standby position P1 outside the starting end of the scale 132 and is equipped with a needle storage cover 135 that hides the pointer member 133 at the standby position P1. ing.

  As a result, it is possible to express a novel design in which the pointer member 133 is not visible to the user during non-measurement and the pointer member appears on the scale 132 only during measurement (see Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 below).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-121212 No.05-11461

  However, in the speedometer 130 shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the pointer member 133 rotates and moves, and the base end 133a of the pointer member 133 remains at a fixed position as the center of rotation. It is difficult to have a design that completely hides the entire pointer member 133, and even during non-measurement, a part of the pointer member 133 (the portion indicated by the broken line on the base end 133a side) 133b is visible to the user. End up. That is, there is a problem that a novel instrument design that completely hides the pointer member at the time of non-measurement cannot be made.

  5 and 6, the scales 112 and 122 must be arranged in a circular arc around the turning area of the pointer members 113 and 123, and the scale plates 111 and 121 are arranged. The shape is limited to a circular shape or a semi-circular shape obtained by cutting one side of the circular shape, etc., and thus there is a problem that the design tends to be uniform and it is difficult to express a novel instrument design.

  Therefore, the purpose of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, the scale array shape and the scale plate shape can be set to any shape other than circular or semicircular, and a novel instrument outer shape can be obtained, In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide an automotive instrument that can completely represent a novel instrument design in which the pointer member is not exposed when the measurement is not performed.

The above-described object of the present invention is achieved by the following configuration.
(1) An automotive instrument that teaches a measurement value by pointing a scale corresponding to the measurement value on the scale plate with a pointer member,
A strip-shaped scale plate provided with a scale on the strip-shaped region extending in a predetermined linear manner with appropriate intervals in the linear length direction; and
A pointer member for indicating the scale on the band-shaped scale plate;
A guide rail that extends along the alignment and that guides the pointer member from a standby position outside the starting end of the scale to the end of the scale;
A needle driving device that moves the pointer member on the guide rail to a position of a scale according to measurement data;
A needle storage cover that covers and hides the pointer member moved to the standby position;
With
The strip scale plate is set to a curve having an asymptotic line with a vertical line as the alignment on the starting end side of the scale,
The needle storage cover has an edge set horizontally,
An automotive instrument characterized in that a pointer member is hidden in the needle storage cover when not measuring.

(2) The needle driving device is laid on the guide rail so as to be able to travel along the guide rail, and the linear member to which the pointer member is fixed at an intermediate portion;
A start-end reel that is disposed on one end side of the guide rail located on the standby position side and winds up one end side of the linear member so that the pointer member is located in the standby position;
It is arranged on the other end side of the guide rail located on the terminal end side of the scale, and the pointer member can be positioned at any scale position by adjusting the winding amount on the other end side of the linear body. The end reel,
A motor for controlling the position of the pointer member by rotationally driving the terminal reel;
The automobile instrument according to (1) above, comprising:

(3) The vehicle instrument according to (2), wherein the starting end side reel is urged in a winding direction of the linear body by a mainspring spring.

  According to the configuration of (1) above, since the entire pointer member moves on the guide rail, the movement trajectory of the tip position of the pointer member corresponds to a linear shape along the shape of the laying path of the guide rail. . Therefore, the arrangement position of the scale and the outer shape of the scale plate can be set to an arbitrary line corresponding to the shape of the guide rail laying path. In other words, a novel instrument outer shape can be obtained by setting the scale arrangement position and the outer shape of the scale plate to an arbitrary shape other than circular or semi-circular.

  In addition, according to the configuration of (1) above, the entire pointer member moves on the guide rail. Therefore, when the pointer member is moving to the standby position, the entire pointer member is moved by the needle storage cover. Can be hidden.

  Therefore, at the time of non-measurement, the pointer member can be completely hidden to express a novel instrument design in which the pointer is not exposed.

Further , according to the configuration of (1) above , the movement direction of the pointer member near the standby position is the vertical line direction that is an asymptotic line, and the pointer member itself moves in a posture in which the tip extends in a substantially horizontal direction. Therefore, the needle storage cover whose edge is set to be substantially horizontal can easily hide the entire pointer member, and an instrument design that completely hides the pointer member when not measuring can be easily achieved. .

According to the configuration of (2) above, when the structure of the guide rail is, for example, a hook shape through which the linear body is inserted, the linear body is adjusted by adjusting the winding amount of the linear body on the reels at both ends of the guide rail. The pointer member fixed to can be moved to an arbitrary position on the guide rail.
That is, it is possible to easily move the pointer member to an arbitrary scale position by controlling the motor that rotationally drives the end-side reel, and to prevent the configuration of the needle driving device from becoming complicated.

According to the configuration of (3) above , since the driving in the winding direction of the start-end side reel is performed by the mainspring spring (spiral spring), the drive electric motor is only required on the end-side reel side. The number of equipment can be reduced to reduce costs.

  According to the automobile instrument according to the present invention, the arrangement position of the scale and the outer shape of the scale plate can be set to an arbitrary line corresponding to the shape of the laying path of the guide rail. Therefore, a novel instrument outer shape can be obtained by setting the scale arrangement position and the outer shape of the scale plate to an arbitrary shape other than circular or semi-circular.

  Moreover, according to the automotive instrument according to the present invention, the entire pointer member is configured to move on the guide rail. Therefore, when the pointer member is moving to the standby position, the entire pointer member is moved by the needle storage cover. Can be hidden.

  Therefore, at the time of non-measurement, the pointer member can be completely hidden to express a novel instrument design in which the pointer is not exposed.

It is the external view seen from the front of the speedometer which is one Embodiment of the meter for motor vehicles concerning this invention. It is explanatory drawing of a structure of the speedometer shown in FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view of the needle drive device shown in FIG. (A) is an external view in the vicinity of the starting end of the scale at the time of non-measurement, (b) is an external view when the pointer member appears on the scale side from the standby position at the start of measurement, and (c) is a scale corresponding to the measured speed. It is an external view in the state where the pointer member has moved to the position. It is a front view of the combination meter unit incorporating the conventional general vehicle meter. It is a front view of another conventional speedometer.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of an automotive instrument according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  1 to 3 are explanatory views of a speedometer which is an embodiment of an automotive instrument according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is an external view seen from the front of the speedometer which is an embodiment. FIG. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the needle driving device shown in FIG. 2.

  The speedometer 1 according to this embodiment includes a strip scale plate 10, a pointer member 20, a guide rail 30, a needle drive device 40, and a needle storage cover 50, and corresponds to a measurement value on the strip scale plate 10. The measured value is taught by pointing the scale 11 to be indicated by the pointer member 20.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the band-shaped scale plate 10 has a configuration in which the scale 11 is provided on the band-shaped region 13 whose both side edges extend in a predetermined line 12 with an appropriate interval in the length direction of the line 12. . On the scale 11, a speed value 14 is also written.

  In the case of this embodiment, the above-described line 12 is a curved line that is convex upward. Further, in the strip-shaped scale plate 10 of the present embodiment, the alignment 12 on the start end side of the scale 11 is set to a curve having the vertical line V as an asymptotic line as shown in FIG.

  The pointer member 20 is a member for indicating the scale 11 on the band-shaped scale plate 10, and a main body portion 21 guided by a guide rail 30 to be described later so as to be movable along the alignment 12, and from the main body portion 21 to the alignment 12. And a pointer portion 22 extending in the orthogonal direction.

  The guide rail 30 extends along the line 12 in a convex curved line shape. The guide rail 30 guides the pointer member 20 so as to be movable from the standby position P2 outside the starting end of the scale 11 to the end of the scale 11.

  In the case of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the guide rail 30 includes a rod-shaped rail body 31 that opens the surface side of the speedometer 1 and a linear body of a needle drive device 40 that will be described later from the rail body 31. A rail cover 32 that covers the open portion of the rail body 31 so as not to drop off.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a stopper 34 is provided on the start end side of the guide rail 30. The stopper 34 contacts the pointer member 20 when the pointer member 20 moves to the standby position P2, and positions the pointer member 20 at the standby position P2. It has been.

  The needle drive device 40 is a device that moves the pointer member 20 on the guide rail 30 to the position of the scale 11 according to the measurement data.

  In the case of this embodiment, the needle drive device 40 includes a linear body 41, a start side reel 42, a terminal side reel 43, and a motor 44, as shown in FIG.

  The linear body 41 is a resinous or metal thread-like body, and is laid on the guide rail 30 so as to be able to travel along the guide rail 30. Specifically, it is disposed inside the rail body 31. In the linear body 41, the pointer member 20 is fixed to an intermediate portion.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the start side reel 42 is disposed on one end side of the guide rail 30 located on the standby position P2 side. The start end side reel 42 winds up one end side of the linear member 41 so that the pointer member 20 is positioned at the standby position P2. In the case of this embodiment, the starting end side reel 42 is urged in the winding direction of the linear body 41 by a built-in mainspring spring (spiral spring).

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the end-side reel 43 is disposed on the other end side of the guide rail 30 located on the end side of the scale 11. This end side reel 43 can position the pointer member 20 at an arbitrary scale 11 position by adjusting the winding amount on the other end side of the linear member 41.

  The motor 44 rotates the end-side reel 43 and adjusts the winding amount of the linear body 41 on the end-side reel 43 to control the position of the pointer member 20.

  The operation of the motor 44 is controlled by a signal from a control unit (not shown) having a vehicle travel speed detection unit.

  The guide rail 30 and the needle driving device 40 described above are covered and hidden by the turning 60 disposed inside the band-shaped scale plate 10.

  In the case of the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an LCD display 70 for displaying information other than speed is disposed in the center portion of the look-back 60.

  The needle storage cover 50 is disposed on the turn 60 and covers and hides the pointer member 20 that has moved to the standby position P2.

  Therefore, the speedometer 1 of the present embodiment hides the pointer member 20 in the needle storage cover 50 when not measuring.

  Next, the display form of the pointer member 20 in the speedometer 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the speedometer 1 is not measuring, as shown in FIG. 4A, the pointer member 20 is positioned at the standby position P <b> 2 by the winding force of the main spring of the start side reel 42, and is below the needle storage cover 50. It cannot be seen by the user.

  At the time of measurement by the speedometer 1, the motor 44 drives the end-side reel 43 according to the measurement data, and the pointer member 20 has the scale 11 corresponding to the measurement data as shown in FIGS. Move to position.

  In the case of the speedometer 1 of the present embodiment described above, the entire pointer member 20 is configured to move on the guide rail 30, so that the movement locus of the tip position of the pointer member 20 is the laying path of the guide rail 30. This corresponds to a line 12 along the shape of Therefore, the arrangement position of the scale 11 and the outer shape of the scale 11 plate can be set to an arbitrary line 12 corresponding to the shape of the laying path of the guide rail 30. In other words, a novel instrument outer shape can be obtained by setting the arrangement position of the scale 11 and the outer shape of the scale 11 plate to an arbitrary shape other than circular or semicircular as shown in the present embodiment.

  In addition, according to the speedometer 1 of the present embodiment, the entire pointer member 20 is configured to move on the guide rail 30. Therefore, when the pointer member 20 is moving to the standby position P2, the entire pointer member 20 is moved. Can be hidden by the needle storage cover 50.

  Therefore, at the time of non-measurement, it is possible to completely hide the pointer member 20 and express a novel instrument design in which the pointer is not exposed.

  Further, according to the speedometer 1 of the present embodiment, the movement direction of the pointer member 20 in the vicinity of the standby position P2 is the vertical line V direction that is an asymptotic line, and the tip of the pointer member 20 itself extends in a substantially horizontal direction. Because it moves in the extended posture, the needle storage cover 50 whose edge is set to be substantially horizontal can easily hide the entire pointer member 20 and completely hide the pointer member 20 when not measuring. Can be easily achieved. Further, since the entire pointer member 20 operates so as to appear at the same time, a novel teaching of the measured value is possible.

  Further, according to the speedometer 1 of the present embodiment, the structure of the guide rail 30 is a hook shape through which the linear body 41 is inserted, and the winding amount of the linear body 41 in the reels at both ends of the guide rail 30 is adjusted. Thus, the pointer member 20 fixed to the linear body 41 can be moved to an arbitrary position on the guide rail 30.

  That is, by controlling the motor 44 that rotationally drives the terminal-side reel 43, the pointer member 20 can be easily moved to an arbitrary scale 11 position, and the configuration of the needle driving device 40 is prevented from becoming complicated. be able to.

  Further, according to the speedometer 1 of the present embodiment, the drive in the winding direction of the start-end side reel 42 is performed by the mainspring spring, so that the electric motor 44 for driving only needs to be provided on the end-side reel 43 side. The number of electric motors 44 can be reduced to reduce costs.

  Note that the automotive instrument of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and appropriate modifications and improvements can be made.

For example, the band-shaped scale plate 10 is not limited to the linear shape of the embodiment, and may be set in various forms such as a curved shape in which the high speed side rises upward or a curved shape having a peak in the legal speed portion. Can do.
The needle driving device 40 may be a mechanism using a rack and pinion.

1 Speedometer (car instrument)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Band-shaped scale plate 11 Scale 12 Linear 13 Band-shaped area 20 Pointer member 30 Guide rail 40 Needle drive device 41 Line body 42 Start end side reel 43 End side reel 44 Motor 50 Needle storage cover 60 Look-back P2 Standby position

Claims (3)

An automotive instrument that teaches a measurement value by pointing a scale corresponding to the measurement value on the scale plate with a pointer member,
A strip-shaped scale plate provided with a scale on the strip-shaped region extending in a predetermined linear manner with appropriate intervals in the linear length direction; and
A pointer member for indicating the scale on the band-shaped scale plate;
A guide rail that extends along the alignment and that guides the pointer member from a standby position outside the starting end of the scale to the end of the scale;
A needle driving device that moves the pointer member on the guide rail to a position of a scale according to measurement data;
A needle storage cover that covers and hides the pointer member moved to the standby position;
With
The strip scale plate is set to a curve having an asymptotic line with a vertical line as the alignment on the starting end side of the scale,
The needle storage cover has an edge set horizontally,
An automotive instrument characterized in that a pointer member is hidden in the needle storage cover when not measuring. The needle driving device is laid on the guide rail so as to be able to travel along the guide rail, and a linear body having the pointer member fixed to an intermediate portion;
A start-end reel that is disposed on one end side of the guide rail located on the standby position side and winds up one end side of the linear member so that the pointer member is located in the standby position;
It is arranged on the other end side of the guide rail located on the terminal end side of the scale, and the pointer member can be positioned at any scale position by adjusting the winding amount on the other end side of the linear body. The end reel,
A motor for controlling the position of the pointer member by rotationally driving the terminal reel;
The vehicle instrument according to claim 1, comprising: The automobile instrument according to claim 2, wherein the starting end side reel is urged in a winding direction of the filament by a mainspring spring.

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