JP6853754B2 - Shift lever unit - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a shift lever unit for a vehicle.

Conventionally, a shift lever unit for switching a shift range set by a transmission of a vehicle by an operation from the vehicle interior has been known. A straight type shift lever unit is generally used, in which a base bracket fixed to the vehicle side has a structure in which the shift lever is rotatably supported and the shift lever can be operated along the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

Many shift lever units are equipped with a safety mechanism to prevent inadvertent operation by the driver. The straight type shift lever unit described above includes, for example, a grooved pin (detent pin) protruding from the outer peripheral side surface of the shift lever to the outer peripheral side, and a detent window provided on the base bracket to secure a space for the grooved pin to rotate. A safety mechanism including a combination of and has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below).

The grooved pin is attached in the direction orthogonal to the detent rod interpolated in the tubular shift lever. While the detent rod is urged toward the shift knob by a spring or the like, it is driven so as to be pushed out in the axial direction by a release operation such as pressing the shift button by the driver. The grooved pin is displaced in the axial direction of the shift lever according to the axial advancement and retreat of the detent rod.

The detent window is provided with inner peripheral surfaces having different radial distances with respect to the rotation center of the shift lever corresponding to each shift position. For example, the inner peripheral surface corresponding to the D range and the inner peripheral surface corresponding to the R range have different radial distances, and a step is formed between the two.

In the shift lever provided with such a safety mechanism, the shift operation in which the grooved pin needs to overcome the step provided in the detent window is regulated. For example, it is a case of a shift operation from the D (drive) range to the R (reverse) range. In such a case, if the release operation is performed by pushing the shift button or the like, the grooved pin can get over the step of the detent window, and the shift operation of rotating the shift lever becomes possible.

Japanese Patent No. 4642419

However, the shift lever unit provided with the above-mentioned conventional safety mechanism utilizing the step of the detent window has the following problems. That is, the rigidity of the grooved pin itself and the rigidity of the structure for holding the grooved pin are increased so that the displacement of the grooved pin that may occur when the shift lever is operated with a relatively strong force without the above release operation can be surely regulated. It is necessary to secure it, and there is a risk that the unit will become larger and heavier due to the increase in size and weight of the parts.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and is an invention for providing a compact and lightweight shift lever unit.

The present invention is a shift lever unit for a vehicle in which a shift lever having an operation unit for receiving a shift operation for switching a shift position attached to the tip thereof is rotatably supported by a housing.
A regulatory member that is held by the shift lever so as to be displaced by a predetermined release operation by the driver, and has a protruding portion that protrudes to the outer peripheral side through a through groove provided on the side surface of the shift lever.
It has a rotating window provided on the side wall of the housing which forms a support surface for the rotational operation of the shift lever, and which forms a space in which the protruding portion rotates with the rotation of the shift lever.
A specific shift operation is restricted by pressing the protrusion from the rotation direction against the step provided on the rotating window, while the protrusion is caused by the displacement of the regulating member due to the release operation. Is configured to allow the particular shift operation over
A locking portion that regulates the displacement of the regulating member by engaging a regulating member that has elastically deformed due to a reaction force when the protruding portion applies a contact load to the step on the inner surface of the through groove. Is in the shift lever unit provided with.

In the shift lever unit of the present invention, a locking portion for regulating the displacement of the regulating member is provided on the inner surface of the through groove. When the release operation is performed in advance before performing the specific shift operation, the regulating member can be displaced without being restricted by the locking portion. On the other hand, when a specific shift operation is performed without the release operation, the regulating member may elastically deform due to the reaction force from the step and engage with the locking portion. In this case, the displacement of the regulating member can be regulated by the locking portion, and a specific shift operation can be regulated with high certainty.

The shift lever unit of the present invention can positively utilize the elastic deformation that can occur in the regulating member, and can reliably regulate the displacement of the regulating member when a specific shift operation is performed without the release operation. In this shift lever unit, in order to regulate the displacement of the regulating member with high certainty, it is less necessary to secure the rigidity of the regulating member itself, the assembly structure of the regulating member, or the mating component. Therefore, in the shift lever unit of the present invention, it is possible to design the regulation member and peripheral parts in a compact and lightweight manner, and it is relatively easy to reduce the size and weight of the entire unit.

Perspective view of the shift lever. A side view of the shift lever unit on the S / L link side. Side view of the opposite side of the shift lever unit. The side view which shows the S / L link in the shift unlock state. Front view of the detent window. Perspective view of S / L link. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross-sectional structure of a shift lever (AA cross section in FIG. 2). The structural drawing which shows the assembly structure of a shift lever. The figure which shows the internal structure of a shift knob. Side view and partial cross-sectional view of the lever body. Explanatory drawing which shows the assembly structure of the grooved pin with respect to the detent rod. Side view of the grooved pin. Explanatory drawing which shows the contact structure of a grooved pin and an S / L link. Explanatory view of how the protrusion abuts on the step of the detent window. Explanatory drawing which shows the positional relationship between the detent window and the protrusion in the R range. Explanatory drawing which shows the combination of a lever body and a grooved pin. The figure explaining the function of the locking part provided in the lever body. Explanatory drawing which shows the bending deformation of a grooved pin. Explanatory drawing of another locking part.

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the following examples.
(Example 1)
This example is an example relating to a shift lever unit 1 for a vehicle having a shift lock function. This content will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 19.
The shift lever unit 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 is a vehicle unit in which a rod-shaped shift lever 10 that receives a shift operation for switching a shift position is rotatably supported by a base bracket (housing) 3. Is. FIG. 1 is a view of a shift lever 10 in which the base bracket 3 is not shown, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are views showing side surfaces of both sides of the shift lever unit 1. In addition, in FIG. 1A, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the shift knob 11 is not shown.

The shift lever unit 1 includes a grooved pin (regulatory member) 18 having a protruding portion 180 projecting to the outer peripheral side in the radial direction through a through groove 155 provided on the side surface of the shift lever 10, and the shift lever unit 1 is rotated with the rotation of the shift lever 10. It has a detent window (rotating window) 32 formed in the side wall 30 of the base bracket 3 in order to secure a space for the protrusion 180 to rotate.

In the shift lever unit 1, a specific shift operation is regulated by the protrusion 180 pressing against the step 325 provided on the detent window 32 from the rotation direction. The shift lever unit 1 has first and second structures, which will be described later, which are effective for maintaining a state in which the protrusion 180 is pressed against the step 325 and a specific shift operation is restricted with high certainty. ..

Hereinafter, the contents of the shift lever unit 1 will be described in detail. In the following description, the axial direction of the shift lever 10 is simply referred to as the axial direction, and the radial direction of the shift lever 10 is simply referred to as the radial direction. In the description of the components of the shift lever 10 such as the detent rod 12, the direction along the axial direction or the radial direction of the shift lever 10 in the assembled state is simply referred to as the axial direction or the radial direction. However, the "diameter direction" in the description such as "the radial direction centered on the bracket side shaft hole 300" provided in the base bracket 3 is different from the radial direction of the shift lever 10 described above.

The shift lever unit 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 is a straight-type operation unit capable of operating the shift lever 10 in the shift direction corresponding to the front-rear direction of the vehicle (not shown). Although not shown, according to the shift lever unit 1, parking range (P range), reverse range (R range), neutral range (N range), which are arranged along the shift direction from the front side in the traveling direction of the vehicle. Any one of the drive range (D range), the second range and the low range can be selected as the shift position.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the shift lever unit 1 includes a base bracket 3 that rotatably supports the shift lever 10. The shift lever unit 1 is attached to the vehicle side using the base bracket 3 so that the shift lever 10 projects toward the vehicle interior side via a shift panel (not shown). A shift knob (operation unit) 11 that forms a handle of the driver is attached to the tip of the shift lever 10.

The shift lever unit 1 is installed on a center console between the driver's seat and the passenger seat, a dash panel facing the driver, and the like so that the driver can easily operate the shift lever 10. The shift panel (not shown) on the vehicle side is provided with a keyhole (not shown) for forcibly releasing the shift lock function.

The base bracket 3 forming the housing has a pair of side walls 30 forming a guide surface (support surface) for the rotational operation of the shift lever 10. In the base bracket 3, the gap between the pair of side walls 30 serves as a rotation space for the shift lever 10. Bracket side shaft holes 300 for fixing the shift shaft 100 that pivotally supports the rotational operation of the shift lever 10 are bored in each side wall 30. Further, each side wall 30 is provided with a detent window 32 and a path groove 321 for penetrating the protruding portion 180 of the grooved pin 18 (see FIG. 4). The detent windows 32 and the path grooves 321 on the side walls 30 on both sides have the same shape specifications.

Further, on the side wall 30 on the side shown in FIG. 2, a shift lock link (S / L link) 21 that regulates the displacement of the protruding portion 180A to the release position where the shift operation is possible, and the S / L link 21 are provided. An electromagnetic solenoid 24 that drives to rotate is attached.

The overall shape of the detent window 32 can be confirmed in FIG. 4, which shows a state in which the S / L link 21 is rotationally driven. The detent window 32 is a through window extending in the circumferential direction around the bracket side shaft hole 300, and is a space in which the protruding portion 180 is rotationally displaced when a shift operation from the P range to another range is performed. The detent window 32 is provided with a step 325 for switching the radial distance of the shift lever 10 from the rotation center CR (see FIG. 5).

In this example, as shown in FIG. 5, of the step 325 of the detent window 32, the shift lever 10 rotates with respect to the step surface 325A facing the first rotation direction side from the P range to another shift position. An angle of 10 degrees is set with respect to the radial direction with respect to the central CR. Further, the stepped surface 325B facing the second rotation direction side opposite to the first rotation direction side is set at an angle of 6 degrees with respect to the same radial direction. The effect of this angle will be described in detail later.

The path groove 321 is a through groove extending in the radial direction about the bracket side shaft hole 300, and is formed corresponding to the P range. In the P range, the protruding portion 180 is in a state of being pierced through the path groove 321. As shown in FIG. 4, the path groove 321 communicates with the detent window 32 at the end portion on the bracket side shaft hole 300 side. The restricted position of the protruding portion 180 in which the shift operation from the P range to another range is restricted and the release position of the protruding portion 180 in which this shift operation is permitted are located at two locations separated in the groove direction in the path groove 321. positioned.

The release position of the protrusion 180 is located in the path groove 321 at a position communicating with the detent window 32, that is, at the end side close to the bracket side shaft hole 300. The regulation position of the protrusion 180 is located on the end side of the path groove 321 on the side opposite to the bracket side shaft hole 300 side (the position of the protrusion 180 in FIGS. 2 to 4). When the protrusion 180 is located at the release position, the protrusion 180 entering the detent window 32 can be rotationally displaced, and a shift operation is allowed. On the other hand, when the protruding portion 180 is located at the regulated position, the rotational displacement of the protruding portion 180 is regulated by the inner surface of the path groove 321 extending in the radial direction about the bracket side shaft hole 300, thereby shifting. Operation is regulated. In the used state of the shift lever unit 1 mounted on the vehicle, the range from the restricted position to the release position of the protruding portion 180 is the movable range of the grooved pin 18 (see FIG. 10).

On the side wall 30 (FIGS. 2 and 4) on the side where the S / L link 21 is attached, a cushion sheet (elastic member) 328 made of an elastomer-based soft resin formed in a substantially arc shape is attached to the outer peripheral side of the detent window 32. ing. The shape of the inner peripheral edge of the cushion sheet 328 is formed so as to project inside the detent window 32 with a substantially constant width. According to the cushion sheet 328, it is possible to avoid the direct contact of the protrusion 180 with the inner wall surface of the detent window 32 when an appropriate operation is performed, and it is possible to suppress the tapping sound caused by this direct contact. In FIG. 5, the overhanging shape of the cushion sheet 328 is illustrated by a broken line 328L. Further, in FIGS. 14 and 15, which will be referred to later, the cushion sheet 328 is not shown.

In the case of proper operation, the protruding portion 180 of the grooved pin 18 rarely comes into direct contact with the inner peripheral wall surface of the detent window 32 such as the stepped surfaces 325A and B and the bottom surface of the stepped 325. The protruding portion 180 interferes with the inner peripheral wall surface of the detent window 32 via the edge portion of the cushion sheet 328. On the other hand, if the above-mentioned specific shift operation is improperly performed without performing the release operation described later, the cushion sheet 328 is compressed by elastic deformation such as crushing, and the protruding portion 180 is formed on the stepped surfaces 325A and B. It will be in a state of being directly pressed.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 6, the S / L link 21 is a component that constitutes a shift lock mechanism in combination with a grooved pin 18 or the like. The S / L link 21 is rotatably supported along the side wall 30 by a support shaft 35 (see FIG. 7) erected on the side wall 30 of the base bracket 3.

The S / L link 21 is rotationally driven by an electromagnetic solenoid 24 that switches to an energized state in response to a depression operation of a brake pedal (not shown), and is urged in the opposite direction by a coil spring (not shown). In the following description, the side on which the S / L link 21 is rotationally driven by the electromagnetic solenoid 24 is referred to as the drive side, and the side on which the S / L link 21 is urged by the coil spring is referred to as the return side.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the S / L link 21 has a bottomed cylindrical shaft accommodating portion 21C for rotatably accommodating the support shaft 35 erected on the side wall 30 of the base bracket 3. There is. The first arm portion 21A and the second arm portion 21B are extended on both sides of the shaft accommodating portion 21C. In the first arm portion 21A, a shaft 210 for attaching a donut-shaped stopper rubber (not shown) is erected at the tip thereof. In the second arm portion 21B, a load receiving surface 211 with which the grooved pin 18 (protruding portion 180A) abuts is provided on the tip surface.

The stopper rubber attached to the first arm portion 21A presses against the base bracket 3 side in response to the rotational displacement of the S / L link 21 due to the urging force of the coil spring described above, and the S / L link 21 is placed in the initial rotation position. To regulate. According to the stopper rubber which is an elastic member, it is possible to reduce the tapping sound which may be generated when the S / L link 21 returns to the initial rotation position in response to the end of energization of the electromagnetic solenoid 24.

Here, the initial rotation position of the S / L link 21 is a position along the path groove 321 provided in the base bracket 3 (position shown in FIG. 2). The S / L link 21 that is rotationally driven by the electromagnetic solenoid 24 or the like is displaced to a rotational position that deviates from the path groove 321 (the position shown in FIG. 4). As a result, the grooved pin 18 (protruding portion 180) can be displaced along the path groove 321 and the shift lock function is released to enter the shift unlock state.

At the tip of the second arm portion 21B, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in addition to the load receiving surface 211, a receiving portion 212 for forcibly releasing the shift lock function is provided. At an intermediate position of the second arm portion 21B, a drive pin 213 is erected to which a connecting member 242 (see FIG. 4) driven by the electromagnetic solenoid 24 is locked. Further, a support portion 214 having a rectangular cross section is erected on the side surface of the second arm portion 21B facing the side wall 30 of the base bracket 3.

The load receiving surface 211 is a surface on which the protruding portion 180 of the grooved pin 18 is pressed in the shift locked state (see FIG. 13B).
The receiving portion 212 is an engaging portion of a link member (not shown) that is interlocked with an operation for forcibly releasing the shift lock function. The forced release operation is transmitted to the receiving portion 212 via the link member, and the S / L link 21 is driven to the rotation position shown in FIG.

The receiving portion 212 is provided offset to the above-mentioned drive side with respect to the load receiving surface 211 (see FIG. 6). The base of the receiving portion 212 is formed so as to be flush with the load receiving surface 211, whereby the tip surface of the second arm portion 21B including the load receiving surface 211 has a substantially L-shaped front shape. ing. A recess 215 is formed inside this substantially L-shaped front shape. The recess 215 is located on the return side with respect to the receiving portion 212 located on the drive side.

The support portion 214 provided on the second arm portion 21B is provided by the shelf surface 30S provided on the base bracket 3 side and the grooved pin 18 in the shift lock state of FIG. 7 in which the protrusion 180A abuts on the load receiving surface 211. It will be in a state of being pinched. A part of the load that the grooved pin 18 acts on the S / L link 21 is transmitted to the base bracket 3 side via the support portion 214, whereby the contact that acts on the load receiving surface 211 at the tip of the S / L link 21. The load is reduced.

Subsequently, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, the shift lever 10 is configured around the lever body 15 to which the shift knob 11 is attached to the tip. A detent rod 12, which will be described later, for driving the grooved pin 18 in the axial direction is interpolated in the cylindrical lever body 15 having a hollow structure.

The shift knob 11 has a shift button 110 operated by the index finger or the like of a hand holding the shift knob 11 on a side surface of the vehicle that corresponds to the front side in the front-rear direction. Inside the shift knob 11 from which the shift button 110 has been removed, a partition wall 113 in which a hole 112 is bored is provided (see FIG. 9). In the assembled shift lever 10, the end portion of the detent rod 12, which will be described later, is arranged through the hole 112 and interferes with the shift button 110.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, the lever body 15 is a square tubular resin molded product having a substantially quadrangular outer shape in cross section. The lever body 15 has a knob mounting portion 153 of the shift knob 11 on the tip end side. The base portion 15F on the opposite side is provided with a lever-side shaft hole 150 for arranging the shift shaft 100 through. A shift shaft 100 fixed to the bracket side shaft hole 300 is arranged through the lever side shaft hole 150. The shift lever 10 is rotatably supported by a shift shaft 100 fixed to the base bracket 3 side (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

A through groove 155 is bored in the lever body 15 along the axial direction. The through groove 155 penetrates in the radial direction and is open on both side surfaces where the lever side shaft hole 150 is located. The through groove 155 is set to a groove width that allows the protruding portion 180 of the grooved pin 18 to be penetrated, except for the insertion portion 156, which will be described later, while the entire grooved pin 18 cannot be inserted. The through groove 155 excluding the insertion portion 156 regulates the position of the grooved pin 18 in the radial direction of the shift lever 10.

The opening shape of the through groove 155 that opens on both side surfaces of the lever body 15 is different between the front side and the back side in the shape of the end portion on the base portion 15F side (see the CC cross section in FIG. 10). In the through groove 155 on the side wall 30 (base bracket 3) side to which the S / L link 21 is attached, an insertion portion 156 having a groove width wider than other portions is provided at the end portion on the base portion 15F side. The insertion portion 156 is formed so that the entire grooved pin 18 can be inserted into the grooved pin 18, and is used for assembling the grooved pin 18 from the outer peripheral side in the radial direction (see FIG. 8).

As shown in FIG. 10, the through groove 155 is formed so as to include a movable range in which the grooved pin 18 (protruding portion 180) advances and retreats between the above-mentioned regulation position and the release position. The insertion portion 156 is arranged outside this movable range in the axial direction. Therefore, in the used state of the shift lever unit 1, the grooved pin 18 does not reach the position of the insertion portion 156.

In particular, in the shift lever unit 1 of this example, locking portions 155A and B, which are regions recessed from the surroundings, are bored on the inner surface of the movable range of the through groove 155 (see FIG. 16). ). The locking portions 155A and B are provided corresponding to the positions of the grooved pins 18 when the R range is selected. As will be described in detail later, when the shift lever 10 is operated to the P range side without operating the shift button 110, the grooved pins 18 are engaged with the locking portions 155A and B, and the axial displacement of the grooved pins 18 is displaced. Be regulated. In this example, only the inner surface of the inner surface of the through groove 155 located on the first rotation direction (see FIGS. 15 and 16) can be used for the shift operation from the R range to the P range. The locking portions 155A and 155A and B are provided in the.

Further, on both side surfaces of the lever body 15, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, through holes 157 are formed at positions corresponding to the gaps between the through groove 155 and the lever side shaft hole 150. The through hole 157 is a hole for arranging the iron round pin 131 through. The round pin 131 is press-fitted into the through hole 157 and fixed, and functions as a seat of the coil spring 130.

The grooved pin 18 is a resin molded product that is arranged through the detent rod 12 as shown in FIGS. 8, 11 and 12. The grooved pin 18 has a substantially strip-shaped shape, and protrusions 180 are extended on both sides of the body portion 18B located at the center. The protruding portion 180 is flush with the upper side surface of the body portion 18B, while a notch is provided on the lower side so that the dimension in the height direction is smaller than that of the body portion 18B. Further, on both front and back surfaces of the body portion 18B, retaining protrusions 181 protruding outward in a ridge shape are provided along the lower end of the body portion 18B.

Of the protrusions 180 at both ends of the grooved pin 18, a jaw portion 189 whose height dimension rapidly expands is formed at the base of the protrusion 180A on the side that interferes with the S / L link 21. The jaw portion 189 is a support portion 214 of the S / L link 21 that transmits a load to the base bracket 3 side as described above when the protruding portion 180A abuts on the load receiving surface 211 of the S / L link 21 (FIG. 7). And FIG. 13), they are formed so as to face each other with a slight gap. When the load acting on the S / L link 21 from the grooved pin 18 becomes excessive, the jaw portion 189 comes into contact with the support portion 214 according to the elastic displacement of the S / L link 21, and a part of the excessive load is on the base bracket 3 side. Is transmitted to.

At the tip of the protruding portion 180A, a hook portion 185 that bends downward so as to form a key is provided. The hook portion 185 is arranged at the tip of the protruding portion 180A so as to be offset to the right side. In the assembled shift lever unit 1, the right side thereof is the side corresponding to the return side of the S / L link 21 (see FIG. 13).

On the upper side surface of the grooved pin 18, a support portion 183 having a substantially right-angled triangle shape that projects upward like a shark's dorsal fin is provided. The support portion 183 is formed so as to face the outer peripheral surface of the detent rod 12 when the grooved pin 18 is penetrating the detent rod 12 (see FIG. 7). The support portion 183 acts on the outer peripheral surface of the detent rod 12 with a rotational moment generated in the grooved pin 18 due to the reaction force from the S / L link 21. According to the support portion 183, the rotational displacement in the pitching direction such that the tip end side of the grooved pin 18 is fanned can be regulated with high certainty.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, recesses 186 and 187 are provided on both side surfaces of the grooved pin 18 which corresponds to the base portion of the protrusion 180. On one side surface of the grooved pin 18, a recess 186 is provided at a portion corresponding to the base of the protrusions 180 at both ends, and a recess 187 is similarly provided on the other side surface. Each of the recesses 186 and 187 has a substantially constant cross-sectional shape in the protruding direction of the protruding portion 180, and is formed in a predetermined range in the protruding direction. The recesses 186 and 187 are formed to include the above-mentioned 10-degree stepped surface 325A (see FIG. 5) of the detent window 32 or the inclined surfaces 186S and 187S corresponding to the 6-degree stepped surface 325B. The effects of the inclined surfaces 186S and 187S will be described in detail later.

On one side surface of the grooved pin 18, a recessed portion 184 that is recessed from the periphery is formed adjacent to the protruding portion 180A side with respect to the retaining protrusion 181. The upper boundary of the recessed portion 184 forms a straight shelf surface 184G extending along the above-mentioned protruding direction. The shelf surface 184G has a step that engages with the locking portion 155A of the lever body 15. On the opposite side of the protruding portion 180, a lower side surface 188 adjacent to the body portion 18B is provided. The side end portion of the lower side surface 188 adjacent to the one side surface forms a corner portion that engages with the locking portion 155B of the lever body. The engagement of the shelf surface 184G or the lower side surface 188 with the locking portions 155A and B will be described in detail later.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 11, the detent rod (transmission member) 12 is a shaft-shaped resin molded product that is interpolated and arranged in the square tubular lever body 15. The detent rod 12 transmits the driver's operation (release operation by pushing the shift button 110) received by the shift knob 11 to the grooved pin 18, and functions to displace the grooved pin 18 in the axial direction of the shift lever 10. The detent rod 12 is formed into a cross-sectional shape that can reduce the weight while ensuring the rigidity.

An accommodating hole 121, which is a through hole for arranging the grooved pin 18 through, is formed on the outer peripheral side surface of the end portion of the detent rod 12 located on the base 15F side when assembled to the lever main body 15. A seat 125 of the coil spring 130 is provided on the end surface thereof. The opposite end of the detent rod 12 is an end that is inserted into the hole 112 (see FIG. 9) of the shift knob 11 and interferes with the internal structure of the shift button 110 (not shown). The detent rod 12 is pushed out in the axial direction in response to the pushing operation of the shift button 110.

The accommodating hole 121 has a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the body portion 18B of the grooved pin 18. The cross section of the accommodating hole 121 has a substantially rectangular shape, and its longitudinal direction is along the axial direction of the detent rod 12. At the end of the accommodating hole 121 on the seat 125 side, a protrusion accommodating portion 123 widened so as to accommodate the retaining projection 181 of the grooved pin 18 is formed. The accommodating hole 121 is formed in the grooved pin 18 with a fitting size corresponding to a gap fitting, and the grooved pin 18 can be inserted and removed with a light force of about the force of a finger.

Next, the procedure for assembling the shift lever 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 8, when assembling the shift lever 10, it is first necessary to press-fit the round pin 131 into the through hole 157 of the lever body 15 to fix it, and to provide a seat for the coil spring 130 in advance. Then, the coil spring 130 and the detent rod 12 are inserted in this order from the open end of the lever body 15 on the knob mounting portion 153 side.

If the end of the detent rod 12 protruding from the open end of the lever body 15 is pushed in, the detent rod 12 can be displaced toward the base 15F side with compression deformation of the coil spring 130. In this way, the detent rod 12 is pushed in the axial direction so that the protrusion accommodating portion 123 of the accommodating hole 121 of the detent rod 12 coincides with the above-mentioned insertion portion 156 of the lever body 15. In this state, the retaining protrusion 181 (body portion 18B) can pass through the outer peripheral side wall of the lever body 15 via the insertion portion 156 of the lever body 15, and the detent rod 12 interpolated in the lever body 15 The grooved pin 18 can be manually arranged through the accommodating hole 121, for example.

When the force for pushing the end portion of the detent rod 12 is released after the grooved pin 18 is arranged through the grooved pin 18, the detent rod 12 is pushed back in the axial direction by the urging force of the coil spring 130 that elastically returns. At this time, the projecting portions 180 extending at both ends of the grooved pin 18 are displaced in the axial direction while maintaining a state of projecting from the through groove 155 of the lever main body 15 to the outer peripheral side in the radial direction. As described above, since the through groove 155 is set to a groove width through which the body portion 18B of the grooved pin 18 cannot be inserted, the position of the grooved pin 18 held by the shift lever 10 in the radial direction is restricted by the through groove 155. ..

When the shift knob 11 is attached to the lever body 15 to which the detent rod 12 is assembled, the end portion of the detent rod 12 protruding inside the shift knob 11 interferes with the shift button 110 side. The detent rod 12 is slightly pushed out in the axial direction by the shift button 110.

When the shift lever 10 assembled as described above is assembled to the base bracket 3, and further, the S / L link 21, the electromagnetic solenoid 24, and the like are assembled to the base bracket 3, the assembly work of the shift lever unit 1 is completed. In the shift lever unit 1 when the P range is selected, the protruding portion 180 of the grooved pin 18 is located in the path groove 321 of the base bracket 3 (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

As described above, in the shift lever unit 1 of this example, the axial position of the protrusion 180 (grooved pin 18) when the P range is selected and the shift button 110 is not operated is the regulated position (FIGS. 2 and 2). The state shown in FIG. 3). Even if the shift lever 10 is to be operated from the P range to another range when the protruding portion 180 is in the regulated position, the protruding portion is provided by the inner surface of the path groove 321 extending in the radial direction around the bracket side shaft hole 300. The rotational displacement of 180 is regulated, which regulates the shift operation.

When the shift button 110 is pushed in, the detent rod 12 is pushed out in the axial direction, whereby the protruding portion 180 of the grooved pin 18 is driven from the regulated position to the released position. However, when the brake pedal (not shown) is not depressed, the electromagnetic solenoid 24 is not energized and the S / L link 21 remains in the initial rotation position for blocking the path groove 321 (the position shown in FIG. 2). ). Therefore, the protruding portion 180A cannot reach the release position by pressing against the load receiving surface 211 of the S / L link 21. In this case, the rotational displacement of the protrusion 180 is regulated by the inner surface of the path groove 321 to regulate the shift operation, as in the case where the shift button 110 is not operated.

On the other hand, when a brake pedal (not shown) is depressed, the S / L link 21 is rotationally driven in response to energization of the electromagnetic solenoid 24 and is displaced to a rotational position that opens the path groove 321 (FIG. 4). Position shown.). As a result, the path groove 321 is opened, and the protrusion 180 can be displaced to the release position. If the protrusion 180 is displaced to the release position where the path groove 321 communicates with the detent window 32, the shift lever 10 can be rotated with the rotational displacement of the protrusion 180, whereby the D range or the like can be operated. The shift operation to switch to is possible.

Here, the structure in which the grooved pin 18 abuts on the S / L link 21 in the shift lock state in which the shift operation from the P range to another range is restricted will be described in detail. The shift lever unit 1 of this example is provided with the following structure in order to maintain a state in which the grooved pin 18 is in contact with the S / L link 21 with high certainty.

As described above, in the grooved pin 18, a substantially key-shaped hook portion 185 is provided on the protruding portion 180A that abuts on the S / L link 21. The hook portion 185 is provided at the tip of the protruding portion 180A so as to be offset toward the return side. On the other hand, the tip surface of the S / L link 21 on the side where the protrusion 180A abuts has a substantially L-shaped front shape, and a recess 215 is formed inside the substantially L-shape. Like the hook portion 185, the recess 215 is provided at the tip of the second arm portion 21B of the S / L link 21 so as to be offset toward the return side.

Therefore, in the shift lock state of FIG. 13 (b) in which the grooved pin 18 (protruding portion 180A) abuts on the S / L link 21, the hook portion 185 bites into the recess 215, and the S / L link 21 and the grooved pin 18 Is in a state of meshing with. According to this meshing state, it is possible to regulate the deformation of the S / L link 21 from collapsing toward the tip of the protruding portion 180A, and to regulate the rotational displacement of the S / L link 21. It is possible to avoid the situation where the protruding portion 180A comes off with high certainty.

Further, the shift lever unit 1 of this example is provided with a function of restricting a specific shift operation such as from D range to R range, from R range to P range, and from second range to low range. For these specific shift operations, a release operation by pressing the shift button 110 is required. If this release operation is not performed, the protruding portion 180 of the grooved pin 18 presses against the step 325 of the detent window 32 from the rotation direction (see FIG. 14), and the shift operation is accompanied by rotation of the shift lever 10. Is regulated.

In order to enable the above-mentioned specific shift operation, the grooved pin 18 may be displaced in the axial direction toward the base portion 15F by a release operation by pressing the shift button 110 so that the protruding portion 180 can get over the step 325. good. As described above, in the shift lever unit 1, careless operation in which the shift button 110 is not pushed or an operation not intended by the driver is restricted for the above-mentioned specific shift operation.

In the shift lever unit 1 of this example, two types of special structures are adopted so that the above-mentioned careless operation and the like can be regulated with high certainty even if the operating force is excessive. Hereinafter, these two types of structures will be described.

(First structure)
The first structure is an urging structure that generates a force for urging the grooved pin 18 in the axial direction based on the contact load of the protruding portion 180 with respect to the step 325 of the detent window 32. This urging force acts to urge the grooved pin 18 toward the shift knob 11, and is useful for maintaining a state in which the protrusion 180 is pressed against the step 325 with high certainty.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 14, this urging structure includes a combination of the stepped surfaces 325A and B of the detent window 32 and the inclined surfaces 186S and 187S provided on the grooved pin 18. Note that FIG. 14 illustrates the positions of the grooved pins (regulatory members) 18 in the P range, the R range, and the D range.

The stepped surface 325A facing the first rotation direction side is a surface on which the inclined surface 186S of the grooved pin 18 is pressed. Further, the stepped surface 325B facing the second rotation direction side is a surface on which the inclined surface 187S of the grooved pin 18 is pressed. As described above, the stepped surface 325A (B) is a slope inclined at 10 degrees (6 degrees) with respect to the radial direction with respect to the rotation center of the shift lever 10 (point CR in FIG. 5). The inclined surface 186S (187S) that presses against the stepped surface 325A (B) also has an angle of 10 degrees (6 degrees) similar to the inclined angle of the stepped surface 325A (B) (in FIG. 12). See the DD and EE cross sections.).

Due to the above-mentioned inclination angle, the stepped surfaces 325A and B are inclined surfaces like a slide that project from the grooved pin 18 side as they are closer to the rotation center CR of the shift lever 10 and become lower as they are farther away. When the grooved pin 18 is pressed against the stepped surface 325A / B that is inclined in this way, the grooved pin 18 is urged toward the outer peripheral side in the radial direction, that is, the shift knob 11 side as a component of the contact load on which the protruding portion 180 acts. Force (biasing force) is generated. This urging force acts to urge the grooved pin 18 toward the shift knob 11, and becomes stronger as the contact load of the protruding portion 180 increases.

Such an urging force is effective when the shift lever 10 is inadvertently or unintentionally operated toward the P range without operating the shift button 110, for example, when the R range is selected. It works. The urging force acting on the grooved pin 18 due to the contact load when the protrusion 180 is pressed against the step surface 325A suppresses the possibility that the grooved pin 18 is displaced toward the base 15F side, and the protrusion 180 has the step 325. It works to avoid the situation of overcoming.

If the angle at which the stepped surfaces 325A and 325 are inclined is set large, the urging force tends to increase. However, in order to increase these angles and similarly increase the angles of the inclined surfaces 186S and 187S on the corresponding grooved pin 18 side, it is necessary to deepen the recesses of the recesses 186 and 187. If the dents 186 and 187 are deepened, the thickness of the base portion of the protrusion 180 becomes thin, and the rigidity is inevitably lowered.

Here, the step 325 located between the R range and the P range has a peninsula shape, and it is not easy to secure the rigidity of the step 325 itself as compared with the other steps 325. If the rigidity on the step 325 side is low, the degree of elastic deformation when the contact load of the protrusion 180 is applied increases, and the protrusion 180 may get over the elastically deformed step 325.

Therefore, in the shift lever unit 1, the angle of the step surface 325A is set as large as 10 degrees so that the above-mentioned urging force becomes large for the step 325 located between the R range and the P range. On the other hand, for the step surface 325B, which is relatively easy to secure the rigidity of the step 325, priority is given to ensuring the rigidity of the grooved pin 18 side, and the angle is set as small as 6 degrees.

(Second structure)
The second structure is a structure for surely regulating the axial displacement of the grooved pin 18 when the shift operation from the R range to the P range is performed without the release operation. As described above, the step 325 between the R range and the P range has low rigidity, and the protrusion 180 may get over the step 325 according to the elastic deformation. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 15 to 17, locking portions 155A and B constituting the second structure are arranged corresponding to the positions of the grooved pins 18 when the R range is selected. The locking portions 155A and B are configured so that the grooved pins 18 are engaged with each other, and this engagement regulates the displacement of the grooved pins 18 toward the base portion 15F. In FIG. 15, the S / L link 21, the electromagnetic solenoid 24, and the like are not shown. The enlargement of the F portion in FIG. 17 is an enlarged view of the F region in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the locking portions 155A and 155 bored so as to be recessed from the periphery have similar front shapes. In each of the locking portions 155A and B, the shelf surface 155G forming the edge portion on the base portion 15F side extends orthogonally in the axial direction, and the locking portions 155A and B correspond to the opening side of the through groove 155 (the protruding direction of the protruding portion 180). It has a substantially triangular front shape in which the formation height gradually increases toward the side). The positions of the locking portions 155A and 155A and B are different in the axial direction. This is because the locking portion 155A is formed so that the shelf surface 184G provided on the side surface of the grooved pin 18 is engaged, while the locking portion 155B is formed so that the lower side surface 188 of the grooved pin 18 is engaged.

When the shift lever 10 is operated in the second rotation direction toward the P range without the shift button 110 being pushed (released) during the selection of the R range, the protrusions 180 at both ends of the grooved pin 18 are formed. It hits the stepped surface 325A of the detent window 32. If the operating force at this time is excessive, the contact load acting on the step surface 325A by the protruding portion 180 increases and the reaction force from the step 325 increases.

When this reaction force becomes large, as shown in FIG. 18, the protruding portions 180 at both ends of the grooved pin 18 are pushed back from the step 325, and the entire grooved pin 18 is warped around the body portion 18B housed in the detent rod 12. An elastic deformation that bends to the surface occurs. When such a curved deformation of the grooved pin 18 occurs, the shelf surface 184G is housed in the locking portion 155A, and the side end portion of the lower side surface 188 of the grooved pin 18 is housed in the locking portion 155B. Then, the shelf surface 184G engages with the shelf surface 155G of the locking portion 155A, and the lower side surface 188 engages with the shelf surface 155G of the locking portion 155B, thereby ensuring the displacement of the grooved pin 18 toward the base 15F side. It will be in a highly regulated state.

In this way, in the shift lever unit 1, when an excessive operating force enough to bend and deform the grooved pin 18 acts on the shift lever 10 (see FIG. 18), the grooved pin 18 engages with the locking portions 155A and B, and the grooved pin 18 engages with the locking portions 155A and B. As a result, the axial displacement of the grooved pin 18 is surely regulated. The amount of curved deformation as shown in FIG. 18 increases as it is closer to both ends of the grooved pin 18. Therefore, in this example, the locking portions 155A and B on the side where the grooved pin 18 is engaged are formed so that the forming height gradually increases toward the radial outer peripheral side corresponding to both end sides of the grooved pin 18, thereby locking. The front shape of the portions 155A and B is substantially triangular as described above.

When the shift operation from the R range to the P range is properly performed by pressing the shift button 110, the above-mentioned second structure is maintained as invalid. This is because, when an appropriate release operation is performed, the grooved pin 18 is not curved and deformed and does not engage with the locking portions 155A and 155A. In this case, the grooved pin 18 can be smoothly displaced toward the base portion 15F in response to the release operation by pressing the shift button 110.

As described above, the shift lever unit 1 reliably regulates the shift operation when a specific shift operation that requires a release operation by pressing the shift button 110 is performed carelessly or unintentionally. It has the first and second structures.
The first structure is a structure that generates a force that urges the grooved pin 18 toward the shift knob 11 in response to the contact load when the protrusion 180 presses against the step 325 of the detent window 32 from the rotation direction.
The second structure is a structure that positively utilizes the elastic bending deformation that can occur in the grooved pin 18 when the contact load becomes excessive. The grooved pin 18 having the curved deformation as shown in FIG. 18 engages with the locking portions 155A and B provided in the through groove 155 of the lever body 15, and the displacement toward the base portion 15F side is restricted.

The first and second structures function effectively to maintain a state in which the protrusion 180 is pressed against the step 325 of the detent window 32. In the shift lever unit 1 having the first and second structures, the rigidity of the detent window 32, the rigidity of the grooved pin 18 itself, and the assembly of the grooved pin 18 are ensured to keep the protruding portion 180 pressed against the step 325. The need to ensure rigidity and the like is reduced. Therefore, in the shift lever unit 1, it is relatively easy to design the parts to be miniaturized and lightweight, and it is easy to realize the miniaturization and weight reduction of the entire unit.

In particular, the shift lever unit 1 of this example employs a grooved pin 18 made of resin and can be assembled manually. If the conventional iron grooved pin is press-fitted into the detent rod, it is relatively easy to secure the rigidity. On the other hand, in order to secure sufficient rigidity for the structure in which the resin grooved pin 18 is manually assembled, the grooved pin 18 itself may be enlarged to increase the rigidity, the rigidity of the detent rod 12 to be combined may be increased, or the detent window 32 side. It is necessary to increase the rigidity of. In the shift lever unit 1 of this example, the detent window 32, the grooved pin 18, and the detent rod are incorporated by incorporating the above-mentioned first and second structures that effectively act to regulate the displacement of the grooved pin 18 toward the base 15F side. The rigidity required for 12 and the like is kept low.

In the illustrated shift lever unit 1, locking portions 155A and B are provided corresponding to the grooved pins 18 when the R range is selected. A saw blade-shaped locking portion 155C as shown in FIG. 19 may be provided in the groove direction of the through groove 155 so as to correspond to each range. Further, in this example, the locking portions 155A and B corresponding to the shift operation in the first rotation direction are formed on the inner side surface of one side of the through groove 155. It is also possible to provide locking portions on the inner surfaces on both sides of the through groove 155 so that the shift operation in the second rotation direction can be supported.

As the detent window 32 forming a space in which the protruding portion 180 of the grooved pin 18 rotates, in this example, a window whose entire circumference is surrounded by a wall surface is illustrated, but a part in the circumferential direction communicates with the outside incompletely. It may be a nice window.

In this example, the grooved pin 18 is displaced in the axial direction of the shift lever 10 in response to the release operation by pressing the shift button 110, and the protrusion 180 is similarly displaced in the axial direction with this displacement. .. Instead of this, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the protruding portion retracts to the inner peripheral side in the radial direction in response to the release operation. As the urging structure in this case, a structure may be adopted in which the protruding portion is pressed against the step 325 to generate an urging force on the outer peripheral side in the radial direction (the side in the protruding direction of the protruding portion). As the locking portion that regulates the displacement of the protruding portion toward the inner peripheral side in the radial direction, it is preferable to provide a locking portion having a step extending along the axial direction. On the protruding portion side, it is preferable to provide a step of the other party that engages with the step of the locking portion along the axial direction.

Although specific examples of the present invention have been described in detail as in the examples, these specific examples merely disclose an example of the technology included in the claims. Needless to say, the scope of claims should not be construed in a limited manner depending on the composition of specific examples, numerical values, and the like. The scope of claims includes technologies that are variously modified, modified, or appropriately combined with the above-mentioned specific examples by utilizing known technologies, knowledge of those skilled in the art, and the like.

1 Shift lever unit 10 Shift lever 100 Shift shaft 11 Shift knob (operation unit)
110 Shift button 12 Detent rod (transmission member)
121 Storage hole 15 Lever body 155 Through groove 155A / B Locking part 155G Shelf surface 156 Inserting part 18 Grooved pin (regulatory member)
18B Body 180 Protruding 181 Retaining protrusion 184 Recess 184G Shelf surface 186/187 Recess 186S / 187S Inclined surface 188 Lower side surface 21 Shift lock link (S / L link)
24 Electromagnetic solenoid 3 Base bracket (housing)
32 Detent window (rotating window)
321 Path groove 325 Step 325A / B Step surface 328 Cushion sheet (elastic member)

Claims (5)

A shift lever unit for vehicles in which a shift lever with an operation unit that accepts a shift operation for switching a shift position attached to the tip is rotatably supported by a housing.
A regulatory member that is held by the shift lever so as to be displaced by a predetermined release operation by the driver, and has a protruding portion that protrudes to the outer peripheral side through a through groove provided on the side surface of the shift lever.
It has a rotating window provided on the side wall of the housing which forms a support surface for the rotational operation of the shift lever, and which forms a space in which the protruding portion rotates with the rotation of the shift lever.
A specific shift operation is restricted by pressing the protrusion from the rotation direction against the step provided on the rotating window, while the protrusion is caused by the displacement of the regulating member due to the release operation. Is configured to allow the particular shift operation over
A locking portion that regulates the displacement of the regulating member by engaging a regulating member that has elastically deformed due to a reaction force when the protruding portion applies a contact load to the step on the inner surface of the through groove. Shift lever unit provided with. In claim 1, the step is a step at which the radial distance from the rotation center of the shift lever is switched.
The regulating member is displaced in the axial direction of the shift lever in response to the release operation while maintaining the state in which the protruding portion protrudes to the outer peripheral side of the shift lever, whereby the protruding portion can overcome the step. Shift lever unit. In claim 1 or 2, the locking portion includes a region recessed from the periphery on the inner side surface of the through groove facing the side surface of the protruding portion, and the depth of the recessed region is the protrusion of the protruding portion. A shift lever unit that gradually becomes deeper in the direction or that the formation range of the recessed region in the axial direction of the shift lever gradually widens toward the protrusion direction of the protrusion. In any one of claims 1 to 3, in the shift lever, a shaft-shaped transmission member for transmitting the release operation is housed in a tubular lever body in an interpolated state, and the regulation member. Is a shift lever unit that is housed in a storage hole that is perforated so as to open on the outer peripheral side surface of the transmission member, and the advance / retreat of the protruding portion in the protruding direction is regulated by the lever body. In any one of claims 1 to 4, the restricting member is placed in a direction opposite to the displacement direction of the restricting member by the releasing operation at a position where the protruding portion presses against the step and a contact load is generated. A shift lever unit provided with an urging structure that generates an urging force derived from the contact load.

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