JP7264030B2 - slide device - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to slide devices.

2. Description of the Related Art A slide mechanism for electrically sliding a seat cushion in a vehicle seat installed in an automobile or the like in the front-rear direction is known (see Patent Document 1). In the electric slide device, the movable rail is slid with respect to the fixed rail in a state in which the lock that restricts the slide is released.

In this slide device, when a slide operation is input, first, the lock mechanism is unlocked, and after unlocking is completed, slide processing for sliding the movable rail is performed. Therefore, there is a certain time lag between the start of the input of the slide operation and the execution of the slide. The sliding of the movable rail continues until the sliding operation is released.

JP 2015-223854 A

If the slide operation is released before unlocking is completed after the slide operation is input, the slide process ends before the movable rail starts to slide. Usability is degraded by the occurrence of a state in which the movable rail does not slide even when a slide operation is input in this way.

An object of one aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a slide device in which a movable rail slides even if a slide operation input time is short.

One aspect of the present disclosure is a slide device (1) that slidably supports a vehicle seat (10). A slide device (1) comprises a fixed rail (2) fixed to the floor of a vehicle, a movable rail (3) attached to a vehicle seat (10) and sliding relative to the fixed rail (2), and a movable rail. a drive unit (4) mounted on the movable rail (3) and sliding the movable rail (3) relative to the fixed rail (2); ), and a lock unit (5) that displaces to a released state that does not restrict sliding, and a drive unit ( 4), displaces the lock unit (5) to the locked state in response to release of the slide operation, and stops driving the drive unit (4).

Further, upon receiving the input of the slide operation, the control section (6) controls the drive unit (4) until the movable rail (3) slides at least a predetermined minimum movement distance regardless of whether the slide operation is released. configured to drive.

According to such a configuration, even if the slide operation is canceled while the lock unit (5) is being released, the movable rail (3) slides the minimum movement distance. Therefore, even if the input time of the slide operation is short, the movable rail (3) slides in response to the slide operation.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, the fixed rail (2) may have a plurality of locking recesses (25) arranged side by side in the sliding direction of the movable rail (3). The lock unit (5) is a pin movable between an engaging position fitted in one of the plurality of locking recesses (25) and a separated position removed from the plurality of locking recesses (25). (51). The minimum movement distance may be equal to the pitch of two locking recesses (25) of the plurality of locking recesses (25) in the sliding direction of the movable rail (3). According to such a configuration, the movable rail (3) is stopped in a state where the pin (51) cannot enter the locking recess (25) (that is, the position between the plurality of locking recesses (25)). can be suppressed. As a result, when the movable rail (3) slides by the minimum movement distance, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of locking problems in the lock unit (5).

In one aspect of the present disclosure, when the lock unit (5) is displaced to the locked state, the control section (6) detects that the pin (51) has moved to the engagement position, and locks the drive unit (4). It may be configured to stop driving. With such a configuration, the reliability of locking by the lock unit (5) can be enhanced. Also, unnecessary driving of the drive unit (4) can be suppressed.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, the control unit (6) continues the input of the slide operation until a predetermined run-up time elapses after the input of the slide operation is started, or the predetermined run-up distance is set to the movable rail. The slide speed of the movable rail (3) by the drive unit (4) may be increased when (3) slides. According to such a configuration, when the input time of the slide operation is short, the movable rail (3) is moved at a low speed so as to smoothly stop after sliding the minimum movement distance, and the input of the slide operation is continued. In this case, the movable rail (3) can be run at high speed so that the slide time can be shortened.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, the control section (6) shifts the lock unit (5) to the unlocked state when the slide operation is canceled before the lock unit (5) is displaced to the unlocked state after the slide operation is input. The input of the slide operation may be disabled until the displacement of is completed. According to such a configuration, it is possible to suppress unexpected behavior of the lock unit (5) due to input of a displacement command to the lock unit (5) during displacement.

It should be noted that the symbols in each parenthesis above are examples showing the correspondence with the specific configurations and the like described in the embodiments described later, and the present disclosure is limited to the specific configurations and the like shown in the symbols in the parentheses. not something.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a vehicle seat and a slide device according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the slide device of FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic cut end view taken along line III-III of FIG. 4A-4D are schematic diagrams showing the positional relationship between pins and locking recesses in the slide device of FIG. 2. FIG. FIG. 5 is a time chart showing control by the controller in the slide device of FIG. FIG. 6 is a time chart showing control by the controller in the slide device of FIG.

Embodiments to which the present disclosure is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[1. First Embodiment]
[1-1. composition]
A vehicle seat 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a seat cushion 11, a seat back 12, a cushion frame 13, a back frame 14, a first slide device 1, and a second slide device 1A.

The seat cushion 11 supports the buttocks and the like of the seated person. The seat back 12 supports the back of the occupant. The cushion frame 13 is a member that supports the seat cushion 11 . The back frame 14 is a member that supports the seat back 12 .

The vehicle seat 10 of this embodiment is used as a seat for a passenger car. The direction in the following description and each drawing means the direction when the vehicle seat 10 is assembled to a vehicle (that is, a passenger car). Further, in this embodiment, the seat width direction coincides with the lateral direction of the vehicle, and the front of the seat coincides with the front of the vehicle.

The first slide device 1 and the second slide device 1A each support a vehicle seat 10 so as to be slidable in the longitudinal direction of the seat. The first slide device 1 and the second slide device 1A are attached to the lower side of the cushion frame 13 so as to be separated from each other in the seat width direction.

Since the first slide device 1 and the second slide device 1A have the same basic structure, the structure of the first slide device (hereinafter also simply referred to as "slide device") 1 will be described below.

The slide device 1 includes a fixed rail 2, a movable rail 3, a drive unit 4, a lock unit 5, and a controller 6, as shown in FIG.

<Fixed rail>
The fixed rail 2 is a so-called lower rail, and is fixed directly or indirectly to the floor of the vehicle on which the vehicle seat 10 is arranged.

The fixed rail 2 extends in the seat front-rear direction (that is, the sliding direction of the movable rail 3). The fixed rail 2 has a bottom wall 21 , a first side wall 22 , a second side wall 23 and a plurality of locking recesses 25 .

The bottom wall 21 has a wall surface perpendicular to the vertical direction and extends in the sliding direction. The first side wall 22 and the second side wall 23 are arranged on both sides of the bottom wall 21 in the rail width direction (that is, the direction perpendicular to both the sliding direction and the vertical direction) and face each other in the rail width direction.

The first side wall 22 and the second side wall 23 each rise upward from both ends of the bottom wall 21 in the rail width direction, and are curved inward and downward in the rail width direction of the fixed rail 2 in a U shape. That is, the first side wall 22 and the second side wall 23 form groove-like spaces above the bottom wall 21 that are open at the bottom and extend in the sliding direction. Each of the first side wall 22 and the second side wall 23 extends in the sliding direction and at least partially faces the movable rail 3 .

A plurality of locking recesses 25 are arranged side by side in the sliding direction on a facing portion 23A of the second side wall 23 facing the movable rail 3 . Each locking recess 25 is configured by an opening provided in the facing portion 23A or a groove recessed rightward. In this embodiment, the lengths in the sliding direction, the intervals, and the vertical positions of the plurality of locking recesses 25 are all equal.

<Movable rail>
The movable rail 3 is a so-called upper rail, and is attached to the vehicle seat 10 with a bracket (not shown) or the like.

The movable rail 3 slides with respect to the fixed rail 2 in the seat front-rear direction (that is, the extending direction of the fixed rail 2). The movable rail 3 constitutes an electric slide mechanism together with the fixed rail 2 .

The movable rail 3 has a first side wall 32 and a second side wall 33 . The first side wall 32 and the second side wall 33 are spaced apart in the rail width direction and face each other in the rail width direction.

As shown in FIG. 3, the lower end portion 32A of the first side wall 32 is curved in a U shape outward in the rail width direction (that is, in a direction away from the second side wall 33). The lower end portion 32A of the first side wall 32 overlaps the facing portion 22A in the rail width direction from the outside while being separated from the facing portion 22A of the first side wall 22 of the fixed rail 2 .

A lower end portion 33A of the second side wall 33 is curved in a U shape outward in the rail width direction (that is, in a direction away from the first side wall 32). A lower end portion 33A of the second side wall 33 is separated from the facing portion 23A of the second side wall 23 of the fixed rail 2 and overlaps the facing portion 23A in the rail width direction from the outside.

<Drive unit>
The drive unit 4 shown in FIG. 2 has a feed mechanism 41 and a drive actuator 42 . A drive unit 4 is attached to the movable rail 3 .

The drive unit 4 rotates the rotating element of the feed mechanism 41 with the power of the drive actuator 42 to slide the movable rail 3 with respect to the fixed rail 2 .

The rotating element of the feed mechanism 41 feeds the movable rail 3 in the sliding direction with respect to the fixed rail 2 by rotating while contacting the fixed rail 2 . The rotating element functions, for example, as a pinion in a rack and pinion that repeatedly engages and disengages from a plurality of recesses provided on the fixed rail 2 . The rotating element may also be configured to slide the movable rail 3 by frictional force with the fixed rail 2 .

The drive unit 4 switches the sliding direction of the movable rail 3 by switching the rotating direction of the rotating element. Drive actuator 42 may be electric, pneumatic, or hydraulic.

<Lock unit>
The lock unit 5 shown in FIG. 3 can be displaced between a locked state that restricts the sliding of the movable rail 3 with respect to the fixed rail 2 and a released state that does not restrict the sliding of the movable rail 3 .

The lock unit 5 is attached to the movable rail 3 together with the drive unit 4 . The lock unit 5 also has a pin 51 , a lock actuator 52 and a connecting portion 53 .

The pin 51 has an engagement position in which it is fitted into one of the plurality of locking recesses 25 shown in FIGS. 4A and 4D, and a separated position in which the pin 51 is removed from the plurality of locking recesses 25 shown in FIG. 4B. and can be moved to

The pin 51 is fixed to a connecting portion 53 connected to the lock actuator 52 and configured to be movable in the left-right direction. Further, the pin 51 is urged rightward (toward the engaging position) by an elastic body (for example, a torsion spring) (not shown).

The lock actuator 52 moves the pin 51 laterally between the engaged position and the separated position. Lock actuator 52 may be electric, pneumatic, or hydraulic.

Specifically, the lock actuator 52 is driven in two directions, that is, the unlocking direction and the locking direction. The lock actuator 52 moves the pin 51 to the separated position and holds the pin 51 at the separated position by being driven in the unlocking direction. When the lock actuator 52 is driven in the locking direction, the pin 51 is released from being held at the separated position, and a biasing force is applied to the elastic body to move the pin 51 to the engagement position by the biasing force.

<Control section>
The control unit 6 is configured to slide the movable rail 3 forward or backward by controlling the drive unit 4 and the lock unit 5 based on the slide operation by the seated person. The slide operation is performed by a physical or electronic switch, lever, or the like attached to the vehicle or vehicle seat 10, for example.

The control unit 6 is configured by, for example, a microcomputer including a microprocessor, storage media such as RAM and ROM, and an input/output unit. The control section 6 controls the drive unit 4 and the lock unit 5 by executing pre-stored programs. Note that the control unit 6 may be incorporated in an electronic control unit (ECU) mounted on the vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 5, when receiving a slide operation input (“ON” in FIG. 5) at time T1, the control section 6 drives the drive unit 4 after displacing the lock unit 5 to the unlocked state.

Specifically, the control unit 6 drives the lock actuator 52 in the unlocking direction R after the slide operation is input. Driving the lock actuator 52 in the release direction R moves the pin 51 from the engagement position E (see FIG. 4A) toward the separation position D (see FIG. 4B).

When the pin 51 moves to the separated position D at time T2, the controller 6 stops driving the lock actuator 52 and drives the drive actuator 42 with the first output D1. Thereby, the movable rail 3 slides together with the pin 51 . Note that the position of the pin 51 can be detected by, for example, a limit switch. Also, the position of the pin 51 may be inferred from the rotation angle or pulse number of each actuator.

The control unit 6 increases the slide speed of the movable rail 3 by the drive unit 4 when the input of the slide operation continues until the predetermined run-up time TS elapses after the start of the input of the slide operation.

Specifically, at time T3 when the run-up time TS has elapsed from time T1, the control unit 6 sets the output of the drive actuator 42 to the second output D2 that is greater than the first output D1. Note that the control unit 6 may increase the sliding speed of the movable rail 3 when the movable rail 3 has slid a predetermined approach distance.

Subsequently, when receiving release of the slide operation ("OFF" in FIG. 5) at time T4, the control section 6 displaces the lock unit 5 to the locked state and stops driving the drive unit 4. FIG.

Specifically, when the input of the slide operation is canceled, the control unit 6 reduces the output of the drive actuator 42 to the first output D1. Also, the lock actuator 52 is driven in the lock direction L. The change in output of the drive actuator 42 and the start of driving of the lock actuator 52 may not be performed at the same time.

By driving the lock actuator 52 in the lock direction L, the pin 51 moves from the separated position D toward the engaged position E. As shown in FIG. At time T5, the pin 51 moves to the intermediate position I (see FIG. 4C) where it is pressed against the second side wall 23 (specifically, the facing portion 23A) of the fixed rail 2. As shown in FIG.

In this way, when the slide operation is released, the control section 6 causes the drive unit 4 to slide the movable rail 3 and move the pin 51 from the separation position D toward the engagement position E. As shown in FIG.

The lock actuator 52 continues to drive until time T6 even when the pin 51 is restricted from moving rightward by the facing portion 23A. By this driving, a biasing force is applied to the elastic body that biases the pin 51 toward the engagement position E. As shown in FIG. Note that the lock actuator 52 may continue to be driven until the pin 51 moves to the engagement position E.

As the movable rail 3 slides, when the pin 51 at the intermediate position I reaches a position where it overlaps one of the plurality of locking recesses 25 in the left-right direction at time T7, the pin 51 is urged by the elastic body for locking. It enters the recess 25 and moves to the engagement position E (see FIG. 4D). As a result, the sliding of the movable rail 3 with respect to the fixed rail 2 is restricted, and the sliding process ends.

When the lock unit 5 is displaced to the locked state, the control section 6 detects that the pin 51 has moved to the engagement position E and stops driving the drive unit 4 . That is, the controller 6 stops the drive actuator 42 at time T7. Thereby, the reliability of locking by the lock unit 5 can be improved. Moreover, unnecessary driving of the drive unit 4 can be suppressed.

If the movement of the pin 51 to the engagement position E is not detected, the control section 6 stops driving the drive unit 4 after a certain period of time has passed since the lock actuator 52 stopped. After the pin 51 has moved to the engagement position E (for example, when the load of the drive actuator 42 exceeds a threshold value, when a certain period of time has passed since the lock actuator 52 stopped, etc.), the control unit 6 42 may be stopped.

The control procedure of the control section 6 when the input time of the slide operation is short, specifically when the slide operation is released before the locking of the lock unit 5 is released, will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 6, after the slide operation is input at time T1, when the slide operation is released at time T2 before time T3 at which the pin 51 reaches the separated position D, the control unit 6 At time T3, the drive actuator 42 is driven with the first output D1 regardless of whether or not the slide operation is input.

After the drive actuator 42 starts to be driven, the control section 6 keeps the lock unit 5 in the unlocked state without driving the lock actuator 52 until time T4 when the movable rail 3 slides a predetermined minimum movement distance.

At time T4, the control section 6 displaces the lock unit 5 to the locked state and stops driving the drive unit 4 by the procedure described above. In other words, the control section 6 starts driving the drive unit 4 after the slide operation is released, and keeps driving the drive unit 4 until the movable rail 3 moves the minimum movement distance.

The minimum movement distance is the pitch in the sliding direction of the movable rail 3 of two locking recesses 25 out of the plurality of locking recesses 25 (that is, the distance between the two locking recesses 25 and the sliding distance of one locking recess 25). direction length).

Note that the "pitch between two locking recesses 25" is not limited to the pitch P1 (see FIG. 4A) between two adjacent locking recesses 25, and is arranged with one or more locking recesses 25 interposed therebetween. Alternatively, the pitch P2 between the two locking recesses 25 may be used. In other words, the minimum movement distance can be set as an integral multiple of the pitch P1 between two adjacent locking recesses 25. FIG.

If the slide operation is canceled before the lock unit 5 is displaced to the unlocked state after the slide operation is input, the control unit 6 invalidates the slide operation input until the lock unit 5 is completely displaced to the unlocked state. do.

In other words, when the slide operation is input again between time T2 and time T3 in FIG. 6, the control unit 6 ignores this input. On the other hand, when the slide operation is input again between time T3 and time T4, the control unit 6 validates this input and slides the movable rail 3 until the re-input slide operation is released.

In FIG. 5, even if the slide operation is released after the lock unit 5 has been displaced to the released state and before the movable rail 3 has slid the minimum movement distance, the control unit 6 will control the movement of the movable rail 3 to the minimum movement distance. Drive the drive unit 4 until it slides.

In other words, upon receiving the input of the slide operation, the control unit 6 drives the drive unit 4 until the movable rail 3 slides at least the predetermined minimum movement distance regardless of whether the slide operation is released.

Note that the control of the drive unit 4 and the lock unit 5 by the control section 6 described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 is common to forward sliding and backward sliding. However, the driving direction of the driving unit 4 is appropriately set according to the sliding direction.

Also, the control unit 6 may be shared between the first slide device 1 and the second slide device 1A. That is, the control unit 6 may synchronize and execute the sliding process of the two movable rails.

[1-2. effect]
According to the embodiment detailed above, the following effects are obtained.
(1a) Even if the slide operation is canceled while the lock unit 5 is being released, the movable rail 3 slides the minimum movement distance. Therefore, even if the input time of the slide operation is short, the movable rail 3 slides in response to the slide operation.

(1b) By setting the minimum movement distance to the pitch of the two locking recesses 25, the pin 51 can be moved in a position where it cannot enter the locking recesses 25 (that is, a position between the plurality of locking recesses 25). Stopping of the rail 3 can be suppressed. As a result, when the movable rail 3 slides by the minimum movement distance, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of locking problems in the lock unit 5 .

(1c) By continuing the input of the slide operation until the run-up time elapses, or by increasing the slide speed when the movable rail 3 slides the run-up distance, if the input time of the slide operation is short, the minimum The movable rail 3 can be run at a low speed so as to stop smoothly after sliding the moving distance. Further, when the input of the slide operation is continued, the movable rail 3 can be run at high speed so that the slide time can be shortened.

(1d) By disabling the input of a new slide operation until the lock unit 5 is completely displaced to the unlocked state, the lock unit 5 is prevented from unexpectedly changing due to input of a displacement command to the lock unit 5 during displacement. behavior can be suppressed.

[2. Other embodiments]
Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, it is needless to say that the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments and can take various forms.

(2a) In the slide device 1 of the above embodiment, the lock unit 5 does not necessarily have the pin 51 . The lock unit 5 may restrict the sliding of the movable rail 3 by pressing (that is, friction) against the fixed rail 2 a braking member such as a disc or drum, for example.

(2b) In the slide device 1 of the above embodiment, the control unit 6 does not necessarily increase the slide speed when the input of the slide operation continues until the run-up time elapses or when the movable rail 3 slides the run-up distance. You don't have to.

(2c) In the slide device 1 of the above embodiment, the control section 6 does not necessarily invalidate the input of a new slide operation until the lock unit 5 is completely displaced to the unlocked state.

(2d) The vehicle seat 10 of the above-described embodiment can be applied to a seat used in automobiles other than passenger cars, and a seat used in vehicles other than automobiles, such as railroad cars, ships, and aircraft.

(2e) The function of one component in the above embodiments may be distributed as multiple components, or the functions of multiple components may be integrated into one component. Also, part of the configuration of the above embodiment may be omitted. Also, at least a part of the configuration of the above embodiment may be added, replaced, etc. with respect to the configuration of the other above embodiment. It should be noted that all aspects included in the technical idea specified by the wording in the claims are embodiments of the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1A... Slide apparatus, 2... Fixed rail, 3... Movable rail, 4... Drive unit,
5 Lock unit 6 Control unit 10 Vehicle seat 11 Seat cushion
12... seat back, 13... cushion frame, 14... back frame,
21... Bottom wall, 22... First side wall, 22A... Opposing portion, 23... Second side wall, 23A... Opposing portion,
25... Lock recess 32... First side wall 32A... Lower end 33... Second side wall
33A...lower end portion, 41...feed mechanism, 42...drive actuator, 51...pin,
52... lock actuator, 53... connecting part.

Claims (5)

A slide device for slidably supporting a vehicle seat,
a fixed rail fixed to the floor of the vehicle;
a movable rail attached to the vehicle seat and sliding relative to the fixed rail;
a drive unit attached to the movable rail and for sliding the movable rail relative to the fixed rail;
a lock unit attached to the movable rail and displaceable between a locked state that restricts sliding of the movable rail with respect to the fixed rail and a released state that does not restrict the sliding;
After displacing the lock unit to the unlocked state upon receiving an input of the slide operation, the drive unit is driven, and upon receiving the release of the slide operation, the lock unit is displaced to the locked state and the drive unit is driven. a control configured to stop
with
The control section is configured to, upon receiving an input of the slide operation, drive the drive unit until the movable rail slides at least a predetermined minimum movement distance regardless of whether or not the slide operation is released. slide device. The slide device according to claim 1,
The fixed rail has a plurality of locking recesses arranged side by side in the sliding direction of the movable rail,
The lock unit has a pin movable between an engaging position fitted in one of the plurality of locking recesses and a separated position removed from the plurality of locking recesses,
The slide device, wherein the minimum movement distance is equal to a pitch of two locking recesses among the plurality of locking recesses in the sliding direction of the movable rail. A sliding device according to claim 2,
The slide device, wherein the control section detects that the pin has moved to the engagement position and stops driving the drive unit when displacing the lock unit to the locked state. The slide device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
After the input of the slide operation is started, the control unit continues to input the slide operation until a predetermined run-up time elapses, or when the movable rail slides a predetermined run-up distance, A slide device configured to increase the slide speed of the movable rail by the drive unit. The slide device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
When the slide operation is canceled before the lock unit is displaced to the released state after the slide operation is input, the control unit keeps the slide operation until the lock unit is completely displaced to the released state. A sliding device configured to override the input of the

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