JPH0132103Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] Technical field The present invention provides a detent mechanism, more specifically, a locking ball and an engagement groove of the same ball are provided in the sliding parts of the fixed body and the movable body so as to face each other, and the sliding movement of the movable body is prevented. This invention relates to an improvement in a detent mechanism provided to obtain a locking action of a movable body by dropping the ball into the engagement groove by the biasing pressure of a spring in a state where the ball and the engagement groove are aligned.

Prior Art Generally, a detent mechanism is used as a means for locking a movable body, which is slidably provided relative to a fixed body, in a predetermined position so as to be able to lock it on and off. In the case of a detent mechanism, a locking ball is usually provided on the fixed body (or movable body) side so that it can appear and retract, and the ball is always urged by a spring toward the sliding surfaces of the fixed body and movable body. one or more engaging grooves facing the locking ball and opening toward the sliding surface are provided on the other movable body (or fixed body) side. By dropping the ball into the ball, the movable body can be automatically locked in that position (locked on), and by forcibly sliding the movable body in this locked state. It is provided so that the lock can be automatically released (lock-off) by removing the ball from the engagement groove. When a plurality of engagement grooves are provided, the movable body can be selectively locked with respect to the plurality of engagement grooves. , and in the case where the respective engaging grooves are provided adjacent to each other, in the case of a conventional detent mechanism, by falling into the plurality of engaging grooves through a single locking ball. Because it is provided to obtain a locking effect, when it is locked in a specific engagement groove and is trying to lock in an adjacent engagement groove, it jumps over the adjacent engagement groove and then moves to another adjacent groove. The problem is that it may become locked in the engagement groove. This point will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings shown in FIGS. 4 to 6.

4 to 6 are drawings showing a state in which the above detent mechanism is used as a transmission shift mechanism as a specific example, and FIGS.
The figure shows both side walls 1a and 1b of the mission case 1.
A shift fork 3 (movable body) is provided along the longitudinal direction of the shaft 2 (fixed body) that is horizontally suspended between the two, and a shift fork 3 (movable body) is provided so as to be able to move forward and backward. The engagement groove 9N and the engagement grooves 9F and 9R for forward and backward movement are provided in a line along the longitudinal direction, while a rod is provided on the shift fork 3 side in a direction perpendicular to the center line of the shaft 2. Since the king ball 7 is provided so as to be freely retractable, it is normally urged toward the shaft 2 side by a spring 8, and can be selectively engaged with the three engagement grooves 9N, 9F, and 9R. provided as possible. Also, in FIG. 6, the shaft 2 supporting the shift fork 3 is attached to both side walls 1a of the transmission case 1,
1b horizontally so that it can move forward and backward freely, and one end of the shaft 2 has three engagement grooves, that is, a neutral engagement groove 9N,
Engagement grooves 9F and 9R for forward and backward movement are provided in a line adjacent to each other, while a side wall portion 1b supporting one end of the shaft 2 has grooves extending in a direction perpendicular to the center line of the shaft 2. Since the rocking ball 7 is provided so as to be freely retractable, the ball 7 is normally urged toward the shaft 2 by a spring 8.
It is provided so that it can selectively engage with any one of the engagement grooves 9N, 9F, and 9R, and as described above, each of the engagement grooves 9N,
In the case of a detent mechanism provided to obtain a locking action by selectively engaging a single locking ball 7 with respect to 9F and 9R,
For example, when the shift lever 4 is operated in the neutral direction to return the shift fork 3 from the forward position to the neutral position, the ball 7 is moved from the forward engagement groove to the neutral engagement groove. There may be a problem that the vehicle jumps over the groove and is engaged with the engagement groove for reverse movement. More specifically, when the shift lever 4 is swung toward the neutral direction, the ball 7, which is engaged with the forward engagement groove, overcomes the biasing pressure of the spring 8 and moves into the engagement groove. Shaft 2 is pushed up along the slope of
The ball 7 that rides on the outer circumferential surface of the shaft 2 in this way also rides on the outer circumferential surface of the shaft 2.
Due to the biasing pressure of the shift lever 4, it descends along the slope of the adjacent neutral engagement groove and is engaged with the neutral engagement groove. If the force of the rocking operation is too strong or the speed is too fast, the ball 7 will ride on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 2 and the ball 7 will move faster than the time it takes for the spring 8 to expand from its compressed state. By moving to a position that corresponds to the engagement groove for reverse movement, as mentioned above, it will jump over the engagement groove for neutral and be directly engaged with the engagement groove for reverse movement. It is. In this way, the forward or reverse engagement groove jumps over the neutral engagement groove and is directly engaged with the reverse or forward engagement groove, resulting in gear noise or gear noise. This may lead to problems such as damage.

Purpose of the invention The present invention is an attempt to improve the conventional situation in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and the purpose of the present invention is to provide a locking ball with three or more engaging grooves adjacent to each other. In a detent mechanism, preventing a locking ball from jumping over, in other words, preventing a ball from jumping over an adjacent engaging groove and being further engaged by another adjacent engaging groove. It is an object of the present invention to provide a detent mechanism that can be reliably engaged with the detent mechanism.

Structure of the invention That is, in the case where three or more engaging grooves are formed, one locking ball is arranged for each pair of adjacent engaging grooves, and each ball is connected to each adjacent pair of locking grooves. By selectively engaging between a pair of engagement grooves, the ball can be prevented from jumping over and the ball can be reliably engaged with the adjacent engagement groove. The gist of the present invention is that a movable body is provided so as to be slidable relative to a fixed body, and that either the fixed body or the movable body is formed with a length that is approximately the same as the forward and backward stroke of the movable body. A plurality of engagement grooves formed adjacent to the engagement groove and having a length substantially the same as the diameter of the locking ball are arranged in a line along the sliding direction of the movable body. ,
A movable body or a fixed body other than the above is provided with a plurality of locking balls facing each engagement groove so that they can appear and retract freely, and both locking balls are formed to have approximately the same length as the forward and backward stroke of the movable body. Provided so that one of the balls can be selectively engaged with a plurality of engagement grooves that can be simultaneously engaged with the engagement grooves and have a length that is approximately the same as the diameter of the locking ball. Another advantage is that the two locking balls are provided with different biasing pressures.

Embodiments A specific embodiment of the present invention, that is, a case where the present invention is used in a transmission shift mechanism will be described below. FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a first embodiment, in which reference numeral 1 designates a transmission case forming an outer shell of the transmission. 2 are both side walls 1a of the same mission case 1,
1b is a shaft (fixed body) that is horizontally suspended, and a shift fork 3 (movable body) is supported on the shaft 2 so as to be movable forward and backward,
The shift lever 4 is located at the upper end of the shift fork 3.
are engaged so as to be swingable in the front-rear direction. The same shift fork 3 has a pair of locking holes 5F and 5R.
are provided facing each other in front and rear positions with the engaging portion of the shift lever 4 intervening therebetween. More specifically, both holes 5F and 5R are formed in a vertically elongated cylindrical shape so that one end opens at the upper end of the shift fork 3 and the other end opens facing the outer circumference (sliding surface) of the shaft 2. In other words, both holes 5F and 5R are provided on an extension line along the radial direction of the shaft 2, and the openings on the upper end side of both holes 5F and 5R are provided through threaded portions 5' and 5' formed in the same portions. The screws 6, 6 are screwed together so that they can be freely adjusted forward and backward. And in both holes 5F and 5R there are rocking balls 7F and 7.
In order to freely insert and retract R, both balls 7F, 7R are inserted into the other opening through locking springs 8F, 8R interposed between screws 6, 6 and balls 7F, 7R in both holes 5F, 5R. (the sliding surface with the shaft 2) and protrudes from the opening, that is, selectively with respect to the engagement grooves 9N, 9F, and 9R carved on the shaft 2 side as described later. It is provided so as to be biased toward the opening so that it can be engaged.

9N, 9F, 9R are both halls 5F as above,
5R, each of which has an engagement groove 9F at one end on the front end side of the engagement groove 9N, and an engagement groove 9F at one end on the rear end side of the engagement groove 9N. The engagement grooves 9R are arranged in a line along the center line of the shaft 2. And each engagement groove 9
N, 9F, and 9R have inclined surfaces at both front and rear ends and are formed in an inverted trapezoidal shape, respectively, and engagement grooves 9F, 9R are formed with a length dimension that is approximately the same as the diameter of balls 7F, 7R. On the other hand, the engagement groove 9N is connected to both holes 5F,
5R, and when the shift fork 3 is in a neutral position, the inclined surface on the front end side faces the opening of the hole 5F, and the rear end The inclined surface on the side is hole 5.
The balls 7F and 7R are provided so as to face the opening of R, in other words, so that both the balls 7F and 7R can simultaneously engage with both of the inclined surfaces.

FIG. 2 is a drawing showing a second embodiment,
A shaft 2 is installed horizontally between both side walls 1a and 1b of a transmission case 1 forming the outer shell of the transmission, and the shaft 2 is provided so as to be movable forward and backward in the front-rear direction (direction of the center line). It will be done. .
A shift fork 3 is fixed to the shaft 2 at an approximately intermediate portion thereof, and a lower end portion of a shift lever 4 is engaged with an upper end portion of the shift fork 3 so as to be swingable in the front-rear direction. That is, the shift fork 3 and the shaft 2 are moved through the swinging of the shift lever 4.
(Movable body) is provided so that it can be moved back and forth forward and backward as a unit.

A pair of locking holes 5 are provided in the front and rear side walls 1a and 1b of the mission case 1 (fixed body).
F and 5R are provided to correspond to both end portions of the shaft 2. More specifically, both holes 5F and 5R are formed in a vertically long cylindrical shape so that one end opens at the upper end of both side walls 1a and 1b, and the other end opens facing the outer periphery (sliding surface) of the shaft 2. The openings on the upper end side of both holes 5F and 5R are provided with the first
As in the embodiment described above, the screws 6, 6 are screwed together through threaded portions 5', 5' formed in the same portions so as to be adjustable in forward and backward movement. Locking balls 7F and 7R are fitted into both holes 5F and 5R so that they can appear and retract freely. The engagement grooves 9NF, 9F, and 9 are biased toward the opening (the sliding surface with the shaft 2) and protrude from the opening, that is, the engagement grooves 9NF, 9F, and 9 are carved on the shaft 2 side.
It is provided so as to be biased toward the opening so that it can selectively engage with NR and 9R.

In addition, the above-mentioned engagement grooves 9 are provided in the portions near both ends of the shaft 2, facing the locking holes 5F and 5R.
NF, 9F, 9NR, and 9R are provided. That is, at one end of the front end side of the shaft 2, there are engagement grooves 9NF and 9.
F, and engagement grooves 9NR and 9R are provided at one end of the rear end of the shaft 2 in a line along the center line of the shaft 2, respectively. Each of the engaging grooves 9NF, 9F and 9NR, 9R is formed into an inverted trapezoid shape with inclined surfaces at both front and rear ends.
F, 9R are provided so as to be located on the outside (front end and rear end side) of the engaging grooves 9NF, 9NR, which have approximately the same length as the diameter of the locking balls 7F, 7R, while the engaging grooves 9NF, 9NR is shaft 2
(or the shift fork 3), and when the shift fork 3 is in the neutral position, the inclined surface on the front end side of the engagement groove 9NF is formed into the locking hole 5F. The locking balls 7F, 7R face oppositely to the opening of the locking hole 5R, and the inclined surface on the rear end side of the engagement groove 9NR faces oppositely to the opening of the locking hole 5R. are provided so that they are in an engaged state.

FIG. 3 is a drawing showing an applied embodiment to the first embodiment, in which locking springs 8F and 8R interposed in both holes 5F and 5R are provided with different biasing pressures. More specifically, a spring 8R having a wire diameter larger than that of the spring 8F inserted in the hole 5F is installed in the hole 5R. Both locking springs 8F, 8R
The method of varying the biasing pressures of the springs 8F and 8R is not limited to the above embodiment, but may also be done by changing the biasing pressures of the springs 8F and 8R by adjusting the forward and backward movement of the screws 6 and 6. be. Further, in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the engaging groove 9N is formed as a single piece, but the engaging groove 9N is
Similar to the embodiment, a pair of front and rear engagement grooves 9NF, 9NR
It is also possible to provide it separately.

Next, its effect will be explained.

In the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a state in which the shift fork 3 is in the neutral position, and in the state in which the shift fork 3 is in the neutral position, the shift fork 3 is connected to the shaft 2. A locking ball 7 located approximately in the middle of the locking holes 5F and 5R
F, 7R are in a state where they are urged toward the engagement groove 9N,
More specifically, the locking balls 7F and 7R are in contact with inclined surfaces formed at both front and rear ends of the engagement groove 9N.

By swinging the shift lever 4 in the direction of arrow F with the shift fork 3 in the neutral position as described above, the effect of sliding the shift fork 3 toward the front end along the shaft 2 can be obtained. As the shift fork 3 slides toward the front end along the shaft 2, the ball 7R inserted into the locking hole 5R is biased by the spring 8R. In the state, the engagement groove 9
While rolling inside N toward the front end, the ball 7F fitted into the locking hole 5F overcomes the biasing pressure of the spring 8F and climbs over the slope formed on the front end side of the engagement groove 9N. At the same time, due to the biasing pressure of the spring 8F, a state of engagement with the forward engagement groove 9F provided adjacent to the front end side of the engagement groove 9N is obtained. i.e. shift fork 3
The effect of moving the shift fork 3 to the forward position and the effect of locking the shift fork 3 at the forward position can be obtained simultaneously.

With the shift fork 3 locked in the forward position in this manner, the ball engages with the engagement groove 9F by sliding the shift fork 3 in the opposite direction to the above through the swinging operation of the shift lever 4. 7F climbs over the slope and engages the engagement groove 9N again (both balls 7F, 7R
can be returned to the neutral state (in other words, the neutral state). During this action, the ball 7R is sufficiently biased by the spring 8R, so that it comes into contact with the inclined surface of the engagement groove 9N and prevents the shift fork 3 from moving.

Also, by swinging the shift lever 4 in the direction of arrow R from a state where the shift fork 3 is in the neutral position, the shift fork 3 can be slid along the shaft 2 toward the rear end. However, as the shift fork 3 slides along the shaft 2 toward the rear end, the locking hole 5R
The ball 7R that is inserted therein overcomes the biasing pressure of the spring 8R, climbs over the slope formed on the rear end side of the engagement groove 9N, and is provided adjacent to the rear end side of the engagement groove 9N. A state of engagement with the engagement groove 9R for backward movement is obtained. That is, the effect of moving the shift fork 3 to the reverse drive position and the effect of locking the shift fork 3 in the reverse drive position can be obtained simultaneously. With the shift fork 3 locked in the reverse position in this manner, by sliding the shift fork 3 in the opposite direction to the above through the swinging operation of the shift lever 4, the engagement groove 9R is moved.
A state in which the ball 7R that engages with the ball 7R climbs over the inclined surface and engages with the engagement groove 9N again, that is, both balls 7
State where F and 7R engage with both inclined surfaces (neutral state)
It can be returned to. In addition, even in this action, the spring 8F with the ball 7F in a fully extended state
Since the shift fork 3 is biased by the engagement groove 9N, movement of the shift fork 3 is reliably prevented when it comes into contact with the inclined surface of the engagement groove 9N.

Further, in the second embodiment shown in FIG.
The figure shows a state in which the shift fork 3 is in the neutral position, and in the state in which the shift fork 3 is in the neutral position, the shift fork 3 is located approximately in the middle of the shaft 2, and both locking holes 5F, Locking ball 7 inserted into 5R
F and 7R are biased toward the engagement grooves 9NF and 9NR, more specifically, the ball 7F is biased toward the engagement grooves 9.
The ball 7R is in contact with an inclined surface formed on the front end side of the NF, and the ball 7R is in contact with an inclined surface formed on the rear end side of the engagement groove 9NR. With the shift fork 3 in the neutral position as described above, by moving the shift lever 4 in the direction of arrow F, the effect of sliding the shift fork 3 and shaft 2 toward the front end can be obtained. There is, but like this, shift fork 3 and shaft 2
As the ball 7F slides toward the front end, the ball 7F fitted into the locking hole 5F rolls within the engagement groove 9NF toward the rear end while being biased by the spring 8F. While moving, the ball 7R inserted into the locking hole 5R overcomes the biasing pressure of the spring 8R, overcomes the slope formed on the rear end side of the engagement groove 9NR, and engages with the engagement groove 9R. The state is obtained.
Furthermore, by swinging the shift lever 4 in the direction of arrow R from a state where the shift fork 3 is in the neutral position, the effect of sliding the shift fork 3 and the shaft 2 toward the rear end can be obtained. However, as the shift fork 3 and shaft 2 slide toward the rear end, the ball 7F fitted into the locking hole 5F overcomes the biasing pressure of the spring 8F and closes the engagement groove. It is possible to get over the slope formed on the front end side of 9NF and engage with the engagement groove 9F.

Furthermore, in an applied example of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a spring 8R having a wire diameter larger than that of the locking spring 8F installed in the locking hole 5F is installed in the locking hole 5R. This makes it possible to vary the shift feeling of the shift lever 4, and by interposing a spring with a larger wire diameter in the one of the two locking holes 5F and 5R from which the shift lever 4 can easily come out. An effect of preventing the shift lever 4 from coming off can be obtained.

In addition, in the first and second embodiments, the screws 6, 6 are screwed into the screw portions 5', 5' formed in the openings on the upper end side of the locking holes 5F, 5R. By varying the biasing pressures of the locking springs 8F and 8R through forward/backward adjustment, the same effect as in the applied embodiment described above can be obtained.

Although each of the above embodiments is explained using an example in which the detent mechanism according to the present invention is used as a shift mechanism of a transmission, the detent mechanism according to the present invention can be used for general purposes other than the above embodiments. It is possible to do so.

Effects of the invention The invention is constructed as described above.
With the above configuration, it has become possible to reliably prevent the rocking ball from jumping over. In other words, the locking ball can be reliably engaged with the adjacent engagement groove without jumping over the adjacent engagement groove and being engaged with yet another adjacent engagement groove. .

Furthermore, in the present invention, as described above, by selectively engaging each engagement groove with a plurality of balls, wear and tear on the balls can be reduced. As a result, it has become possible to improve the service life of the ball.

In particular, in the case of the present invention, by providing different biasing pressures in the direction of the engagement groove for each locking ball, it is possible to vary the operating feeling of the shift lever. It has become possible to obtain an operating feeling commensurate with direction identification and frequency of use, and to adjust the holding force when there is a difference in the degree to which the shift lever is disengaged.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the second embodiment,
FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing an applied example of the first embodiment. . Further, FIGS. 4 to 6 are sectional views showing the conventional structure. 1...Mission case, 1a, 1b...Side wall portion, 2...Shaft, 3...Shift fork, 4
...Shift lever, 5F, 5R...Locking hole, 5'...Screw part, 6...Screw, 7F,
7R...Rocking ball, 8F, 8R...Rocking spring, 9N, 9F, 9R, 9NF,
9NR...Engagement groove.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A movable body is provided so as to be slidable relative to the fixed body, and an engagement groove is formed in either the fixed body or the movable body to have a length substantially the same as the forward/backward stroke of the movable body, and the engagement groove is adjacent to the engagement groove. A plurality of engagement grooves formed to have approximately the same length as the diameter of the locking ball are arranged in a line along the sliding direction of the movable body, while each engagement groove is A plurality of locking balls are provided so as to be freely retractable and appear opposite to the groove, so that both locking balls can be simultaneously engaged with the engagement groove formed to have a length that is approximately the same as the forward and backward stroke of the movable body, and A plurality of engagement grooves formed to have approximately the same length as the diameter of the locking ball are provided so that one of the balls can be selectively engaged, and the biasing pressures applied to both the locking balls are different. Detent mechanism for shift fork in transmission.