JPH0347226Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to a lever switch, for example, a lever switch for speed control used in a constant speed running device of a vehicle [Background art and issues to be solved] The speed control switch used to operate the constant speed traveling device is provided with a resume switch and a coast switch, respectively, for raising or lowering an indicator to a desired traveling speed before operating the constant speed traveling device with a set switch.

By arranging the set switch, resume switch, and coast switch close to each other, the driver can easily operate them. In particular, it is preferable that these switches be provided on the same operating lever, but in this case, the structure for transmitting the switch operating force to each switch contact point becomes complicated, and a display board is required to display each function. Multiple lights will be required.

The present invention takes the above facts into consideration, and the operating parts for controlling the first and second switches can be attached to a single operating lever, and the light guide that transmits illumination light from the light source to the display board is attached to the second switch. The object is to obtain a lever switch that does not interfere with the installation of a push button for controlling the switch.

[Summary and operation of the invention] In the lever switch according to the invention, a rotation operation lever protrudes in the radial direction from the rotation shaft,
The first switch is controlled by the rotation of this operating lever, and a push button for controlling the second switch is housed at the tip of this operating lever, so that all of these operating parts are attached to the operating lever and can be operated. A light-transmitting light guide is arranged on the back side of the display board provided on the front surface of the lever, and the illumination light from the light source is transmitted to the display board. It is adapted to accommodate a pushbutton for controlling the second switch.

[Embodiment of the invention] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a switch body 10 is formed of synthetic resin into a box shape and is adapted to be attached to a vehicle body 11. A metal sleeve 12 which is pivotally supported by the switch body 10 and partially protrudes has a rotating shaft portion 14 attached to the protruding tip with a screw 1.
6 and is adapted to rotate together with the sleeve 12. An operating lever 15 integrally projects from this rotating shaft portion 14 in the radial direction.

A first light guide 18 is inserted into the sleeve 12 to transmit light. That is, the first light guide 18 is made of transparent synthetic resin and has a substantially cylindrical shape, and is disposed at the center of the rotation axis of the rotation shaft portion 14 and has a protrusion 2 protruding from a part of the outer periphery.
0 engages with the sleeve 12 and rotates together with the sleeve 12.

In this first light guide 18, a compression coil spring 26 is interposed between a small diameter shaft portion 22 protruding from one axial end shown in FIG. 3 and a cover plate 24 attached to the switch body 10, and a rotation shaft portion This compression coil spring 26 is biased in 14 directions.
It is possible to move in the axial direction against the urging force of.

A cavity 28 is formed over a predetermined length in the axially intermediate portion of the first light guide 18, and has a substantially C-shaped cross section perpendicular to the axis. A light source 30 attached to the switch body 10 is used at one end of the cavity 28. In addition, the vicinity of the other end of this cavity 28 is formed into an inclined surface 32, and the first light guide 1
The light from the light source 30 is transmitted to the other small diameter shaft portion 34 of the light source 30 .

This small diameter shaft portion 34 has a main switch push button 36.
is attached so that light can pass through a transparent portion 37 formed at the shaft center.This push button 36 protrudes from the surface of the rotating shaft portion 14 and is operated by the driver. . That is, when the driver applies a pressing force, this push button 36 moves on the axis of the rotating shaft portion 14 and moves the first light guide 18 against the biasing force of the compression coil spring 26.
It is designed to be pushed down towards the bottom of the figure.

As shown in FIG. 3, a movable contact 40 is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the movable block 38, which moves with the depression of the push button 36 that is engaged with the lower end of the first light guide 18. As shown in FIG. The movable contact 40 is adapted to come into contact with and separate from the fixed contact 42 formed on the inner circumferential surface of the switch body 10, so that the pushing operation of the push button 36 can be detected.

Also, as shown in FIG.
A heart cam 44 is formed protruding into the groove 43 and corresponds to a bent tip 47 of a torsion coil spring 46 which is pivotally supported on the switch body 10. The tip end 47 of this torsion coil spring 46 is biased toward the left in FIG. 4 so as to rotate the outer periphery of the heart cam 44 counterclockwise in FIG.
3, that is, toward the back of the paper in FIG. Correspondingly, the circumference of the heart cam 44 is an inclined surface 43A in which the depth of the groove 43 gradually becomes shallower from the left side of the heart cam 44 toward the bottom.
It continues to the groove 43 via the stepped portion 43B. Further, a guide protrusion 45 protrudes within the groove 43 and enters into the recess 44A of the heart cam 44.

Therefore, the tip end 47 of the torsion coil spring 46 detours from the lower side of the heart cam 44 to the right side at the lowered position of the moving block 38 when the push button 36 is pushed into the rotating shaft 14, comes into contact with the guide protrusion 45, and presses the torsion coil spring 46. When the pressing operation of the button 36 is released, the heart cam 44 is engaged with the recess 44A of the heart cam 44 which rises together with the moving block 38, thereby restricting the movement of the moving block 38 from rising. When the push button 36 is pushed in again, it slips out of the recess 44A, slides down the slope 43A that rises when the push button 36 is released, and slides onto the step 43B.
It is configured to return to the inside of the groove 43 via. The amount of movement of the moving block 38 is limited by the projection 20 on the outer periphery of the first light guide 18 coming into contact with the sleeve 12. The combined structure of the heart cam 44 and the torsion coil spring 46 is similar to the structure of a commonly used switch for locking in the pressed state.

A contact holder 48 made of synthetic resin is fixed to the outer periphery of the sleeve 12 and is positioned inside the switch body 10. This contact holder 48 has a movable contact 50 on the end face on the moving block 38 side.
Fixed contact 52 attached to the switch body 10
A resume and coast switching contact is formed between the two.

Also, this contact holder 48 has this contact holder 4
Compression coil spring 5 axially oriented in the radial direction of 8
4, a ball 56 is disposed so as to be biased in the radial direction, and this ball 56 corresponds to a cam recess 58 formed on the inner circumferential surface of the switch body 10.

The ball 56 and the cam recess 58 are connected to the rotating shaft portion 1.
4 at the neutral position (N position) in Fig. 2, and from this neutral state to the coast position (C position) where it is rotated clockwise and the resume position (R position) where it is rotated counterclockwise. If the rotating shaft part 14
It has the role of returning to a neutral state.

The rotating shaft portion 1 is protruded in the radial direction of the rotating shaft portion 14.
A display board 60 is attached to the rotary operation lever 15 which rotates together with the push button 4 adjacent to the push button 36. A second light guide 62 is fixed to the back surface of the display board 60. This second light guide 6
Reference numeral 2 is configured to rotate together with the operating lever 15 by the occupant's resume and coast operations.

The protrusion 62A of the second light guide 62 is inserted into the cavity 28 of the first light guide 18. The surface of this protrusion 62A facing the light source 30 is arranged in the direction of light propagation, that is, the first light guide 18
The plane is perpendicular to the axial direction of the light source 30, so that most of the light from the light source 30 is transmitted therethrough. However, the surface of this protrusion 62A on the push button 36 side is a slope 64 inclined at an angle of about 45 degrees with respect to the axial direction of the first light guide 18, so that about 20% of the light from the light source 30 is
It has the role of a half mirror that reflects one part of the light toward the display panel 60.

A part of the light reflected by this slope 64 is reflected by the display board 6.
0, and the other part of the second light guide 62 is cut out on the side opposite to the display plate 60, and the thickness of the second light guide 62 is gradually thinned over the tip of the operating lever 15. inclined surface 6
6, the light is reflected by the inclined surface 66 and guided to the display panel 60.

As shown in FIG. 2, this display board 60 indicates that the push button 36 is the main switch of the speed control switch by the words "MAIN".
"COAST" indicates that coasting operation will be performed when the operating lever 15 is rotated clockwise in Fig. 2.
The text "RESUME" indicates that a resume operation will be performed when the lever is rotated counterclockwise, and that the push button 68 provided at the tip of the operating lever 15 is for setting the speed control. Each can be displayed by the character "SET".

A switch base 70 is fixed near the tip of the operating lever 15, which is a notch in the second light guide 62, and serves as a sliding guide for the set push button 68. As shown in detail in FIG. 5, the push button 68 is biased in the direction of protruding from the operating lever 15 by the biasing force of a compression coil spring 72 interposed between the push button 68 and the switch base 70.

Further, this push button 68 has a contact holder 74 fixed to the inside of the operating lever 15, so that it can be moved together with the push button 68. This contact holder 74 forms a cylindrical hole whose axis is perpendicular to the moving direction of the push button 68, and a compression coil spring 76 is housed inside. One end of the compression coil spring 76 presses a movable contact 78 that moves together with the contact holder 74 against a fixed contact 80 that is fixed to the switch base 70. Therefore, by pressing the push button 68, the movable contact 78 comes into contact with and separates from the fixed contact 80, and the speed control is set and unset. The intermediate portion of the wiring 81 to the contacts 78 and 80 passes through the inside of the sleeve 12.

On the other hand, the compression coil spring 76 biases the ball 82 on the opposite side of the moving contact 78;
2 corresponds to the guide surface 84 formed on the inner wall surface of the switch base 70. This guide surface 84 is continuous to a guide surface 88 via an inclined surface 86, and when the ball 82 moves onto this guide surface 88, the ball 82 must move in the direction of compression of the compression coil spring 76. Compression coil spring 7
6, it is designed to receive resistance force.

The ball 82 is in contact with the inclined surface 86 when the push button 68 is in the protruding state, and when the driver pushes the push button 68 into the operating lever 15, the ball 82 resists the biasing force of the compression coil spring 76. After moving, it is guided by the guide surface 88 and moves.

Therefore, the pushing operation force of the push button 68 has a relatively large resistance force when pushing down, forming a moderating mechanism, and when the ball 82 moves onto the guide surface 88, it can be pushed in with a light pushing force. There is. This allows the driver to clearly press button 6.
You can be conscious of the pushing action of 8, and after pushing down, you can maintain the pushing state with a light operating force.

Note that the switch body 10 has a first light guide 1.
A box-shaped protrusion 90 is formed corresponding to the axially intermediate portion of 8, and a display plate 92 is formed on a part of this protrusion 90.
is fixed thereto and has a display section in the same direction as the display board 60. This display section is provided with a light source 30A so as to be turned on when the main switch of the speed control is activated by the push button 36, and to illuminate the words "CRUISE MAIN."

Note that wiring (not shown) from the movable contact 50, the fixed contact 52, the movable contact 78, and the fixed contact 80 is connected to a control circuit of the speed control switch.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

When the driver operates the speed control switch to drive at a constant speed, the driver presses the push button 36 to bring the movable contact 40 and the fixed contact 42 into contact. As a result, the light source 30A is turned on, the display board 92 is illuminated, and the main circuit of the speed control switch is activated.

Furthermore, at the same time as the vehicle width lights (clearance lamps) are turned on at night, the light source 30 is also turned on, and the display board 6 is turned on.
0 is illuminated.

In this way, since the push button 36 is pressed at the center of the rotation axis of the operating lever 15,
The driver can easily press the push button 36 with his or her thumb while holding the operating lever 15.

The driver can check the functions of the switch and the operation of the main circuit at night by the displays on the display boards 60 and 92, and can match the speed display of an indicator (not shown) to the desired speed. If the displayed speed is lower than the desired vehicle speed, the operating lever 15
Rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 2, or clockwise in the opposite case, to match the display to the desired speed. This rotational operation of the operating lever 15 is performed by switching between a movable contact 50 and a fixed contact 52.

When the occupant stops rotating the operating lever 15 when the indicator display reaches the desired speed, the operating lever 15 returns the ball 56 to the neutral position of the cam recess 58 due to the biasing force of the compression coil spring 54. The state shown in FIG. 2 is reached.

Here, the driver presses the push button 68 on the operating lever 15.
When pressed inward toward the axis of the rotating shaft portion 14, the movable contact 78 and the fixed contact 80 come into contact, the displayed vehicle speed is set, and constant speed driving is started.

In this case, since the ball 82 has moderation in the pushing operation of the push button 68, it is relatively heavy at the initial stage of pushing and becomes light after pushing, so that a clear feeling of moderation can be obtained.

To release the speed control main switch, the occupant presses the push button 66 again to release the torsion coil spring 46 from the heart cam 44, and the push button 36 releases the compression coil spring 2.
The light source 3 protrudes from the operating lever 15 with the biasing force of 6.
When 0A goes out, the main circuit turns off.

Next, FIG. 6 shows a speed control switch according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

This embodiment differs from the previous embodiment in that the second light guide 62 is cut at cutting surfaces 94 and 96 near the tip of the operating lever 15, and is divided into two parts.

Furthermore, the third light guide 98, which is the cut end, is movable in the radial direction of the operating lever 15 together with the push button 68. For this purpose, a display plate 100 for displaying the setting of the speed control switch is fixed to the surface of the third light guide 98.

As a result, in this embodiment, the set display moves together with the push button 68, making it easier to recognize the set operation.

Note that in this embodiment as well, the display boards 60, 100
The light guides 62 and 98 are notched on the reflective side of the
It is thin and forms a space for accommodating a push button 68 for setting. Further, as in the previous embodiment, the ball 82 is brought into contact with the inclined surface 86 by the compression coil spring 76, forming a moderation structure, and
The opposite surface of the compression coil spring 76 is configured to press the movable contact 78 against the fixed contact 80.

[Effects of the invention] As explained above, in the lever switch according to the invention, a push button for controlling the second switch is provided at the tip of the rotary operating lever that projects in the radial direction from the rotating shaft for controlling the first switch. A light-transmitting light guide is arranged on the back side of the display board provided on the surface of the operating lever to transmit the illumination light from the light source to the display board, and the light guide is thin on the side opposite to the display board at the tip of the operating lever. In order to accommodate the push button for controlling the second switch, it is possible to arrange a plurality of operation parts on the operating lever, and also to accommodate the light guide to the display board arranged on the operating lever and the push button for controlling the second switch. It has the excellent effect of being able to accommodate both.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing a first embodiment of the lever switch according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the main parts of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4. A and B are a front view and a perspective view taken along the arrow in Figure 3 showing the moving block, Figure 5 is an enlarged view showing the push button portion of Figure 1, and Figure 6 is an enlarged view showing the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10... Switch body, 14... Rotating shaft part, 1
5... Operation lever, 18... First light guide,
30...Light source, 36, 68...Push button, 60...
...Display board, 62...Second light guide, 98...
Third light guide.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A lever switch comprising a rotating shaft for controlling a first switch and a rotary operating lever protruding in a radial direction from the rotating shaft, a display board being provided on the front surface of the operating lever, and a display board provided on the back side of the display board. A light-transmitting light guide is arranged to transmit the illumination light from the light source to the display board, and this light guide is made thinner on the side opposite to the display board from the tip of the operating lever, and is operated adjacent to the tip of the operating lever. A lever switch characterized in that a push button for controlling a second switch, which is partially protruded from the tip of the lever, is accommodated.