JPH0414257Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) This invention relates to a cable connection structure that connects the lever and various air conditioning-related equipment in a lever-type heater control of an automotive air conditioning system.

(Prior Art) A plurality of levers 21 are assembled into a heater control base 20 that is incorporated into an instrument panel of an automobile. These include an inside/outside air switching lever, a temperature control lever, etc.
Each of them is connected to an inside/outside air switching damper, an air mix damper, etc. via a cable 22 (push-pull cable). Conventionally, there are two well-known methods for connecting these cables, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

The one shown in FIG. 5 is a system in which a mounting hole 23 is passed through on the lever 21 side, and a hook portion 24 formed at the tip of the cable 22 is inserted into the hole 23 for connection.

On the other hand, in the case shown in FIG.
In this method, a connecting ring 26 formed by bending the two tips is inserted and connected.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the case of the cable 22 shown in FIG. 5, there is a possibility that the cable 22 may come off depending on the direction in which the external force is applied to the cable 22.

Further, in the case of the one shown in FIG. 6, the mounting shaft portion 25 may be oriented downward depending on the place of use. In this case, further measures must be taken to prevent omissions. One way to counter this is to cover the cable 22 with a rubber cap after it has been fitted, but in actual work, the operator must hold the heater control base 20, so it is not easy to cover the cable 22 with the cap.

Furthermore, the mounting shaft has been improved to include a pair of elastic claws 27 as shown in FIG. (See Figure 7). In this case, the operating load on the lever 21 becomes larger than necessary. Further, providing the elastic pawl 27 in this manner means that it is integrated with the lever itself, that is, it is made of resin. In this case, the thickness must be increased to maintain the strength above a certain level. However, not only does this require extra space, but the nails themselves need to have a certain level of strength in consideration of cold weather.
On the contrary, the fitting load increases and workability decreases.

In view of these points, the present invention aims to provide a cable connection structure that is not only superior in workability but also effective in preventing disconnection.

(Means for Solving the Problem) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an operating lever in a lever-type heater control,
A connection structure for connecting an air conditioner to be operated by means of a cable having a connection ring at its end, wherein the member on the side to which the cable is connected has the connection ring. A metal pin into which the ring is fitted is erected, and a small diameter part is formed in the middle of the pin in a step-like manner, and a synthetic resin pin which can be fitted onto the pin and into which the connecting ring can be fitted is provided. The cap includes a mounting claw that can be elastically engaged with a stepped edge in the small diameter portion of the pin, and when the connecting ring is fitted, the cap is bent into the stepped portion in the small diameter portion to allow the connecting ring to be fitted. The structure includes a retaining claw piece that is always formed in an outwardly projecting shape to prevent the connecting ring from coming off.

(Function) Therefore, according to the above configuration, when connecting cables, first put the cap over the pin,
The mounting claw piece is engaged with the step edge in the small diameter portion of the pin. The connecting ring is then fitted into the cap.
As this ring is fitted, the retaining claw pieces bend inward and retreat into the space around the small diameter part of the pin, and as a result, the connecting ring passes through the cap part and is located at the base of the pin, and the elastic They are connected in a state where they are prevented from coming off by the returned retaining claw pieces.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example embodying the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In the drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes a metal operating lever, which is attached to a heater control base (made of resin) (not shown) so as to be swingable. A hole 4 for inserting a pin 3 into the cable 2 passes through the lever 1 at a predetermined position.
The metal pin 3 has its mounting base 3a in this hole 4.
It is inserted into and fixed by caulking. The pins 3 are sequentially moved upward from the mounting base 3a.
A large diameter portion 3b, a small diameter portion 3c, and a medium diameter portion 3d are provided coaxially. The circumferential edge of the upper surface of the medium diameter portion 3d is chamfered 3e along the entire circumference.

On the other hand, the cap 5 made of resin (made of polypropylene resin in this example) is formed into a substantially cylindrical shape that opens both upward and downward, and is placed over the top of the pin 3 to prevent the cable 2 from coming off. When the cap 5 is placed over the pin 3, the sides of the medium diameter portion 3d and the small diameter portion 3c are covered and the large diameter portion 3 is covered.
The length is set so that only b is exposed. Further, its outer diameter is approximately equal to the large diameter portion 3b of the pin 3, and its inner diameter is approximately equal to the medium diameter portion 3d of the pin 3. Further, the upper opening edge of the cap 5 is also chamfered 5a.

Now, a total of four notches 7 are made in the side wall surface of the cap 5 at approximately equal angle positions, and each cut extends from the lower end to a position slightly above the center (larger than the height of the small diameter portion 3c). As a result, the side wall surface of the cap 5 is divided into a pair of mounting claws 8 and a pair of retaining claws 9, respectively.

Both mounting claw pieces 8 are allowed to undergo moderate elastic deformation in the expansion direction, and have a hook-shaped claw portion 10 that removably engages with the lower end of the middle diameter portion 3d of the pin 3 on the inner wall side thereof. We are prepared. In addition, in consideration of fitting into the pin 3, the inner surfaces of both mounting claw pieces 8 are formed into a tapered shape that expands downward.

Both retaining pawls 9 are shaped to expand toward the lower end, and in their natural state when attached to the pin 3, their lower ends protrude from the large diameter portion 3b of the pin 3 and form a connection ring. When the connecting ring 6 is fitted, it is bent inward and its side surface becomes substantially flush with the large diameter portion 3b of the pin 3. That is, the amount of step difference between the small diameter portion 3c and the medium diameter portion 3d is set as a storage allowance for the retaining claw piece 9.

This embodiment is formed as described above.

Before connecting the cable 2, first cover the pin 3 with the cap 5. In this case, cap 5
When applied to the top of the pin 3 and pushed in, both attachment claw pieces 8 expand relatively easily as they pass through the middle diameter portion 3d, and after passing, they elastically return to the claw portion 10.
is engaged with the lower surface of the middle diameter portion 3d. That is, although the cap 5 is inserted with a relatively light load, the engagement of the claw portion 10 effectively prevents it from coming off the pin 3.

Next, the connecting ring 6 of the cable 2 is fitted into the cap 5 from above and pushed into the lower end of the large diameter portion 3b of the pin 3. In this case, both of the retaining claw pieces 9 are bent inward and returned to their original positions when the connecting ring 6 passes through them. As a result, the cables 2 are connected with the connecting ring 6 being prevented from coming off by both the retaining claws 9.

Note that since the connecting ring 6 is normally located at the large diameter portion 3b of the pin 3 formed of a metal material, it will not break even under the load that is applied when operating the lever or the like.

(Effects of the invention) As is clear from the above explanation, according to the invention, when attaching a connecting ring during cable connection work, since the cap is made of resin, it is easy to remove the retaining piece. Therefore, the insertion work into the pin becomes easy. On the other hand, in the connected state, the cap is prevented from coming off by the mounting claw piece, and the ring is prevented from coming off by the stopper piece, so that the cable is effectively prevented from coming off. Furthermore, since the pin is located at the base of the metal pin, breakage of the pin is avoided.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a sectional view showing how the cables are connected, Figure 2 is a sectional view showing the engagement between the pin and the cap, Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the cable connection process, and Figure 4 is the lever type heater. A perspective view showing the control, and FIGS. 5 to 7 are front views schematically showing the conventional connection structure. 1... Operation lever, 2... Cable, 3...
Pin, 3c...Small diameter section, 5...Cap, 6...
Connection ring, 8... mounting claw piece, 9... retaining claw piece.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A connection structure for connecting an operation lever in a lever-type heater control and an air conditioning device operated by the lever using a cable having a connection ring at its end, where the cable is connected. A metal pin into which the connecting ring is fitted is erected on the side member to which the connecting ring is fitted, and a small diameter portion is formed in the middle of the pin in a step-like manner. The synthetic resin cap into which the ring can be fitted has a mounting claw that can elastically engage with the stepped edge of the small diameter portion of the pin, and a cap that bends into the stepped portion of the small diameter portion when the connecting ring is fitted. Allows fitting of the connecting ring,
A connecting structure for a heater control cable, characterized in that it has a retaining claw piece which is always formed in an outwardly projecting shape and prevents the connecting ring from coming off.