JPH0436402Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a drive device for a stroke sensor that outputs the stroke of a lever whose reciprocating swing is controlled by an actuator as an electrical signal.

<Prior art> In order to improve the operability of automobiles and reduce the burden on the driver, in recent years, for example, as shown in FIG. Along with pivoting,
A controller (not shown) for controlling the air cylinder 1 is provided to constitute an automatic clutch;
It has been considered to provide an automatic transmission that is operated to change gears by a speed change signal output from a controller, and to configure an automatic transmission system by combining this automatic transmission and the automatic clutch.

In the automatic clutch used in such an automatic transmission system, by controlling the swing stroke (hereinafter simply referred to as stroke) of the clutch lever 3 with high precision, a half-clutch state is reliably obtained and the shift shock is reduced. There is a need. Therefore, conventionally, the stroke sensor 6 is attached to the outer wall of the transmission 5, and the input lever 7 of the stroke sensor 6 is
The stroke sensor 6 is connected to the clutch lever 3 via a mechanical drive device 8.
The input lever 7 of the clutch lever 3 is made to reliably follow the clutch lever 3, and an electric signal corresponding to the discontinuation state of the clutch depending on the stroke of the clutch lever 3 is fed back from the stroke sensor 6 to the controller.

In this way, the input lever 7 of the stroke sensor 6
In order to follow the clutch lever 3, a drive device 8 as shown in FIG. 4 has conventionally been used. In FIG. 4, the drive device 8 screws one connector 8c into a right-hand thread 8b formed at one end of the rod 8a, and screws a left-hand thread 8d formed at the other end of the rod 8a into the other connector 8e. It consisted of combined turnbuckles. Then, by rotating the rod 8a forward and backward, the distance between the pair of connectors 8c and 8e (the effective length of the turnbuckle)
By changing , the zero position of the clutch lever 3 and the zero position of the input lever 7 of the stroke sensor 6 are made to match. 8f, 8g
is rock nut.

However, when the clutch lever 3 and the input lever 7 of the stroke sensor 6 are mechanically coupled via the drive device 8 whose effective length can only be adjusted in this way, the length of the drive device 8 cannot be changed. If you operate the air cylinder 1 without adjusting it to a perfect state or without making the zero positions of the clutch lever 3 and input lever 7 accurately match, there is a possibility that the input lever 7 of the stroke sensor 6 will be in an overstroke state. There is a problem in that if the degree of this overstroke is large, the stroke sensor 6 may be damaged.

<Problem to be solved by the invention> The invention was made to solve the problems of the conventional technology, and it mechanically connects a lever whose reciprocating swing is controlled by an actuator and an input lever of a stroke sensor. It is an object of the present invention to provide a drive device that can easily adjust the effective length of the drive device or adjust the zero position of both levers, while avoiding overstroke of the input lever that would damage a stroke sensor.

<Means for Solving the Problems> In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, an input lever of a stroke sensor is mechanically operated to follow a lever whose reciprocating swing is controlled by an actuator. The stroke sensor is configured to output a corresponding electric signal from the stroke sensor, and the rod has a proximal end screwed into the input lever so as to be movable back and forth, and the proximal end is connected to the input lever by having a screw in the opposite direction to the rod. It has a screwed rod that can move forward and backward. Also,
A case is provided at the tip of the other rod to slidably accommodate the flange provided at the tip of one of the two rods, and a coil spring provided in the case allows the flange to be inserted into the case. is held in a predetermined position.
The coil spring is characterized in that the holding force of the coil spring is greater than the drive reaction force of the stroke sensor and smaller than the breaking load of the stroke sensor.

<Function> In the stroke sensor drive device configured as described above, the flange provided at the tip of one rod is elastically held at a predetermined position within the case of the other rod by a coil spring. For this reason, the position of the flange within the case does not change until a force greater than the holding force of the coil spring is applied, and the relative position of the pair of rods does not change, so the length of the drive device as a whole does not change. . Further, the holding force of the coil spring is made larger than the drive reaction force of the stroke sensor and smaller than its breaking load.

Therefore, in a normal state, the input lever of the stroke sensor reliably changes in response to the stroke of the lever whose swing is controlled by the actuator, so that an electric signal corresponding to the stroke of the lever is output from the stroke sensor. If a large load is applied to the stroke sensor due to, for example, incorrect adjustment of the zero position of the lever and input lever, or incorrect adjustment of the length of a pair of rods, the coil spring will elastically deform and absorb the load. Absorb. Therefore, even in the unlikely event that a load greater than the breaking load is applied to the stroke sensor, damage to the stroke sensor due to poor adjustment or the like is avoided.

In addition, as described above, the coil spring that absorbs the breaking load is housed in the case that constitutes the connecting part of the pair of rods, and the proximal ends of the pair of rods are connected to the lever and input lever, respectively, with screws in opposite directions. Since they are screwed together so that they can move forward and backward, by rotating one rod in the forward and reverse directions, its effective length changes, making it possible to easily adjust the coupling distance between the lever and the input lever. Therefore, the zero position of the lever and the input lever can be adjusted very easily.

<Example> An example of the present invention will be described below in detail based on FIGS. 1 and 2. Since this is basically the same as the conventional example, the explanation will be given with reference to FIG. 3, with the same reference numerals as in the conventional example attached to the other parts except for the drive device.

In the figure, a drive device 10 connects the clutch lever 3 and the input lever 7 of the stroke sensor 6.
, the first and second rods 10a, 10b, and the connecting portion 1 that connects these rods 10a, 10b.
It consists of 4.

A right-handed screw 11a is formed at the base end of the first rod 10a to be screwed into the first connector 9a pivotally connected to the clutch lever 3, and a cylindrical case 12a is formed at the base end of the first rod 10a. It is fixed at the tip. Further, the base end of the second rod 10b is formed with a left-hand thread 11b which is screwed into the second connector 9b which is pivotally connected to the input lever 7, and the tip of the second rod 10b is formed with a left-hand thread 11b. A flange 12b is provided that engages only slidably inside the case 12a.

Further, by tensioning a coil spring 13 between one inner end surface of the case 12a and the flange 12b, the flange 12b is connected to the case 12a.
Both rods 10 are pressed and held at the left end in the figure.
It constitutes a connecting portion 14 that holds the portions a and 10b short. By making the holding force by the coil spring 13 larger than the drive reaction force of the stroke sensor 6 and smaller than the breaking load of the stroke sensor 6, the holding force of the coil spring 13 is able to hold the drive device 10 in a normal state. While maintaining the length at a predetermined value, when the load (operating force) transmitted to the input lever 7 of the stroke sensor 6 via the drive device 10 becomes larger than the holding force of the coil spring 13, the coil spring 13 The length of the drive device 10 is changed by elastic deformation, thereby preventing the load applied to the input lever 7 from becoming higher than the holding force of the coil spring 13.

On the other hand, the inner diameter of the case 12a and the flange 1
The outer diameters of 2b are each formed into a regular hexagonal shape, and the two are engaged with each other so that they cannot rotate relative to each other. Therefore, when the case 12a is rotated and the first rod 10a is rotated, for example, in the normal rotation direction, the second rod 10b is rotated in the normal direction via the flange 12b, thereby changing the effective length of the drive device 10. A turnbuckle is constructed. 15a and 15b are lock nuts.

In the stroke sensor drive device configured as described above, when a clutch-on signal is output from the controller (not shown), for example, the piston rod 2 of the air cylinder 1 shown in FIG.
is largely retracted to hold the clutch lever 3 at the zero position (on position), and the input lever 7 of the stroke sensor 6 is held at the zero position via the drive device 10.

When a clutch-off signal is output from this state, the piston rod 2 of the air cylinder 1 protrudes, causing the clutch lever 3 to swing clockwise in FIG. 3, thereby turning off the clutch. Then, the first connector 9a and the first
The input lever 7, which is connected via the rod 10a, case 12a, coil spring 13, flange 12b, second rod 10b, and second connector 9b, swings in the same direction, so the stroke of the clutch lever 3 A corresponding electrical signal is outputted from the stroke sensor 6 as a resistance value, for example.

Further, the holding force by the coil spring 13 is made larger than the drive reaction force of the stroke sensor 6, and smaller than the destructive load of the stroke sensor 6. Therefore, in a normal state, that is, a state in which overstroke does not occur, the relative position of both rods 10a and 10b, which are connected via the coil spring 13, does not change, and the input lever 7 is connected to the clutch lever 3. Accurate follow-up operation.

On the other hand, if, for example, the length of the drive device 10 is not fully adjusted, or the zero position of the clutch lever 3 and input lever 7 is not fully adjusted, the input lever 7 may not swing to its maximum angle. Even though the clutch lever 3 is stopped, the piston rod 2 may protrude further and the stroke of the clutch lever 3 may increase. However, in such a case, the load (operating force) applied to the input lever 7 via the drive device 10 becomes larger than the holding force of the coil spring 13, so the coil spring 13 is compressed and the total length of the drive device 10 is reduced. growing. For this reason, the clutch lever 3 overstrokes while leaving the input lever 7, so overstroke of the input lever 7 is avoided.

That is, in a normal state, the load transmitted to the input lever 7 via the drive device 10 is smaller than the holding force of the coil spring 13, so the input lever 7 reliably follows the clutch lever 3, but if the input lever 7 is overstroked. When attempting to do so, the load transmitted to the input lever 7 via the drive device 10 becomes greater than the holding force of the coil spring 13, so this load causes the coil spring 13 to
In order to prevent the input lever 7 from following the input lever 7 due to elastic deformation and to avoid at least an overstroke that could lead to damage, the stroke sensor 6 is prevented from being damaged due to incomplete adjustment or the like.

In the embodiment, the coil spring acts in only one direction to avoid damage caused by overstroke in the maximum swing range of the input lever, but if the coil spring acts in both directions to elastically press and hold the flange 12b in the center part of the case 12a, overstroke at the zero position can also be avoided.
In the embodiment, the inner diameter of the case 12a and the flange 1
By making the outer diameter of 2b hexagonal (polygonal),
Although the case 12a and the flange 12b are designed to be assembled with high ease, the specific configurations of the case 12a and the flange 12b are arbitrary.

<Effects of the invention> As explained above, in the invention, a coupling part incorporating a coil spring is provided in the drive device that causes the input lever of the stroke sensor to follow the lever whose reciprocating swing is controlled by the actuator, and the coupling part incorporating the coil spring is provided. The maximum value of the load applied to the input lever of the stroke sensor is regulated using the elastic deformation of the stroke sensor. Therefore, even if the length of the drive device or the zero position adjustment of the lever and input lever is incomplete, the input can be detected without deteriorating the detection accuracy of the stroke sensor under normal conditions. Since overstroke of the lever can be accurately avoided, the reliability and safety of the stroke sensor drive device can be increased. Also,
Since the coil spring is housed in the case that forms the joint between the pair of rods, the structure of the drive device is simplified. Furthermore, by screwing the proximal ends of the pair of rods into the lever and input lever so that they can move forward and backward with screws in opposite directions, these rods can be rotated forward and backward to change their effective length. This makes it extremely easy to adjust the zero position of the lever and input lever.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the main part showing an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a schematic side view showing an example of actual use of the stroke sensor. FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a conventional example. 1...Air cylinder (actuator), 2...
... Piston rod, 3 ... Clutch lever (lever), 6 ... Stroke sensor, 7 ... Input lever, 10 ... Drive device, 9a, 9b ... Connector, 10a, 10b ... Rod, 12a ... Case, 12b ...Flange, 13...Coil spring, 14...Connection part.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] An input lever of a stroke sensor is mechanically actuated to follow a lever whose reciprocating swing is controlled by an actuator, so that an electric signal corresponding to the stroke of the lever is outputted from the stroke sensor. A rod screwed into the lever so that it can move forward and backward, a rod whose base end is screwed into the input lever so that it can go back and forth, and a rod that has a screw in the opposite direction to that of the rod, and one of the two rods. A flange provided at the tip of the rod, a case provided at the tip of the other rod that accommodates the flange in a slidable manner, and a coil accommodated within the case to elastically hold the flange at a predetermined position within the case. 1. A stroke sensor drive device, comprising: a spring, wherein a holding force of the coil spring is greater than a drive reaction force of the stroke sensor and smaller than a breaking load of the stroke sensor.