JPH0441334Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Field of industrial application] The present invention provides a rotation direction suitable for detecting the rotation direction of a steering wheel in order to automatically stop blinking of turn signal lights of a vehicle, especially an automobile. Regarding detection sensors.

[Conventional technology]

Recently, in cars, there is a switch that turns on and blinks the turn signal lights to indicate the direction.
It is provided in a place other than the steering column, for example, on the instrument panel. In such cases, when the steering wheel is returned to its original position after the direction change, it is necessary to detect the direction of rotation and turn off the turn signal lights.For this purpose, various rotation direction detection sensors have been proposed. There is. For example, a movable member that rotates together with the rotating body, a driven member that rotates in the same direction as the rotation direction of the movable member with a certain angle delay,
The fixed member is always stationary regardless of the rotation of the rotating body, and the movable member and the driven member are each provided with connection contacts having different intervals in the rotational direction due to the delay of the certain angle, and the fixed member is provided with a fixed member that is always stationary regardless of the rotation of the rotating body. A rotation direction detection sensor has been proposed that is provided with a group of contacts that selectively contact the connection contacts according to the rotation direction of
19968).

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

However, with the conventional rotation direction detection sensor described above,
Since the movable contacts provided on the movable member and the driven member are always in a sliding state as the steering wheel rotates, connection failures are likely to occur, resulting in reliability problems. Furthermore, since there are four contacts between the input and output, the contact resistance of the contacts between the input and output becomes large, which sometimes poses a problem in terms of durability. Furthermore, since the movable contact moves around the entire circumference, a corresponding space is required in the diametrical direction, resulting in a large size.

An object of the present invention is to provide a rotational direction detection sensor that can detect the rotational direction by electrically closing only one of a pair of switches depending on the rotational direction of the rotating body.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a rotating body, a rotating member that rotates together with the rotating body and has a concave portion on its outer peripheral surface, and a rotary member that rotates on the same axis as the rotating member. a semi-fixed member that is arranged, rotates by a certain angle in the same direction as the rotating member rotates, and has a notch formed on the outer circumferential surface of the semi-fixed member symmetrically about a center point; A pair of sliding members provided with stepped portions that press into contact with each other are arranged with a certain gap between them, and the pair of sliding members is selectively moved into the recess of the rotating member depending on the rotational direction of the rotating body. and a pair of switch means that open and close when simultaneously entering the notch of the semi-fixed member.

[Effect]

According to the above configuration, when the pair of switch means selectively enters the recess of the rotary member and the notch of the semi-fixed member at the same time depending on the rotational direction of the rotating body, one of the switch means is closed. let This allows the direction of rotation of the rotating body to be detected.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

Rotation direction detection sensor 1 for a vehicle, for example a car
As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus includes a fixed member 2, a rotating body 3, a rotating member 4, an auxiliary rotating member 5, a semi-fixed member 8, and a pair of switch means 9 and 10.

The fixed member 2 consists of a disc part 2a fixed to the steering column side and a cylindrical part 2b formed on the disc part 2a, and a rotatable steering shaft 12 is loosely fitted into the cylindrical part 2b. has been done. A steering wheel 13 is fixed to the tip of the steering shaft 12. Rotating body 3
consists of a cylindrical part 3a and a flange part 3b formed on the top surface of the cylindrical part 3a, and the cylindrical part 3a is
It is fitted into the cylindrical portion 2b of the fixing member 2. A plurality of protrusions 3 are provided on the same circumference on the upper surface of the flange portion 3b.
d is provided in a protruding manner, and the protrusion 3d is fitted into a small hole 13a formed in the steering wheel 13. Therefore, the rotating body 3 is the steering wheel 1
It rotates integrally with the rotation of 3.

The rotating member 4 consists of a disk portion 4a and a cylindrical portion 4b formed at the center of the disk portion 4a. ) is regulated in the direction of rotation,
Moreover, it is fitted so as to be slidable in the vertical direction. A pair of V-shaped recesses 4d, 4 with gentle slopes symmetrical about the center point O are formed on the outer circumferential surface of the disc portion 4b.
e are formed to face each other. Further, a ring-shaped convex portion 4f is formed on the bottom surface of the disc portion 4a, and the diameter of the inner circumferential surface of the convex portion 4f is set larger than the diameter of the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 2b of the fixing member 2. ing. A compression spring 15 is also provided between the upper surface of the disc portion 4a of the rotating member 4 and the lower surface of the flange portion 3b of the rotating body 3.
is interposed, and the compression spring 15 causes the rotary member 3 to move toward the steering wheel 13 side.
are each biased toward the fixed member 2 side.

The auxiliary rotating member 5 is formed into a cylindrical shape and is fitted into the cylindrical portion 2b of the fixed member 2, so that the auxiliary rotating member 5 rotates integrally with the rotating member 4 due to the engagement of the concave and convex portions. A flange portion 5a formed at the lower part of the auxiliary rotating member 5 is placed on the upper surface of the disk portion 2a of the fixed member 2. The semi-fixed member 8 is formed into a disk shape, has a through hole 8a formed at its center inserted into the auxiliary rotating member 5, has a lower surface placed on the upper surface of the flange portion 5a, and has the rotating member 4 on the upper surface. The protrusion 4f is pressed against the spring force of the compression spring 15. On the outer peripheral surface of the semi-fixed member 8, a pair of notches 8b and 8d are formed to face each other at an angle α ₁ symmetrically about the center point O, and one notch 8d has a fixed member. A pin portion 2d protruding from the upper surface of the second disc portion 2a faces. The cross section of the pin portion 2d is
It is formed in an arc shape with an angle α ₂ , and an angle α ₁
is set to be larger than angle α ₂ by angle 2D. Furthermore, the semi-fixed member 8 is configured to rotate with a delay of an angle D relative to the rotating member 4. The diameter of the outer peripheral surface of the semi-fixed member 8 is the same as that of the rotating member 4.
The diameter of the disc portion 4a is set to be slightly larger than the diameter of the disc portion 4a.

The relationship between the recesses 4d and 4e of the rotating member 4, the notches 8b and 8d of the semi-fixed member 8, and the pin portion 2d is set as shown in FIG. That is, when the pin part 2d is located at the center of the notch part 8d,
The axis of symmetry A-A of the recesses 4d and 4e of the rotating member 4 and the axis of symmetry B-B of the notches 8b and 8d of the semi-fixed member 8
are set so that they are orthogonal.

The switch devices 9 and 10 include a switch case 16
and contact holders 18 and 19 which are sliding members.
and a compression spring 20, and the switch case 16 is fixed to the disk portion 2a of the fixing member 2. In the state shown in FIG.
They are arranged radially at intervals of an angle 2D ₁ that is the same as or slightly smaller than 2D, and are slidably fitted into the switch case 16, and are moved in the direction of the steering shaft 12 by a compression spring 20 housed in the switch case 16. energized. Contact holder 1
8, 19 have arcuate protrusions 18a, 1
Stopper portions 18b and 19b are formed below the projections 18a and 19a.
a, 19a are set to be in pressure contact with the disk portion 4a of the rotating member 4, but the stopper portions 18b,
19b is set with a slight gap from the outer peripheral surface of the semi-fixed member 8. Stopper parts 18b, 19b
are set to be in pressure contact with the outer peripheral surface of the semi-fixed member 8, respectively. Contact holder 18,1
Contacts 21 and 22 made of U-shaped leaf springs are fixed to the lower surface of 9, and the contacts 21 and 22 are mounted on a printed circuit board 23 fixed to the disk portion 2a of the fixing member 2. It is designed to slide over printed fixed contacts.

FIG. 3 shows a circuit of a direction indicating device using the rotational direction detection sensor 1 of the present invention.
When rotating clockwise, the protrusion 18a of the contact holder 18
A right contact 1aR is provided which turns on via the contact 21 and the printed circuit board 23 when the contact holder 19 protrudes, and a left contact 1aL which turns on via the contact 22 and the printed circuit board 23 due to the protrusion of the protrusion 19a of the contact holder 19 during counterclockwise rotation. . When the solenoid 31 is energized, the turn signal switch 30 changes the turn switch 32 from the ON position to the OFF position.
It is provided with a mechanism for returning to the position, and 33 is a right contact and 35 is a left contact. When the solenoid drive circuit 36 receives a signal from the rotation direction detection sensor 1,
It operates to energize the solenoid 31. When the turn switch 32 is turned on, the flasher circuit 38 operates to flash the direction indicator light in the direction in which it is turned on, and 39 is a right direction indicator light,
40 is a left direction indicator light. Further, 41 is a power source.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

When changing the direction to the right, first turn the turn switch 32 of the turn signal switch 30 to the right contact 33. Then flasher circuit 3
8, the right direction indicator light 39 blinks. On the other hand, the rotation direction detection sensor 1 is
When the steering wheel 13 is in a neutral state, both the left and right contacts 1aL and 1aR are turned off, and the power 41 is not supplied to the rotational direction detection sensor 1.

In this state, when the steering wheel 13 is rotated to the right, the rotating member 4 rotates integrally with the rotating body 3 in the direction of arrow E, as shown in FIG. At the same time, the semi-fixed member 8 is connected to the protrusion 4 of the rotating member 4.
The frictional force between f and the auxiliary rotating member 5 causes them to rotate in the same direction.

When one end surface of the notch 8d of the semi-fixed member 8 comes into contact with the pin portion 2d of the fixed member 2, the semi-fixed member 8 stops. In this state, the protrusions 18a and 19a of the contact holders 18 and 19 are in pressure contact with the maximum diameter portion of the disk portion 4a of the rotating member 4, and therefore the left and right contacts 1aL,
1aR is all turned off.

When the steering wheel 13 is further rotated to the right, only the rotating member 4 rotates in the direction of arrow E, as shown in FIG.
e and the protrusion 19a of the contact holder 19 come to face each other, and the contact holder 19 gradually protrudes, but the stopper part 19b immediately comes into contact with the maximum diameter part of the semi-fixed member 8, and then the contact holder 19 protrudes. Without this, the left and right contacts 1aL and 1aR of the rotation direction detection sensor 1 are still OFF.
It is.

Furthermore, the steering wheel 13 is rotated to the right so that the rotating member 4 is aligned with the concave portion 4e in the contact holder 1.
8 to a position facing the protrusion 18a. During this time, the contact holder 18 gradually protrudes while sliding in pressure contact with the circumferential surface of the recess 4e, but since the contact holder 18 and the notch 8b face each other, the stopper 18b is located at the maximum diameter of the semi-fixed member 8. Since the contact holder 18 slides in pressure contact with the recess 4e without contacting the contact holder 18, the contact holder 18 protrudes to the maximum. In this protruding section, only the right contact 1aR of the rotation direction detection sensor 1 is turned on.

In this way, when the steering wheel 13 is rotated to the right, only the right contact 1aR is turned ON for a predetermined angle, but the turn switch 32 is closed to the right contact 33, and the left contact 1aL is OFF.
Therefore, the power source 41 is not supplied to the rotational direction detection sensor 1.

After completing the right direction change, turn the steering wheel 1
When 3 is rotated to the left, only the left contact 1aL becomes ON for a certain period as will be described later (see Fig. 9).
At the same time, the power supply 41 is connected to the right contact 33 and the left contact 1aL.
is supplied to the solenoid drive circuit 36, and the solenoid 31 is energized. As a result, the turn switch 32 returns to the OFF position, the power supply 41 to the flasher circuit 38 is cut off, and the right direction indicator light 39 is turned off. On the other hand, the solenoid 31 is in a non-energized state since the turn switch 32 is turned off. In this case, if the left contact 1aL turns from ON to OFF faster than the turn switch 32 turns OFF due to the rotation speed of the rotation direction detection sensor 1, the solenoid 3
1 is in a non-energized state.

Conversely, when changing direction to the left, first turn the turn switch 32 of the turn signal switch 30.
is applied to the left contact 35. Then, the power 41 is supplied to the flasher circuit 38, and the left direction indicator light 4 is turned on.
0 blinks. On the other hand, the power source 41 is not supplied to the rotation direction detection sensor 1 as in the case of clockwise rotation described above.

When the steering wheel 13 is rotated to the left in this state, the rotating member 4 is rotated as shown in FIG.
rotates integrally with the rotating body 3 in the direction of arrow F.
At the same time, the semi-fixed member 8 rotates in the same direction as in the case of clockwise rotation described above.

The other end surface 8 of the notch 8d of the semi-fixed member 8
When f comes into contact with the pin portion 2d of the fixed member 2, the semi-fixed member 8 stops. In this state, the left and right contacts 1aL and 1aR of the rotation direction detection sensor 1 are both OFF, as in the case of clockwise rotation described above.

When the steering wheel 13 is further rotated to the left, only the rotating member 4 rotates in the direction of arrow F, as shown in FIG.
d and the protruding part 18a of the contact holder 18 come to face each other, and the contact holder 19 gradually protrudes, but the stopper part 19b immediately comes into contact with the maximum diameter part of the semi-fixed member 8, and then the contact holder 19 protrudes. Without this, the left and right contacts 1aL and 1aR of the rotation direction detection sensor 1 are still OFF.
It is.

Furthermore, the steering wheel 13 is rotated to the left, and the rotating member 4 is moved so that the concave portion 4d is in contact with the contact holder 1.
9 to a position facing the protrusion 19a. During this time, the contact holder 18 gradually protrudes while sliding against the circumferential surface of the recess 4e. However, since the contact holder 18 and the notch 8b face each other, the stopper 18b is located at the maximum diameter of the semi-fixed member 8. Since the contact holder 18 slides in pressure contact with the recess 4e without contacting the contact holder 18, the contact holder 18 protrudes to the maximum. In this protruding section, only the left contact 1aL of the rotation direction detection sensor 1 is turned on.

In this way, when the steering wheel 1 is rotated to the left, only the left contact 1aL is turned ON for a predetermined angle, but the turn switch 32 is closed to the left contact 35, and the right contact 1aR is turned OFF.
Therefore, the power source 41 is not supplied to the rotational direction detection sensor 1.

After completing the left direction change, turn the steering wheel 1
3 in the right direction, only the right contact 1aR becomes ON for a certain period of time, as explained in FIG. At the same time, the power supply 41 passes through the left contact 35 and the right contact 1aR, is supplied to the solenoid drive circuit 36, and is supplied to the flasher circuit 38 as in the case of clockwise rotation.
The power supply 41 is cut off, and the left direction indicator light 40 is turned off.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As mentioned above, according to the present invention, the direction of rotation can be detected simply by sliding the contact holders of the pair of switch devices in the axial direction, so there are very few sliding parts and a good connection is always maintained. Reliability is improved, and the space in the diametrical direction can be reduced, making it possible to make the device compact. Furthermore, since the contacts between the input and output are configured as two-point contacts, contact resistance is reduced and durability is improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings relate to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a rotational direction detection sensor, FIG.
The figure shows a direction indicating circuit using the sensor of the present invention.
FIGS. 6 to 6 are explanatory views of the operation during clockwise rotation. FIG. 7 to FIG. 9 are explanatory diagrams of operations during left rotation. 1...Rotation direction detection sensor, 3...Rotating body, 4
... Rotating member, 4d, 4e... Recessed portion, 8... Semi-fixed member, 8d, 8e... Notch, 9, 10...
Switch device, 18, 19...Contact holder which is a sliding member.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] a rotating body, a rotating member that rotates together with the rotating body and has a recess formed on its outer peripheral surface, and is arranged on the same axis as the rotating member and rotates by a certain angle in the same direction as the rotating member rotates; and a semi-fixed member having a notch formed on its outer peripheral surface symmetrically about the center point;
A pair of sliding members that are in pressure contact with the outer circumferential surface of the rotating member are arranged with a certain gap between them, and the pair of sliding members are selectively moved into the recess of the rotating member depending on the rotational direction of the rotating body. A rotational direction detection sensor comprising: a pair of switch means that opens and closes when the switch simultaneously enters the inside and the notch of the semi-fixed member;