JPH0449581Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] This invention is a rotational direction detection device, more specifically, a rotational direction detection device that can detect one rotational direction and perform a cancel operation. This invention relates to improvements in detection devices.

[Conventional technology]

As this type of rotational direction detection device, as shown in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 57-56137,
A slip ring type device in which the direction of rotation on the rotating side is detected by a sliding contact between multiple fixed contact surfaces arranged at a predetermined angle on the fixed side board and a movable contact placed facing on the rotating side. Most of them were.

[Problems that the invention aims to solve] However, in general, slip-ring type devices have a large size and shape in order to secure a sliding contact surface, and when miniaturization is attempted, the durability of the contact decreases and reliability decreases. However, it has been difficult to make it more compact due to the disadvantage of inferior performance.

The purpose of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks regarding rotational direction detection devices, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a rotational direction detection device that is highly reliable, has durable contacts, and can be made compact. It is something to do.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention provides a plurality of annular grooves on the inner circumferential surface of a switch body that supports a rotating body, and symmetrically arranges U-shaped contacts in each annular groove with mutually shifted positions in the circumferential direction. A ball contact, which is pushed outward by a spring and guided along each annular groove, is held on the outer peripheral surface of the U-shaped contact in accordance with the displacement of the U-shaped contact, and the ball contact is adjusted according to the direction of rotation of the rotating body. The above-mentioned problem is solved by configuring the rotational direction detection device so that the solenoid drive circuit can detect and cancel the rotational direction by contacting the U-shaped contact.

[Effect]

The rotational direction detecting device of this invention is constructed as described above, so that when the rotating body rotates, the ball contact held on the outer circumferential surface of the rotating body is pressed outward by the spring, and the ball contact point is pushed outward from the inner circumference of the switch body. It is guided along an annular groove provided on the surface and rolls while making sure to make contact with each U-shaped contact at two locations one after another at predetermined positions, and the direction of rotation is detected by the solenoid drive circuit. . Also, when a rotating body that has rotated in one direction returns to its original neutral position, the ball contact rolls in contact with each U-shaped contact in the reverse order, and the solenoid drive circuit cancels the rotation direction. Action will be taken.

〔Example〕

This invention will be specifically explained below based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a switch body of a rotational direction detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a rotating body supported by the switch body. Further, FIG. 3 is a plan view of the rotating body, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the rotating body. FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the state of contact between the U-shaped contact on the switch body and the ball contact on the rotating body. In the figure, 1 is the rotating body 2
The main body of the switch supports the switch, and is molded in half and can be assembled into one piece using bolts, etc. Reference numeral 3 denotes an inner circumferential surface for supporting the rotating body 2 provided on the switch body 1, and a plurality (three) annular grooves 4 are provided in parallel at equal intervals on the inner circumferential surface 3. There is. Reference numeral 5 denotes U-shaped contacts disposed in each annular groove 4 at positions shifted from each other in the circumferential direction, and are arranged symmetrically and fitted flush with the annular groove 4 so as not to form a step.

6 is a steel ball contact, U-shaped contact 5
It is held on the outer circumferential surface of the rotating body 2 in accordance with the deviation of the rotating body 2, and is guided along each annular groove 4. Reference numeral 7 denotes a spring for pressing the ball contact 6 outward to make it protrude, and each ball contact 6 is connected to a copper plate 8 via the spring 7.
Note that when the ball contact 6 rolls along the U-shaped contact 5, it reliably contacts the U-shaped contact 5 at two points as shown in FIG.
Further, the rotating body 2 is fixed to a steering shaft of an automobile or the like by a key (not shown) through a keyway 9.

Next, FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing an example in which the rotational direction detection device using the switch mechanism configured as described above is applied to a direction indicating device of an automobile, and FIG. 7 shows the steering wheel and switch mechanism of the automobile. FIG.

Reference numeral 10 in the figure is a direction indicator switch, and when the direction indicator switch 10 is operated from the neutral position N to the right turn direction position R or left turn direction position L, the corresponding direction indicator light 11 area is connected to 12. fixed contacts 10a and 10b connected to the flasher unit 13, a first movable contact 10c connected to the flasher unit 13, and a second movable contact 10c linked to the first movable contact 10c.
It is composed of a movable contact 10d and fixed contacts 10e and 10f which are switched on and off by the second movable contact 10d. Reference numeral 14 denotes a solenoid, which serves to automatically return the direction indicator switch 10 from the right-turn direction position R or the left-turn direction position L to the neutral position N.

5a, 5b, 5c and 5d, 5e, 5f are
Each contact of the U-shaped contact 5 is shown, and the contact 5a is connected to the fixed contact 10e of the direction indicator switch 10, and the contact 5d is similarly connected to the fixed contact 10f of the direction indicator switch 10, respectively.

Further, the contacts 5b and 5e are connected to the backflow prevention diode D ₁ , the solenoid 14 and the second drive circuit 16.
Grounded via transistor _Tr2 . Furthermore, the contacts 5c and 5f are diodes for preventing backflow.
It is connected to the input terminal 16a of the drive circuit 16 via _D2 .

In the connection circuit 16, the input terminal 16a is grounded via a Zener diode _DZ for constant voltage setting, a resistor _R1 for charging time constant setting, and a capacitor 18.

The first NPN transistor Tr ₁ has a base connected to the connection point between the resistor R ₁ and the capacitor 18 and the resistor R ₂
The collector was connected to the input terminal _16a via the resistor R3. The NPN type second transistor Tr ₂ has a base connected to the collector of the first transistor Tr ₁ via a resistor R ₄ and a resistor
Grounded via _R5 .

In addition, 17 in the figure is a DC power supply, and its positive terminal is connected to the flasher unit 13 and direction indicator switch 1.
0 is connected to the second movable contact 10d.

In the rotation direction detection device configured as described above, for example, when a car is to turn right,
When the direction indicator switch 10 is operated to the right turn direction position R, the flasher unit 13 operates to
The right direction indicator light 11 blinks. Subsequently, when the steering wheel of the automobile is rotated clockwise, the rotating body 2 mounted on the steering shaft is also rotated integrally with the rotating body 2, so that the ball contact 6 rolls while being guided along the annular groove 4.

The relationship between the ball contact 6 and each contact 5a, 5b, 5c of the U-shaped contact 5 at this time will be explained based on FIG.

By rotating the ball contact 6 in the right direction R _O from the neutral position N _O shown in FIG. As shown by C, all contacts 5a, 5b, and 5c become conductive.
It becomes OFF.

The drive circuit 16 operates based on the charging time constant of the capacitor 18 at the time when the contacts 5a and 5c become conductive.
After a predetermined delay time t ₁ (sec) has elapsed, the first transistor Tr ₁ is turned on. At this point, the second transistor _Tr2 is inverted to the OFF state. Therefore,
Even if there is continuity between contacts 5a and 5b, solenoid 14
is not turned on, and the right direction indicator light 11 continues to blink.

Next, when the right turn of the automobile is completed and the steering wheel is returned to the left direction L _O shown in FIG. 1 and rotated, the contacts 5a,
The conduction order of 5b and 5c is reversed to the above. Therefore, the solenoid 14 is activated only during the delay time t ₁ (sec).
6, the movable contacts 10c and 10d of the direction indicator switch 10 automatically return to the neutral position N shown in FIG. 6 through a cancel operation, and the right direction indicator light 11 turns off.

In contrast, when operating the direction indicator switch 10 to the rightward position L, each of the contacts 5d, 5e, 5 of the ball contact 6 and the U-shaped contact 5
In relation to f, the left direction indicator light 12 lights up in the same manner as when operating to the rightward position R described above, and the left turn is completed and the steering wheel is returned to the rightward direction R _O shown in Fig. 1. When the turning operation is performed, the movable contacts 10c and 10d of the direction indicator switch 10 automatically return to the neutral position N by a cancel operation, and the left direction indicator light 12 is turned off.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the ball contact 6 is 1
The number of sets is not limited, and for example, two sets may be provided.

Furthermore, transmission of contact signals is not limited to electrical signals, and optical signals may also be used.

Further, although the above embodiment has been described as an automatic return device for a direction indicator of an automobile, the present invention is not limited to this, but can be widely applied to various rotational direction detection devices.

[Effect of idea]

As specifically explained above, according to this invention, the ball contact held on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body
It is pushed outward by the spring and is guided by the annular groove of the switch body, making sure to contact each U-shaped contact at two places and switching the contacts one after another, so that the rotating body will Even when rotating in the direction of , the ball contact and the U-shaped contact are in reliable contact, increasing reliability.

In addition, as there is no need to secure a wide sliding surface like the conventional slip-ring type, it has many advantages such as being compact, strong, and durable. However, it is possible to provide a rotation direction detection device that is extremely effective in practice.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a switch body of a rotational direction detecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a rotating body, and Fig. 3 is a plan view of the rotating body supported by the switch body. Figure 4 is a sectional view of the rotating body, Figure 5 is a sectional view showing the state of contact between the U-shaped contact on the switch body and the ball contact on the rotating body, and Figure 6
The figure is an electric circuit diagram showing an example in which the rotational direction detection device is applied to a direction indicating device of an automobile, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the steering wheel and switch mechanism of the automobile. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Switch body, 2... Rotating body, 3... Inner peripheral surface, 4... Annular groove, 5... U-shaped contact, 6...
Ball contact, 7... Spring, 8... Copper plate, 9
...Keyway, 10...Direction indicator switch, 10
a, 10b...fixed contact, 10c...first movable contact, 10d...second movable contact, 10e, 10f...
...Fixed contact, 11, 12...Direction indicator light, 13...
...flush unit, 14... solenoid,
D ₁ , D ₂ ... Diode, Dz ... Zener diode, Tr ₁ , Tr ₂ ... NPN type transistor, R ₁
~R ₅ ...Resistor, 16...Drive circuit, 16a...
Input terminal, 17...DC power supply, 18... Capacitor.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A plurality of annular grooves are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the switch body that supports the rotating body, and U-shaped contacts are arranged symmetrically in each of the annular grooves with their positions shifted in the circumferential direction. , the ball contact, which is pressed by a spring and guided outward and guided along each annular groove, is held in accordance with the displacement of the U-shaped contact, and the ball contact changes into a U-shaped contact depending on the direction of rotation of the rotating body. 1. A rotational direction detection device characterized in that the rotational direction can be detected and canceled by a solenoid drive circuit depending on the order in which the solenoid is contacted.