JPH0517496Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed explanation of the idea] [Industrial application field]

This invention relates to an improvement of a kick-down device for downshifting an automatic transmission of an automobile.

[Conventional technology]

A kick-down device detects when the driver presses the accelerator pedal strongly and downshifts the automatic transmission. Conventionally, the detection means is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application No. 59-151836. Some models have a moderate kick-down switch on the floor panel (toe board). The installation position of this kick-down switch is within the movable range of the accelerator pedal, close to the fully open throttle position. Further, as shown in FIG. 14, the toe board 1
There is a device in which a shift-down switch 2 with a sense of moderation is provided, and an automatic transmission 4 is downshifted via a controller 3. The kick-down switch 2 shown in FIG. 14 is provided outside the swing range of the accelerator pedal 5. That is, the accelerator pedal 5 is installed so that the kick-down switch 2 is turned on when the accelerator pedal 5 is depressed to full throttle and then further depressed. Reference numeral 6 in the figure is an accelerator cable connected to the tip of the accelerator rod 5A of the accelerator pedal 5 to transmit the movement of the accelerator pedal 5 to the throttle valve 7, and 8 is an accelerator cable interposed between the accelerator cable 6 and the throttle valve 7. 9 indicates an automatic cable for transmitting the movement of the link mechanism 8 to the automatic transmission 4. Further, reference numeral 10 indicates the end of the accelerator cable 6;
This shows an overstroke mechanism disposed between the link mechanism 8 and the accelerator cable 6 to allow an overstroke of the accelerator cable 6 when the accelerator pedal 5 is depressed further than the throttle fully open state. The mechanism that allows overstroke of the accelerator pedal after the throttle is fully opened is
Some of them are described in Japanese Patent No. 59-182731.

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

In the above-mentioned engine disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 59-151836, the engine performance cannot be fully demonstrated at high gears of the transmission because the kick-down switch is turned on before the throttle is fully opened. Kickdowns often occur. That is, there is a problem in that the drivability of the vehicle is degraded because downshifts easily occur. Furthermore, due to variations in the dimensions and mounting position of the accelerator pedal, the throttle opening at which the kick-down switch is operated varies from vehicle to vehicle, which creates a manufacturing problem in which this variation must be adjusted. There is a point. If the adjustment is not made, the load required to operate the accelerator pedal will vary, and not only will optimal accelerator feeling not be obtained, but the accelerator opening degree for kick-down will also vary, which will greatly affect the driving performance of the vehicle. The problem arises that things change. Furthermore, in the conventional kick-down device shown in FIG. 14, due to manufacturing variations in the dimensions and mounting position of the accelerator pedal, the kick-down switch does not operate immediately when the accelerator pedal is depressed from the throttle fully open position. Otherwise, the kick-down switch will not operate unless the pedal is depressed further from the fully open position. Therefore, it is necessary to adjust the accelerator pedal, accelerator cable, link mechanism, etc. Furthermore,
The kickdown device shown in FIG. 14 must allow the accelerator pedal to be further depressed from the fully open throttle position. Therefore, a problem arises in that an overstroke mechanism having a complicated structure as described in the above-mentioned Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 59-182731 must be provided. Furthermore, in each of the above devices, since the kick-down switch must be installed on the tow board or floor panel, a mounting hole must be provided in the floor, etc., and this prevents water, mud, etc. from entering the passenger compartment from the hole. There is a problem in that it requires measures to prevent infiltration, which increases manufacturing costs.

[Purpose of invention]

This idea was made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and it can be installed without installing a complicated overstroke mechanism and without making a mounting hole in a floor panel etc. To provide a kick-down device equipped with a kick-down switch that can be operated after being fully opened.

[Means to solve the problem]

This invention provides a kick-down device that includes a kick-down switch that is activated when the accelerator pedal depression force exceeds a certain value, and that shifts down an automatic transmission via a control device based on a signal from the kick-down switch. The down switch includes a fixed member, a movable member disposed to be relatively displaceable with respect to the fixed member, a fixed contact provided on the fixed member, and a fixed contact provided on the movable member to correspond to the movement of the movable member. a movable contact that can be freely moved into and out of contact with the fixed contact; and a movable contact that is disposed between the movable member and the fixed member, and the movable member causes the movable contact to become the fixed contact only by a load that exceeds the moderation load. a moderation mechanism that allows the movable member to be displaced in the direction of contact, and a return spring that biases the movable member in a direction in which the movable contact separates from the fixed contact, the fixed member and the movable member , arranged in series in the pedal force transmission system from the accelerator pedal tread surface to the throttle valve, and the moderation load of the moderation mechanism is a constant value that is greater than the sum of the loads applied to the pedal force transmission system when the throttle valve is fully opened. By increasing the size above, the above object is achieved.

[Effect]

In this invention, the kick-down switch is arranged in series in the pedal force transmission system from the accelerator pedal tread to the throttle valve, and
Since the down switch itself is equipped with an overstroke mechanism and a moderation mechanism, there is no need to separately install a complicated overstroke mechanism, and the accelerator pedal remains constant regardless of variations in the dimensions and mounting position of the accelerator pedal. It can be turned down depending on the amount of depression. Furthermore, the down switch is installed on the floor panel,
Since it is not attached to a tow board or the like, there is no need to provide attachment holes in these panels, and there is no risk of water, mud, etc. entering the vehicle interior through the attachment holes.
Furthermore, there is no fear that mud on shoes, melted snow, etc. will enter the switch.

【Example】

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, this embodiment includes a kick-down switch 14 that is activated when the depression force on the accelerator pedal 12 exceeds a certain value. In the kickdown device for downshifting the automatic transmission 18, the kickdown switch 14 is arranged in series in a pedal force transmission system 24 extending from the accelerator pedal 12 to the throttle valve 22, and the kickdown switch 14 is , is provided with an overstroke function that allows the accelerator pedal 12 to be depressed when the throttle valve 22 is fully open, and a moderation mechanism 28 that allows the overstroke to be activated when the accelerator pedal depression force exceeds a certain value. The moderation load of the moderation mechanism 28 is set to be larger than the sum of the loads applied to the pedal force transmission system 24 when the throttle valve 22 is fully opened by a certain value or more. The pedal force transmission system 24 includes an accelerator pedal 12, a pedal rod 13, and an accelerator wire 15.
It is composed of. The control device 16 controls the throttle valve 2
an OR circuit 30 that outputs a signal when at least one of the throttle opening signal indicating the fully open state of No. 2 and the full open oil pressure signal obtained from the line oil pressure of the automatic transmission 18 in the fully open state is input;
It includes an AND circuit 32 and a microcomputer 34 which output a kickdown signal when both the output signal of the circuit 30 and the signal of the kickdown switch 14 are input. Reference numeral 36 in FIG. 2 is a throttle sensor that detects the opening degree of the throttle valve 22, 38 is an oil pressure sensor that detects the line oil pressure of the automatic transmission 18, and 40 is an oil pressure sensor that detects the line oil pressure of the automatic transmission 18.
42 is a shift solenoid for downshifting the automatic transmission 18; and 44 is a stopper for preventing the throttle valve 22 from over-rotating from full throttle. . Next, the structure of the kick-down switch 14 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the kick-down switch 14 includes a substantially rectangular cylindrical case 46 as a fixing member, and a substantially rectangular cross-section that is slidably held within the cylindrical case 46. A piston 48 as a movable member, and the moderation mechanism 28 that gives a feeling of moderation to the sliding movement of the piston 48,
The case 46 is attached to the tip of the pedal rod 13 of the accelerator pedal 12, and the piston 48 is attached to the case 46 at the end of the accelerator wire 15.
They are connected via a rod 48A that protrudes from. That is, the kick-down switch 14 has its movable member and fixed member interposed in series between the pedal rod 13 and the accelerator wire 52, which constitute a part of the pedal force transmission system 24. In the kick-down switch 14, the piston 48 is urged by a return spring 54 in a direction to pull the accelerator wire 15. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the moderation mechanism 28 includes ball holes formed in two rows in parallel in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the piston 48 and passing through the piston 48. 28A, and a compression coil spring 28B arranged in this ball hole 28A.
and a pair of moderation balls 2 having an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the ball hole 28A and biased in a direction away from each other by a compression coil spring 28B.
8C and an inclined surface 28D formed on the inner peripheral surface of the case 46. The inclined surface 28D is formed at the connection part from the large diameter portion 46A to the small diameter portion 46B on the inner wall surface of the cylindrical case 46, and the piston 48 is pushed by the return spring 54 and strokes in the direction of pulling the accelerator wire 15. When in the end position,
Moderation ball 2 partially protruding from ball hole 28A
The surface of 8C on the accelerator wire 15 side is configured to abut. The moderation load of the moderation mechanism 28 is applied to the compression coil spring 2
It is determined by the spring constant of 8C and the inclination angle of the inclined surface 28D. The piston 48 includes, as shown in the figure,
A movable contact 56A is provided in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the piston 48. On the other hand, on the inner periphery of the small diameter portion 46B of the case 46, the piston 48 has its moderation ball 28C.
crosses the slope 28D and the accelerator wire 52
When moving in the direction, the movable contact 56A comes into contact with
A pair of fixed contacts 56B, which are electrically connected by this,
56C is provided. Reference numeral 58 in FIG. 3 indicates a connector for connecting lead wires 57B, 57C from the fixed contacts 56B, 56C to the control device 16. As shown in FIG. 3, mounting grooves 60A and 60B are formed on two opposing outer surfaces of the case 46 of the kick-down switch 14, and these mounting grooves 60A and 60B are connected to the accelerator pedal 12. The kick-down switch 14 is fixed to the pedal rod 13 by inserting it into a switch mounting bracket 62 that is integrally attached to the tip of the pedal rod 13. Reference numeral 64A in Fig. 3 indicates mounting grooves 60A and 60B.
It shows the protrusions formed on the. When the mounting grooves 60A and 60B are fitted into the switch mounting bracket 62, this protrusion 64A elastically fits into the hole 64B on the switch mounting bracket 62 side to position the case 46. . Reference numeral 66 in FIG. 3 indicates an accelerator wire passage groove formed at the tip of the pedal rod 13 between the switch mounting brackets 62. This accelerator wire penetration groove 66 allows the kickdown switch 14 and the accelerator wire 15 to be connected when attached to the switch mounting bracket 62. The operating load, ie, moderation load, of the kick-down switch 14 is 16 kg, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. This 16Kg moderation load is mainly due to moderation mechanism 2.
This is the load for the moderation ball 28C at 8 to overcome the inclined surface 28D, and the load of the return spring 54 is added to this. Also, the load of the pedal force transmission system 24, that is, the return spring 12 for the accelerator pedal 12
B. The accelerator pedal 1 is pressed against the biasing force of the return spring 22A for the throttle valve 22.
As shown in Fig. 4, the pedal force load for depressing the throttle valve 22 is 8 kg when the throttle valve 22 is fully open.
It is set so that Therefore, in order for the kick-down switch 14 to be activated, it is turned on when the accelerator pedal 12 is depressed after the accelerator pedal is depressed to a depression force of 8 kg, that is, to full throttle, and then the accelerator pedal 12 is further depressed until the depression force reaches 16 kg. It's becoming like that. Next, the operation of the kickdown device according to the above embodiment will be explained. First, in the range where the throttle valve 22 is fully opened, even if the accelerator pedal 12 is depressed, the moderation load on the kick-down switch 14 exceeds the pedal force at full throttle, so the piston 48 of the kick-down switch 14 is pressed against the accelerator. There is no tension in the wire 15 direction. When the driver further depresses the accelerator pedal 12 from full throttle and the pedal force reaches 16 kg,
The moderation ball 28C in the moderation mechanism 28 of the kick-down switch 14 can ride over the inclined surface 28D. Therefore, the piston 48 is connected to the accelerator wire 15
direction, and the movable contact 56A is connected to the fixed contact 5.
It comes into contact with 6B and 56C to establish continuity between them. When the fixed contacts 56B and 56C are made conductive, a kickdown signal is output to the AND circuit 32 in the control device 16. On the other hand, when the throttle reaches full throttle, the throttle sensor 36 detects that the throttle is fully open and sends the signal.
Output to OR circuit 30. In addition, since the line oil pressure of the automatic transmission 18 also corresponds to the throttle opening, the full throttle oil pressure is detected by the oil pressure sensor 3.
8, the full open hydraulic pressure signal is detected by OR circuit 3.
Output to 0. The OR circuit 30 outputs a signal to the AND circuit 32 when a signal is input from at least one of the throttle sensor 36 and the oil pressure sensor 38. Since the signal from the kick-down switch 14 is also input to the AND circuit 32, a shift-down signal is output to the microcomputer 34. The microcomputer 34 has information about the automatic transmission 18 that is determined by a vehicle speed signal from a vehicle speed sensor 40 attached to the automatic transmission 18 and a throttle opening signal from the throttle sensor 36 or an oil pressure signal from the oil pressure sensor 38. From the gear stage,
Based on the downshift signal from the AND circuit 32,
An output signal is sent to the shift solenoid 42 to downshift the automatic transmission 18 to the appropriate gear. This completes the kickdown. After the kickdown is completed, press the accelerator pedal 12.
2, the piston 48 in the kick-down switch 14 is returned by the return spring 54, which causes the moderation ball 28C in the moderation mechanism 28 to return along the inclined surface 28D, as shown in FIG. returns to a prominent state. In this embodiment, the throttle opening signal and/or oil pressure signal (normally, a signal is output when the oil pressure is at 85% or more of the accelerator opening) and the signal from the kick-down switch 14 are used together. 1. Even if the kick-down switch 14 is destroyed by excessive impact or fails to return, it is guaranteed that the kick-down will not occur when the accelerator opening is less than fully open. Next, the second part of the present invention shown in FIGS. 6 and 7
An example will be explained. This second embodiment uses a switch down switch 68.
is incorporated into the accelerator pedal 70. That is, the accelerator pedal 70 is configured such that the tread surface 72 is movable relative to the pedal body 74 in the direction in which the pedal force is applied, and the kick-down switch 68 is
It is arranged between the tread surface 72 and the pedal body 74. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment only in the configuration and mounting position of the kick-down switch 68 and the configuration of the accelerator pedal 70, so the same or equivalent parts as in the first embodiment are included. Explanation will be omitted by assigning the same reference numerals. In this second embodiment, the accelerator pedal 70
The tread surface 72 is swingably supported by a pedal body 74 by a hinge 76 at its lower end.
The kick-down switch 68 is attached to the pedal body 74 at a position close to the free end side of the tread surface 72. The detailed construction of this kick-down switch 68 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, the kick-down switch 68 has a square cylindrical case 78 which is a fixed member.
and a piston 80 as a movable member slidably disposed within the case 78.
0 end protrudes outward from the case 78 and forms a recess 72A on the back surface of the tread surface 72.
It is designed to fit loosely. Reference numeral 82 in the figure denotes a return spring 84 for urging the piston 80 in the direction in which the end portion 80A projects.
A is a movable contact attached to the side surface of the piston 80, 84B and 84C are arranged on the inner circumference of the case 78, and when the piston 80 is pushed a certain amount in the compression direction of the return spring 82, the movable contact 84A
The fixed contacts that come into contact with the movable contact 84A and are electrically connected by the movable contact 84A are shown. The moderation mechanism 86 in the kick-down switch 68 includes a ball hole 86A formed by penetrating the piston 80 in the transverse direction.
A compression coil spring 86A is disposed within A, and the outer diameter of the ball hole 86A is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the ball hole 86A. A pair of moderation balls 86C are formed on the inner periphery of the case 78, and a piston 80 is formed at the end 8.
When the stroke end is in the 0A protrusion direction, the return spring 82 of the moderation ball 86C
and an inclined surface 86D that contacts the side surface. That is, the moderation mechanism 86 is a compression coil spring 86A.
The moderation load is determined by the spring constant of , and the inclination angle of the inclined surface 86C. Further, the switch return load of the kick-down switch 68 is set by a return spring 82. Reference numeral 88 in FIG. 8 indicates a connector for connecting lead wires 90 from the fixed contacts 84B and 84C to the control device 6. Here, the moderation load of the moderation mechanism and the spring constant of the return spring 82 are set in the same manner as in the first embodiment. In this second embodiment, the throttle valve 2
In the range from fully closed to fully open in step 2, the tread surface 72 of the accelerator pedal 70 is maintained at its furthest distance from the pedal body 74 by the moderation mechanism 86 of the kick-down switch 68, as shown in FIG. Ru. When the accelerator pedal 12 is depressed further than full throttle and the pedaling force reaches 16 kg, the moderation ball 86B in the moderation mechanism 86 moves to the inclined surface 8.
6C and is pushed in a direction that compresses the return spring 82. Therefore, the movable contact 8 provided on the piston 80
4A contacts the fixed contacts 84B and 84C to conduct them, thereby causing the kickdown switch 68 to output a kickdown signal. Other functions are the same as those in the first embodiment, so further explanation will be omitted. Note that in the second embodiment, the tread 72 is swingably attached to the pedal body 74 by a hinge 76, and one kick-down switch 68 is provided, but the present invention is not limited to this. It's not something. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, two kickdown switches 68 are provided, and the tread 72 is connected to the end 80A of the piston 80 of the kickdown switch 68.
It may also be attached to the pedal body 74 so that it is floating from the pedal body 74. In the case of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 9, a kickdown signal is output when one of the pair of kickdown switches 68, 68 is turned on. Next, a third embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 will be described. In this third embodiment, an accelerator pedal 92 is composed of a pedal body 92A and a tread surface 92B.
2B is a claw 92 that engages with the back surface of the pedal body 92A.
C and a pair of protrusions 92D that constitute a piston in the moderation mechanism 94 are integrally provided. That is, a pair of protrusions 92D integrally formed on the back surface of the accelerator pedal 12 are connected to the pedal body 92.
A protrusion 92D is fitted into a pair of fitting holes 92E formed in A.
The force by which the stepped portion 92F formed at the tip of the protrusion 92D contacts the six moderation balls 95B biased by the five compression coil springs 94A and overcomes the moderation balls 95 is the moderation load. It was designed so that Reference numeral 96 in FIG. 11 denotes a return spring interposed between the pedal body 92A and the tread surface 92B;
98A is a movable contact attached to the back surface of the tread surface 92B, and 98B and 98C are stationary contacts disposed on the pedal body 92A at positions facing the movable contact 98A and spaced apart from each other. In this embodiment, the pedal body 92A and the tread surface 92B constitute a fixed member and a movable member of the kick-down switch, respectively. Also in this embodiment, the moderation load in the moderation mechanism 94 and the spring constant of the return spring 96 are set in the same manner as in the first and second embodiments. In this fourth embodiment, since the tread surface 92B completely covers the pedal body 92A, there is no risk of dirt, water, etc. entering the inside and staining the contacts. Furthermore, since there are a plurality of compression coil springs 94A and moderation balls 95 that form the moderation load in the moderation mechanism 94, setting and adjustment of the moderation load is easy. Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 will be described. This fifth embodiment utilizes inversion of the metal diaphragm 102 as a moderation mechanism. That is, the accelerator pedal 104 includes a pedal body 106 having a recess 106A on the tread side, and a metal diaphragm 102 housed within the recess 106A.
and a metal diaphragm 10 in the recess 106A.
2 is stored, the tread 108 attached to cover the pedal body 106 and the recess 1
06A and a return spring 110 disposed between the bottom surface of 06A and the metal diaphragm 102. Here, the back surface of the tread 108, that is, the portion that contacts the metal diaphragm 102, is coated with a resin and is insulated. In addition, the metal diaphragm 102 has a generally arcuate shape with its central portion convex in the direction of the tread surface 108 in its normal state, and has a movable contact portion 112A on the back surface of the central portion.
A pair of fixed contacts 112B and 112C are arranged in the recess 106A at a location facing the movable contact portion 112A. In this embodiment, the metal diaphragm 102 constitutes the movable member of the kick-down switch, and the pedal body 106 constitutes the fixed member. Here, the load at which the metal diaphragm 102 is reversed from the normal state, ie, the moderation load, is set in the same manner as in the first to fourth embodiments. Further, the spring constant of the return spring 110 is set similarly.

[Effect of the idea]

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, there is no need to provide a complicated overstroke mechanism, and
This has the excellent effect that kickdown can be caused when the accelerator pedal is depressed further than the full throttle without directly mounting the kickdown switch on the floor surface.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view including a partial block diagram showing a first embodiment of a kick-down device for an automobile according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of a kick-down switch of the same embodiment, and FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view with a partial cross section showing the kick-down switch and the kick-down switch attachment part of the same embodiment; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between accelerator pedal depression force and accelerator opening degree in the same embodiment; FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between the switch load and switch stroke of the kick-down switch in the same embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 1 showing the second embodiment of the kick-down device according to the present invention. Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the accelerator pedal and the kick-down switch in the same embodiment, Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view showing the kick-down switch in the same embodiment, and Fig. 9 is a sectional view showing the accelerator pedal and the kick-down switch in the third embodiment of the present invention. A sectional view similar to FIG. 7 showing the accelerator pedal and the down switch; FIG. 10;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the pedal body of the accelerator pedal according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing the accelerator pedal according to the fourth embodiment;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the accelerator pedal body according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 13 is a sectional view showing the accelerator pedal according to the fifth embodiment, and Fig. 14 shows the kick-down device and accelerator link system in a conventional automobile. FIG. 12,70,92,104...Accelerator pedal, 14,68...Kick down switch, 16
... Control device, 18 ... Automatic transmission, 20 ... Speed change mechanism, 22 ... Throttle valve, 24 ... Pedal force transmission system, 28, 86, 94, 100 ... Moderation mechanism, 30 ... OR circuit, 32...AND circuit, 3
4... Microcomputer, 46, 78... Case, 48, 80... Piston, 72, 92B,
108...Tread surface, 74, 92A, 106...Pedal body, 102...Metal diaphragm.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] A kick-down device that includes a kick-down switch that is activated when the accelerator pedal depression force exceeds a certain value, and that shifts down an automatic transmission via a control device based on a signal from the kick-down switch. In the above, the kick-down switch includes a fixed member, a movable member arranged so as to be relatively displaceable with respect to the fixed member, a fixed contact provided on the fixed member, and a contact point provided on the movable member and connected to the movable member. a movable contact that can be freely moved into and out of contact with the fixed contact in response to the movement; a moderation mechanism that allows the movable member to be displaced in a direction in which the movable contact contacts the fixed contact, and a return spring that biases the movable member in a direction in which the movable contact separates from the fixed contact; and the movable member are arranged in series in a pedal force transmission system from the accelerator pedal tread surface to the throttle valve, and the moderation load of the moderation mechanism is the sum of the loads applied to the pedal force transmission system when the throttle valve is fully opened. A kickdown device that is larger than a certain value.