JPH0683958U - Key switch erroneous operation prevention device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] An engine starter that shifts the pinion gear of the starter and meshes with the ring gear by driving the shift means that is interlocked with the operation position of the key switch, and transmits the power of the starter to the engine to start the engine. At
When the engine starts, prevent the meshing failure and damage between the pinion gear and the ring gear. [Structure] Pinion gear rotation presence / absence detection means (rotation sensor S1) for detecting the presence / absence of rotation of a pinion gear, and shift presence / absence detection means (stroke sensor S2) for detecting whether the pinion gear is in a position before shifting or after shifting. ,
It has a ring gear rotation presence / absence detecting means (rotation sensor S3) for detecting the presence / absence of rotation of the ring gear, and a control means (control unit 15) for controlling the shift operation of the pinion gear based on the detection information from these detecting means.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a key switch erroneous operation prevention device.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 2. Description of the Related Art There is known an engine starting device that shifts a pinion gear of a starter and meshes it with a ring gear by driving a shift means that is interlocked with an operation position of a key switch and transmits the power of the starter to an engine to start the engine.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example thereof, and the key switch 1 can select three operation positions of a stop position OFF, an ignition position IG, and a start position ST.

When the key switch is selected to the ignition position IG, the current of the battery 2 is applied to the ignition coil by a circuit (not shown).

When the key switch is selected at the starting position ST, the current applied state at the ignition position IG is maintained, and the current of the battery 2 is applied to the magnetic switch 3 so that the magnetic switch magnetically operates. The force causes the shift lever 4 to rotate in the direction of the arrow 12.

As a result, the pinion gear 6 connected to the starter 7 via the overrunning clutch 5 moves in the direction of the arrow 13 and meshes with the ring gear 8, and the starter 7 is driven so that its power is generated by the engine. Is transmitted to and the engine starts.

Here, the starter 7 includes a yoke set 9, an armature 10, a brush 11 and the like.

[0008]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 In the current starting operation, when the driver places the key switch in the starting position ST, the pinion gear is shifted toward the ring gear regardless of whether the engine is stopped or rotating.

For this reason, the shift operation of the pinion gear may be performed even when either of the gears is rotating, and in that case, the gears are worn, damaged, or have poor meshing, The engine may not start.

In particular, recently, technology for reducing indoor propagation of vibration, noise, etc. emitted from the engine has been developed, and the driver cannot detect the rotational state of the engine, so the starter should be turned on during engine rotation. In addition, there is a problem in that the above situation is caused by an erroneous operation of a key switch such as a restart during the engine start.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a key switch erroneous operation prevention device capable of preventing a defective meshing or damage between a pinion gear and a ring gear when starting an engine.

[0012]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a pinion gear rotation presence / absence detecting means for detecting the presence / absence of rotation of a pinion gear, and a shift presence / absence detecting means for detecting whether the pinion gear is in a position before or after a shift. The ring gear rotation presence / absence detecting means for detecting the presence / absence of rotation of the ring gear, and the control means for controlling the shift operation of the pinion gear based on the detection information from the respective detecting means.

[0013]

[Action]

 When either the pinion gear or the ring gear is in a rotating state, the pinion gear shift operation is not performed.

[0014]

【Example】

 An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Note that, in FIG. 1, members common to those in the conventional technique are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 2, and description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 1, a rotation sensor S1 as pinion gear rotation presence / absence detecting means for detecting the presence / absence of rotation of the pinion gear 6 is provided on the rear surface of the casing 14 corresponding to the upper part of the space occupied by the pinion gear 6 before shifting. Is provided.

Further, on the back surface of the casing 14 corresponding to the position facing the space occupied by the outer edge of the pinion gear 6 after shifting in the direction of the arrow 13, it is determined whether the pinion gear is located before or after shifting. A stroke sensor S2 is provided as a shift presence / absence detecting unit for detecting.

Further, a rotation sensor S3 as a rotation presence / absence detecting means for detecting the presence / absence of rotation of the ring gear is provided in a portion which is an extension of the back side of the casing 14 and faces the side portion of the ring gear 8.

The output of each sensor is input to a control unit 15 as a control unit including a CPU and the like. The control unit 15 is driven by the power source of the battery 2 and controls the relay 16 based on the information from each sensor and the state of the key switch 1.

The relay 16 is controlled by the control unit 15 and can apply the current of the battery 2 to the magnet switch 3 to drive it. From time to time, the control unit 15 may output a warning display output 17.

Hereinafter, based on the information from each sensor, what kind of control is performed by the control unit 15 will be described separately for each case.

Case 1: The key switch 1 is in the starting position ST. The rotation sensor S3 detects that the rotation of the ring gear 8 is stopped. The rotation sensor S1 detects that the rotation of the pinion gear 6 is stopped. The stroke sensor S2 detects that the pinion gear 6 is at the position before the shift.

In this case, the control unit 15 actuates the relay 16 to drive the magnet switch 3 and move the pinion gear 6 to the shift position. The shift operation and meshing at this time are performed smoothly because both gears have stopped rotating, and the gears are not damaged.

Case 2: The key switch 1 is in the starting position ST. The rotation sensor S3 detects that the ring gear 8 has stopped rotating. The rotation sensor S1 detects that the pinion gear 6 is rotating. The stroke sensor S2 detects that the pinion gear 6 is at the position before the shift.

In such a case, it is considered that the pinion gear 6 is rotating due to inertia, and the shift cannot be performed because it is dangerous. After waiting for 1 to 2 seconds, the rotation sensor S1 indicates that the pinion gear 6 has stopped rotating. After the confirmation, the control unit 15 operates the relay 16 to drive the magnet switch 3 to move the pinion gear 6 to the shift position.

At this time, the shift operation and the meshing are performed smoothly because both gears have stopped rotating, and the gears are not damaged.

Case 3: The key switch 1 is in the starting position ST. The rotation sensor S3 detects that the ring gear 8 is rotating. The rotation sensor S1 detects that the rotation of the pinion gear 6 is stopped. The stroke sensor S2 detects that the pinion gear 6 is at the position before the shift.

In such a case, since the engine is rotating, the control unit 15 does not operate the relay 16 and outputs a warning display output 17 indicating that the engine is rotating, and outputs an appropriate display means such as a buzzer or a lamp display. Displays a warning that the key switch should be shifted from the starting position ST.

Case 4: The key switch 1 is in the starting position ST. The rotation sensor S3 detects that the ring gear 8 is rotating. The rotation sensor S1 detects that the pinion gear 6 is rotating. The stroke sensor S2 detects that the pinion gear 6 is in the position before the shift.

In this case, the engine is about to be started, but the normal drive state is not reached, and the key switch is in the start position while the pinion gear and the ring gear are still rotating due to inertia. The control unit 15 controls the relay 16 so that the relay 16 is activated after both gears stop rotating.

Case 5: The key switch 1 is in the starting position ST. The rotation sensor S3 detects that the ring gear 8 is rotating. The rotation sensor S1 detects that the pinion gear 6 is rotating. The stroke sensor S2 detects that the pinion gear 6 is in the position after the shift.

In this case, the engine is in the so-called cranking state, the pinion gear 6 and the ring gear 8 are meshed with each other, and are rotating, so that the state is maintained for a certain period of time. Therefore, control is performed to restore the pinion gear 6 to the position before the shift.

Here, the fixed time is, for example, about 30 seconds, and is a time which causes the internal temperature of the starter to excessively rise and cause a failure when the starter is continuously rotated for a longer time.

Case 6: When the key switch 1 is in the ignition position IG, the relay 16 is not activated regardless of what state each sensor detects.

Among the cases described above, in case 2 and case 4, since the pinion gear is shifted from the state in which the pinion gear and the ring gear are stopped, incompatibility of the two gears, damage, etc. do not occur.

When the key switch is erroneously operated as in case 3, the starter is not rotated and a warning is displayed to prevent damage to the gears.

Further, as in case 5, when both gears are already in mesh with each other, damage during meshing is unlikely to occur, so the cranking time is limited to prevent starter body failure and battery discharge deterioration. Try to prevent.

The key switch erroneous operation prevention device according to the above-described example does not require a change in the basic structure of the conventional starter, and therefore can be easily introduced into a carburetor vehicle without making a large change, and MPI (multi-point (Ignition) There is an advantage that it can be easily installed especially for engine computers for vehicles.

Further, it is meaningful as a backup system at the time of starting for beginners and the like.

[0039]

[Effect of device]

 According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the engagement failure or damage between the pinion gear and the ring gear when starting the engine.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a key switch erroneous operation prevention device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

S1 rotation sensor (as pinion gear rotation presence / absence detection means) S2 stroke sensor (as shift presence / absence detection means) S3 (rotation sensor as ring gear rotation presence / absence detection means)

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An engine starting device for shifting a pinion gear of a starter to engage with a ring gear by driving a shift means interlocking with an operation position of a key switch, and transmitting the power of the starter to an engine to start the engine. Pinion gear rotation presence / absence detection means for detecting the presence / absence of rotation, shift presence / absence detection means for detecting whether the pinion gear is in a position before or after the shift, and ring gear rotation presence / absence detection means for detecting the presence or absence of rotation of the ring gear. A key switch erroneous operation prevention device comprising control means for controlling the shift operation of the pinion gear based on the detection information from these detection means.