JPH0866557A - Steering device for game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a steering device for a game machine with simple constitution and high operation reliability. CONSTITUTION: When a steering 1 is rotated, the roller 32 of a cam mechanism 3 provided protrusively on a steering shaft 2 is rotated, presses the inclined face 31 a of a return cam 31 and moves the return cam 31 rearward against the pressing force of a return spring 4. When the torque of the steering 1 is released, the return spring 4 moves the return cam 31 forward against the pressing force of an oil damper 5.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a steering device for a game machine capable of obtaining a steering feeling of an actual vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a steering device for a game machine of this type, there is a technique described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 1-27833. FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing the present device. In the steering device of this game machine, the operator operates the steering wheel 1
When 00 is rotated, the steering shaft 101
Dashboard 10 via bushes 102, 103
4, it rotates with respect to the hub bases 105, 106 and the main body 110. At this time, the bush 10
Reference numerals 2 and 103 serve to smooth the rotation of the steering shaft 101.

In this operation, the brake plate 107 (steering pressure generating plate) rotates together with the steering shaft 101 while pressing and deforming the elastic compression members 108 and 109. Therefore, the operator is
The reaction force due to the compressive stress from 09 is received via the steering wheel 100, and a realistic steering feeling can be obtained.

[0004]

However, although the steering device of the conventional game machine described above can provide a realistic steering feeling, the bushes 102, 103, the dashboard 104, the hub bases 105, 106, and the brake plates are provided. Since it has a structure in which a large number of parts such as 107 (steering pressure generating plate) and compression members 108 and 109 are complicatedly combined, there is a problem that the structure becomes complicated and the cost of the device increases. Further, since a large number of parts are intricately intertwined with each other, there is a risk of frequent failures, and there is a problem of lack of operational reliability.

The object of the present invention is simple in structure and yet
It is an object of the present invention to provide a steering device for a game machine with high operation reliability.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a steering device for a game machine according to a first aspect of the present invention interlocks with a rotation of a steering shaft so that a cam body is provided along an axis of the steering shaft. Cam means for moving the cam body in one direction, a first biasing means for biasing the cam body in a direction opposite to the one direction, and the cam body with a biasing force weaker than the biasing force of the first biasing means. And a second urging means for urging the element in the one direction.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a steering device for a game machine according to the first aspect, wherein the cam means includes a cam body having an inclined surface facing the axis of the steering shaft, and the steering shaft. A rotating body that is provided so as to project and abuts the inclined surface of the cam body and is rotatable.

[0008]

According to the present invention, when the steering shaft is rotated, the cam body of the cam means moves in one direction along the axis of the steering shaft against the biasing force of the first biasing means. Therefore, the biasing force is transmitted to the steering wheel, and a feeling of steering pressure of the actual vehicle can be obtained. When the rotational force applied to the steering shaft is released, the cam body is biased in the opposite direction by the first biasing means and returns. At this time, the second biasing means biases the cam body in the opposite direction with a weaker biasing force than the biasing force of the first biasing means. For this reason, the cam body moves slowly and the steering shaft makes a gentle rotation similar to the rotation at the time of actual steering release, so that a steering feeling of an actual vehicle can be obtained.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the steering shaft is rotated, the rotating body protruding from the steering shaft abuts on the inclined surface of the cam body and rotates to move the cam body in the one direction. .

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a steering device of a game machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side sectional view thereof. As shown in these drawings, the steering device of the game machine of the present embodiment has a steering wheel 1, a steering shaft 2, a cam means 3, a return spring 4 (first urging means), and an oil damper 5 ( Second
Urging means) and.

The steering 1 is attached to a front end portion (left end portion in the drawing) of a steering shaft 2, and the steering shaft 2 is integrally rotated by the rotation of the steering 1. The steering shaft 2 is rotatably held by a bracket 6. In particular,
The bracket 6 is formed of a substantially U-shaped plate body having a bottom portion 6a and front and rear portions 6b and 6c. Front and rear 6
As shown in FIG. 2, through holes 6d and 6d are formed in b and 6c, and the steering shaft 2 is inserted into the through hole 6d and is rotatably held by bearings 7 and 7. . Further, the rear end portion (right end portion in the figure) of the steering shaft 2 is connected to the volume 9 assembled to the support piece 8 outside the side portion 6c.

The cam means 3 is composed of a synthetic resin return cam 31 (cam body) and a synthetic resin roller 32 (rotating body).
It is designed to work with the rotation of. Return cam 31
Has an inclined surface 31a on its front surface. The return cam 31 uses the inclined surface 31a for the steering shaft 2
It is slidably fitted to the steering shaft 2 through the hole 31b in a state of facing the axis L of the. The roller 32 is attached to a short shaft 32a provided on the steering shaft 2 so as to rotate around the short shaft 32a while being in contact with the inclined surface 31a of the return cam 31.

As a result, when the steering shaft 1 is operated to rotate the steering shaft 2 from the state shown in FIG. 2, the roller 32 of the cam means 3 rotates around the axis L, so that as shown in FIG. , Vertical force V by roller 32
Joins the inclined surface 31a. This vertical force V is the horizontal component force V1.
And the slope component force V2. That is, the horizontal component force V
The inclined surface 31a is pushed backward by 1 and the return cam 31 moves rearward (one direction) along the axis L. Further, since the slope component force V2 is applied horizontally to the slope 31a, the roller 32 rotates in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 4 due to its drag force.

The return spring 4 is a member for urging the return cam 31 that moves as described above forward (in the opposite direction to one direction), and between the rear surface of the return cam 31 and the rear portion 6c of the bracket 6. Is attached to. As a result, the steering wheel 1 is rotated from the state shown in FIG.
When the return cam 31 is moved rearward, the return spring 4 contracts. As a result, the urging force of the return spring 4 acts on the return cam 31, and the urging force increases as the return cam 31 moves.

Further, when the rotational force of the steering wheel 1 is released, the return spring 4 extends and its urging force acts in front of the return cam 31. As a result, as shown in FIG. Join roller 32. This horizontal force H is decomposed into a vertical component force H1 and a slope component force H2. That is, the vertical component force H1 causes the roller 32
Is pushed upward, and the roller 32 rotates around the axis L. Further, since the slope component force H2 is directly applied to the roller 32, the roller 32 rotates in the arrow direction of FIG. As a result, when the steering wheel 1 is released, the roller 32 of the cam means 3 smoothly rotates in the reverse direction.

In FIG. 2, the oil damper 5 is a shock absorber for biasing the return cam 31 rearward against the return spring 4. The cylinder part 51 of the oil damper 5 is fixed to the bracket 6, and the tip of the plunger part 52 protruding from the cylinder part 51 is in contact with the lower part of the front surface of the return cam 31. The oil damper 5 is a hydraulic shock absorber and resists the hydraulic pressure in the cylinder portion 51 when the return cam 31 moves forward.
The biasing force of the hydraulic pressure is set to be weaker than the biasing force of the return spring 4. As a result, when the return cam 31 moves forward, the plunger portion 52 of the oil damper 5 retracts into the cylinder portion 51, and the hydraulic pressure thereof resists the urging force of the return spring 4. Then, as the return cam 31 moves, the biasing force of the oil damper 5 increases.

Here, the initial setting of the steering wheel 1 will be described. The state shown in FIG. 2 is the initial setting state. That is, when the return spring 4 extends to the maximum extent (that is, the plunger portion 52 of the oil damper 5 is most retracted into the cylinder portion 51) and the roller 32 facing upward is in contact with the inclined surface 31a, It is in the initial setting state.

It is the stopper 10 that is mounted substantially directly below the steering shaft 2 that regulates the range of steering rotation from this initial setting state. More specifically, a hole 31c is formed in the lower portion of the return cam 31, and the stopper 10 is fixed to the front and rear portions 6b and 6c of the bracket 6 while being inserted into the hole 31c. The distance between the shaft center of the stopper 10 and the shaft center L of the steering shaft 2 is the short axis 32a of the roller 32.
Is set shorter than the length of. As a result, when the steering wheel 1 is rotated about 170 degrees in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 from the initial setting state, the roller 32 contacts the stopper 10 and the steering wheel 1 cannot be rotated any further.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
When the steering wheel 1 is rotated from the initial setting state shown in FIG. 2, the return cam 31 is rotated by the rotation of the steering shaft 2 and the roller 32 of the cam means 3 so that the return cam 31 has an axis L.
Move backwards along. With this movement, the return spring 4 contracts, and the urging force of the return cam 31 with respect to the return cam 31 gradually increases.
This urging force is transmitted to the steering wheel 1 and the steering wheel 1
It gradually becomes heavier and the steering operator feels the steering pressure of the actual vehicle.

When the steering wheel 1 is rotated about 170 degrees from the initial setting state, as shown in FIG.
The roller 32 hits the stopper 10 and the steering wheel 1 does not rotate any more. When the rotational force applied to the steering wheel 1 is released in this state, the return cam 31 is returned to the front by the urging force of the return spring 4, the roller 32 of the cam means 3 rotates in the reverse direction, and the steering wheel 1 rotates in the reverse direction. Come to do. At this time, since the biasing force of the oil damper 5 gradually increases as the return cam 31 moves, the rotation of the steering wheel 1 gradually slows,
Stop at the position in the above initial setting state. That is, when the hand is released from the steering wheel 1, the steering wheel 1 returns like the steering wheel of an actual vehicle, so that the operating vehicle can obtain the steering feeling of the actual vehicle.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the combination of the cam means 3 including the return cam 31 and the roller 32, the return spring 4, and the oil damper 5 makes it possible to realize the steering pressure feeling and steering of the actual vehicle. Since the structure is provided to give a feeling, the device can be manufactured at low cost. Moreover, since the structure of the device is simple, it is unlikely that a failure or the like will occur during its operation, and the operation reliability is excellent. Further, the simplification of the structure facilitates the assembly and maintenance of the device. Further, the device can be downsized, and the device can be attached to the cabinet without being restricted by the design of the cabinet.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and changes are possible, which are also included in the present invention. For example, in the present embodiment, the return spring 4 is used as the first urging means and the oil damper 5 is used as the second urging means. Instead of these, a hydraulic damper, a pneumatic damper, and an elastic damper are used. Any body (spring, spring, rubber, etc.) may be used.

[0023]

As described in detail above, according to the steering device of the game machine according to the invention of claim 1, the steering pressure feeling of the actual vehicle and the steering pressure feeling of the actual vehicle can be obtained by the simple structure of the cam means and the first and second biasing means. Since the steering feeling can be obtained, the device can be simplified, and as a result, the cost can be reduced. Further, the simplification of the device structure increases the certainty of the operation, and as a result, the operational reliability can be improved. Further, due to the simplification of the structure, the assembly and maintenance of the device can be facilitated, the device can be downsized, and the design of the cabinet to which the device is attached is not restricted.

According to the steering device of the game machine of the second aspect of the present invention, the cam means can be constituted by the cam body having the inclined surface and the rotating body protruding from the steering shaft. Further, the structure of the device can be simplified, and as a result, the operational reliability can be further improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a steering device of a game machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing an initial setting state of steering.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a maximum rotation state of a steering wheel.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of backward movement of a return cam.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of forward movement of a return cam.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing a steering device of a game machine according to a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Steering 2 Steering shaft 3 Cam means 31 Return cam 31a Inclined surface 32 Roller 4 Return spring 5 Oil damper 10 Stopper

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A cam means for moving a cam body in one direction along an axis of a steering shaft in conjunction with rotation of a steering shaft, and a first means for urging the cam body in a direction opposite to the one direction. A urging means; and a second urging means for urging the cam body in the one direction with an urging force that is weaker than the urging force of the first urging means. Steering device. 2. The cam means includes a cam body having an inclined surface facing the axial center of the steering shaft, and the cam means is projectingly provided on the steering shaft and abuts on the inclined surface of the cam body to be rotatable. The steering device for a game machine according to claim 1, further comprising: a rotating body.