JPH10138870A - Steering lock device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely release lock holding by improving the degree of freedom of an arrangement position of an actuator part. SOLUTION: An actuator part 6 which is separated from an operation part is constituted of a lock member 10 which locks and unlocks a steering shaft 7, a releasing mechanism 15, a motor for actuating it, an unlock holding member 20 which is engaged with the lock member 10 and holds it in an unlock position, and a solenoid 22 for actuating it in the disengaging direction. A drive body 12 for the release mechanism 15 prevents a disengaging operation of the unlock holding member 20 in a prescribed situation and allows the disengaging operation of the unlock holding member 20 in another situation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a steering lock device in which an actuator for locking and unlocking a steering shaft is separated from an operation unit such as a key device.

[0002]

Heretofore, a steering lock device has been integrally formed as a unit with a structure in which a key portion and a lock mechanism portion of a steering shaft are mechanically linked. Describing the general structure, a cam member integrally rotating with the key rotor extends between the key rotor and the lock mechanism portion of the steering shaft to the lock mechanism portion coaxially with the key rotor. A locking lever interlocking with insertion / extraction is interposed, and when the key is turned from the “ACC” position to the “LOCK” position, the cam member operates,
On the basis of this, a lock member provided on the lock mechanism on the steering shaft side operates to be locked with the steering shaft. When the key is removed from the "LOCK" position, the locking lever is operated, and based on this, the locking member is operated and fitted into the groove of the steering shaft to lock.

[0003] Then, from the key removal state, the key is set to "LOC".
When the key member is inserted into the key rotor at the "K" position and the key is rotated to the operation position ("ACC", "ON", "START" position), the cam member operates to move the lock member to the release position. It is.

However, in the above-described configuration, the key portion and the lock mechanism portion of the steering shaft are unitized so as to be mechanically interlocked.
When the key portion is provided on the instrument panel of the driver's seat, the lock mechanism portion is located in front of the driver's knee, which may limit the strength and installation position of the lock mechanism portion.

[0005] As a countermeasure, an operation unit such as a key device,
The actuator is separated from the actuator such as the lock mechanism, and the lock member of the lock mechanism is moved to the lock position by the spring member, and the key is inserted and rotated to the “ACC” position (when the lock is released. For example, it has been considered that the lock member is moved to a lock release position by detecting this by, for example, a detection unit or the like, and driving a drive unit such as a motor based on the detection signal.

By the way, it is necessary to provide a means for maintaining the unlocked state so that the lock operation is not performed carelessly from the unlocked state by the lock member. Conventionally, the key portion and the lock mechanism portion of the steering shaft are provided. Because of the mechanically interlocked configuration, the unlocked state of the lock member is held by the cam member as long as the key rotor is at the predetermined rotational position.

In this case, in the above-described configuration in which the operation unit such as the key device and the actuator unit such as the lock mechanism are separated from each other, since there is no cam member, the actuator unit is newly placed in the unlocked state. It is necessary to provide a means for holding As a countermeasure, for example, an unlocking holding member is attached to a plunger of a solenoid which is an electric driving means, an electric signal is generated based on the operation of the operation unit, and the solenoid is driven by the electric signal, thereby unlocking. It has been considered that the unlocking state of the lock member is held by the holding member. However, in the case of such a configuration in which the lock release holding member is operated by an electric driving unit such as a solenoid, a malfunction due to an electric trouble may be caused.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to separate an operation section such as a key device and an actuator section from each other to increase the degree of freedom in the arrangement position of the actuator section. Moreover, in order to provide a steering lock device that can be unlocked and held by an unlocking holding member without being affected by an electrical trouble, while the unlocking holding member is operated by an electric driving unit. is there.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises an operation unit such as a key device, and an actuator unit which is separated from the operation unit and locks and unlocks a steering shaft in connection with operation of the operation unit. The actuator portion is provided so as to be movable between a position for locking the steering shaft and a position for unlocking the steering shaft, and is always urged in the lock position direction by a lock spring member, and A lock member having an engaging portion, a release mechanism for moving the lock member to the unlock position, an electrical release device for driving the release mechanism, and the lock member reaching the unlock position. A lock for holding the lock member in the unlocked position by engaging the unlocking / holding engaging portion by the spring force of the release / holding spring member. A release / retention member, a release electrical driving unit controlled based on the operation of the operation unit to operate the release / release release member in the release direction, and when the lock member is to be placed in the release / release state. And an engagement release control member that prevents the release operation of the lock release holding member and allows the release operation of the lock release holding member when the lock member is to be locked. However, it has features.

In the above configuration, since the operation section such as the key device and the actuator section are separated from each other, the degree of freedom of the arrangement position of the actuator section is increased. They can also be placed, increasing the effective space. Moreover, the engagement release control member prevents the lock release holding member from releasing the engagement in a situation where the lock member is to be in the unlock release holding state, and the lock release holding member in the situation where the lock member is to be locked. Since the disengagement operation of the member is allowed, even if the electric device for holding release operates due to, for example, an electrical trouble when the lock member is to be in the unlocked holding state, the lock release holding member is engaged. It is possible to prevent the lock release holding state from being released carelessly without performing the lock release operation.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, in FIG. 4, the key device 1 is incorporated in an instrument panel of an automobile, which has a key rotor 3 provided in a key case 2, and a key insertion hole 4 is formed in the key rotor 3. . The key rotor 3 is inserted into the key insertion hole 4 at the “LOCK” position.
The key can be inserted and removed from the "LOCK" position, and "ACC", "ON", "STAR"
T "to each operating position in order.
In these operating positions, the key cannot be removed. The key device 1 includes key insertion / removal detection means 5a (see FIG. 9) for detecting key insertion and removal, and key code reading for reading and collating an electric key code built in the key. A collation device 5b (see FIG. 3) and a key rotation position detecting means 5c for detecting a key rotation position;

The key insertion / removal detection means 5a outputs a key insertion detection signal Kin when a key is inserted, and outputs a key removal detection signal Kout when the key is removed. Circuit 24. The key code reading / verifying device 5b determines whether or not the key is a regular key, and outputs a regular key discrimination signal K when the key is a regular key, and outputs an irregular key discrimination signal NG when the key is not a regular key. When the inserted key is rotated from the “LOCK” position to the “ACC” position or later, the key rotation position detection unit 5c outputs an “ACC” position detection signal Kacc, and outputs the “ACC” position from the “ACC” position. LO
When rotated to the “CK” position, the “LOCK” position detection signal K
Output lock. The key device 1, the key insertion / removal detection means 5a, the key code reading / collating device 5
The operation unit 5 includes the key rotation position detection means 5c and the like.

On the other hand, FIGS. 1 to 3 show an actuator section 6, which is provided at an appropriate position near the steering shaft 7 separately from the operation section 5. The actuator unit 6 will be described. A bracket 8 is provided around the outer periphery of the steering shaft 7, and a guide member 9 of the bracket 8 has a substantially prismatic lock member 10 arranged so as to be movable up and down in FIG. This lock member 10
The lower end 10e engages with the lock groove 7a of the steering shaft 7 to perform steering lock, and moves between the above-mentioned engaged position, that is, the locked position, and the position at which this engagement is released, that is, the unlocked position. Is done.

The lock member 10 is always urged to the lock position by a first spring member 11 formed of, for example, a compression coil spring, which is a lock spring member provided on the upper end side. . The lock member 10 is formed with a stopper hole 10a which is opened in the lateral direction in FIG. 1, and further, as shown in FIG. 3, a side surface 10b is formed with a holding groove 10c which is a lock release holding engagement portion. Above it, a notch 10d is formed.

A driving body 12 is provided at a position substantially opposite to the stopper hole 10a so as to be movable in a direction of arrow A (a direction approaching the stopper hole 10a) and a direction opposite thereto, and a rack 12a is provided on the lower surface thereof. Are formed.
The drive body 12 is provided with a lock stopper 13 operable in the direction of arrow A in a form in which it is connected to a second spring member 14 formed of a compression coil spring. In this case, the operation of the lock stopper 13 in the direction opposite to the arrow A is performed when the driving body 12 moves in the direction opposite to the arrow A.
2a (see FIG. 2) is the engaged portion 13 of the lock stopper 13.
This is performed by engaging with a.

In the lock stopper 13, a cam surface 13 b having an inclined surface is formed on the left side of FIG. 1, and its tip is always inserted into a stopper hole 10 a of the lock member 10. In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, the side surface 12b of the driving body 12 is a flat surface substantially flush with the side surface 10b of the lock member 10, and an inclined surface 12c that rises and slopes with respect to the side surface 12b. And a flatter surface 12d, which is one step higher, is continuous.

Here, the second spring member 14 is connected to the first spring member 14.
Is stronger than the spring force of the spring member 11. Therefore,
When the driving body 12 moves in the direction of arrow A, the lock stopper 13 receiving the spring force of the second spring member 14 causes the lock member 10 to move in the direction of arrow B against the spring force of the first spring member 11. Move to the unlock position. The driving body 12, the lock stopper 13, and the second spring member 14 constitute a release mechanism 15, and in this case, the driving body 12 also serves as an engagement release control member. The guide portion 9 has a cam surface 13 b of the lock stopper 13.
An escape portion 9a for escaping the front end portion is formed.

The bracket 8 is provided with a motor 16 composed of, for example, a pulse motor as a release electric drive means, and a worm gear 16a is attached to a rotating shaft of the motor 16. And this worm gear 1
A worm wheel 17 is provided so as to mesh with the rack 6a, and a pinion 18 meshing with the rack 12a is attached to an end of the shaft 17a. A gear mechanism 19 is configured by these components. When the motor 16 is rotated forward, for example, the driving mechanism 12 is driven through the gear mechanism 19.
Moves in the direction of arrow A, and when rotated in the reverse direction, the driving body 12 moves in the opposite direction.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, a side surface 10b of the lock member 10 where the holding groove 10c exists,
A lock release holding member 20 is provided so as to straddle the side surface 12 b of the driving body 12. The unlocking holding member 20 is rotatably held by a shaft holding portion 8b having a central U-shaped groove. On the one end 20a side of the lock release holding member 20, a third spring member 21 made of, for example, a compression coil spring, which is a release holding spring member for urging this portion toward the side surface 10b, is provided. When the driving body 12 is moved in the direction of the arrow A from the state shown in FIG.
Are relatively slid from the side surface 12b of the driving body 12 to the flat surface 12d via the inclined surface 12c. 2 and FIG.
When the lock member 10 moves in the direction of the arrow B from the state shown in FIG.
Will be engaged.

On the other end 20b side of the lock release holding member 20, there is provided a solenoid 22, which is an electric drive unit for holding release for pressing this portion toward the side surface 12b, and a plunger 22a is provided. The lock release holding member 20 faces the other end 20b. Further, an actuator 23a is provided in the notch 10d of the lock member 10.
Is provided with an unlock detection switch 23 composed of a limit switch as an unlock detection means. Now, in the state of FIG. 3, the lock release detection switch 23 is in the off state, and is turned on when the lock member 10 moves in the direction of arrow B. A lock release detection signal Lout (see FIG. 9) is output when the signal changes to ON, and a lock detection signal Lon is output when the signal changes to OFF.

The lock control circuit 24 serving as a lock control means includes the above-described key insertion detection signal Kin, key removal detection signal Kout, regular key discrimination signal K, "AC
C ”position detection signal Kacc,“ LOCK ”position detection signal Klock, the above-described unlock detection signal Lout, lock detection signal Lon, and the like.
The motor 16 and the solenoid 22 are controlled according to these signals. In addition, an indicator 25 for displaying the steering wheel torque, if any, is provided on an unillustrated instrument panel, and this indicator 25 is also controlled by the lock control circuit 24.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. Each figure (a) is a plan view of a main part, and each figure (b) is a front view of the main part corresponding to each state (a). First, FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 show states of respective units corresponding to a situation where a key is not inserted. That is, the lock member 10 is at the lock position where the lower end portion 10e is fitted and engaged with the lock groove 7a of the steering shaft 7.

In this state, when a key is inserted, a key insertion detection signal Kin is supplied to the lock control circuit 24. If the key is a valid key, a valid key discrimination signal K is supplied.
When the key is rotated after “ACC”, “A” is displayed.
The "CC" position detection signal Kacc is supplied to the lock control circuit 24. When these signals are given, the lock control circuit 24 applies a predetermined number of pulses to the motor 16 to rotate the motor 16 forward. Thus, the pinion 18 is rotated in the direction of arrow C, and the driving body 12 is moved in the direction of arrow A. Due to the movement of the driving body 12, the lock stopper 13 also moves in the same direction via the second spring member 14, and the cam surface 13
As a result, the lock member 10 is pushed up in the direction of arrow B against the spring force of the first spring member 11, whereby the lower end 10e comes out of the lock groove 7a of the steering shaft 7 and the lock member 10 Reaches the unlock position (see FIG. 5).

As the lock member 10 moves in the direction of arrow B, the holding groove 10c and the notch 10
d moves. As a result, one end 20a of the lock release holding member 20 is fitted into and engaged with the holding groove 10c by the spring force of the third spring member 21, the lock member 10 is held at the lock release position, and the other end 20b is driven. Slope 1 of body 12
Through 2c, it reaches the flat surface 12d. At the same time, the actuator 23a of the unlock detection switch 23 is
From 0d to the side surface 10d, it turns on and outputs an L lock release detection signal Lout. That is, when the lock member 10 is normally unlocked, the lock release detection signal Lout is output after a certain period of time since the motor 16 is driven (the key is inserted).

The lock control circuit 24 starts time counting after the input of the "ACC" position detection signal Kacc, and within a predetermined time, the lock release detection signal Lo.
When ut is given, it is determined that the lock member 10 has been normally unlocked (there is no generation of the steering wheel torque).

After that, in order to remove the key,
When the turning operation is performed from the “ACC” position to the “LOCK” position, a “LOCK” position detection signal Klock is given to the lock control circuit 24. Then, the lock control circuit 24
The motor 16 is rotated in the reverse direction from the state shown in FIG. Thereby, the driving body 12 is moved in the direction opposite to the arrow A, and accordingly the lock stopper 13 also operates in the same direction, and most of the lock member 10 is pulled out of the stopper hole 10a. This state is shown in FIG. However, in this case, the one end portion 20a of the lock release holding member 20 is still fitted and engaged with the holding groove 10c, so that the lock member 10 is still held at the lock release position. Also, the flat surface 12d of the driving body 12
Retreats with respect to the other end 20b of the lock release holding member 20, and the side surface 12b is separated. That is, the rotation operation in the direction of arrow D, which is the operation of releasing the lock release holding member 20, is allowed.

When the key is removed at the "LOCK" position, the key removal detection signal Kout is output to the lock control circuit 2.
4 given. Then, the lock control circuit 24 drives the solenoid 22 from FIG. 6 to make the plunger 22a protrude. In this case, the lock release holding member 20 is indicated by an arrow D
In the direction of the arrow D, the other end portion 20a of the lock release holding member 20 is pressed and the arrow D
In one direction, the one end portion 20a is pulled out of the holding groove 10c and disengaged, whereby the lock member 10 is moved to the first position.
The locking force is reached by the spring force of the spring member 11 to engage with the lock groove 7a of the steering shaft 7 and lock it (see FIG. 7). At the same time, the actuator 23a of the microswitch 23 enters the notch 10d and turns off. That is, the lock detection signal Lon is output and given to the lock control circuit 24. Then, the lock control circuit 24 returns to the initial state.

A case where a handle torque is generated in the lock member 10 when the key is inserted at the “LOCK” position and the key is turned to the “ACC” position will be described. 1 to 3, the key is inserted and the key insertion detection signal Kin and the regular key discrimination signal K are given to the lock control circuit 24.
"C" is rotated and the "ACC" position detection signal Ka
When cc is given to the lock control circuit 24, the lock control circuit 24 applies a predetermined number of pulses to the motor 16 to rotate it forward. Thus, the pinion 18 is rotated in the direction of arrow C, and the driving body 12 is moved in the direction of arrow A.
At this time, since the handle torque is acting on the lock member 10, the lock stopper 13 cannot operate, and only the driving body 12 resists the spring force of the second spring member 14 as shown in FIG. Moving. At this time, the spring force of the second spring member 14 is stored.

Thus, the lock control circuit 24 determines that "AC
C "The time count is started after the position detection signal Kacc is input, and if the lock release detection signal Lout is not given from the lock release detection switch 23 within a predetermined time, the steering wheel torque acts on the lock member 10. Is determined to be present, and the display 25 displays "handle torque release". Thereafter, when the driver appropriately moves the steering wheel to release the steering wheel torque, the lock member 10 is in a movable state. Therefore, the lock stopper 13 receiving the accumulated spring force of the second spring member 14 is moved by an arrow. By operating in the direction A, the lock member 10 is pushed up against the spring force of the first spring member 11 and moved to the lock release position.

When the solenoid 22 is turned on due to an electrical trouble such as a short circuit or a switch failure in the state shown in FIG. 5, that is, when the lock member 10 is to be in the unlocked and held state, the plunger 22a is locked. The other end portion 20b of the release holding member 20 is pressed,
In the state shown in FIG. 5, since the other end portion 20b is in contact with the flat surface 12d of the driving body 12, the lock release holding member 20 is in the state in which the engagement release operation, that is, the rotation in the direction of arrow D is prevented. After all, this lock release holding member 2
The one end 20a of the “0” does not fall out of the holding groove 10c, and the lock release is maintained.

According to the above-described embodiment, since the operation section 5 such as a key device and the actuator section 6 are separated, the degree of freedom of the arrangement position of the actuator section 6 is increased. 6 can be disposed at the foot of the driver's seat, and the strength of the actuator 6 can be increased.

Further, according to the present embodiment, when the lock member 10 is to be in the unlocked holding state by the driving body 12 which also serves as the engagement releasing control member, the unlocking operation of the unlocking holding member 20 is performed. In the situation where the lock member 10 is to be locked and the lock member 10 is to be locked, the engagement release operation of the lock release holding member 20 is allowed. When the solenoid 22 is turned on, the lock release holding member 20 can be operated in the disengagement direction without any trouble. Even when the solenoid 22 operates due to, for example, an electrical trouble when the lock member 10 is to be in the unlocked holding state, the unlocking holding member 20 does not perform the engagement releasing operation, and the lock holding state is inadvertent. Can be eliminated.

[0033]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the operation unit such as the key device and the actuator unit are separated,
The degree of freedom in the position of the actuator unit can be increased. For example, this actuator unit can be arranged at the foot of the driver's seat, which increases the effective space. In addition, when the lock release holding member is unlocked and held, the lock release holding member can be reliably held without being affected by an electrical trouble, while the lock release holding member is operated by the holding release electric drive unit.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional front view of an actuator section viewed from an axial direction of a steering shaft according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional plan view of an actuator unit.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional side view of an actuator unit.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a part of an operation unit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an operation;

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an operation;

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the operation;

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the operation;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an electrical configuration.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 is a key device, 2 is a key case, 3 is a key rotor, 5 is an operation section, 6 is an actuator section, 7 is a steering shaft, 10 is a lock member, 10c is a holding groove (lock release holding engagement section), and 11 is A first spring member (locking spring member), 12 is a driving body (engagement release control member), 13 is a lock stopper, 14 is a second spring member, 15 is a release mechanism, and 16 is a motor (electrical release device). Drive means), 19 is a gear mechanism, 20 is a lock release holding member, 21 is a third spring member (release hold spring member), 22 is a solenoid (hold release electrical drive means), and 23 is a lock release detection switch. , 24 indicate a lock control circuit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An operation unit such as a key device, and an actuator unit which is separated from the operation unit and locks and unlocks a steering shaft in association with operation of the operation unit, wherein the actuator unit includes a steering shaft Is provided so as to be movable between a lock position and a lock release position, and is always urged in the lock position direction by a lock spring member,
A lock member formed with a lock release holding engagement portion, a release mechanism for moving the lock member to a lock release position, an electrical release unit for driving the release mechanism, and the lock member releasing the lock A lock release holding member that engages with the lock release holding engagement portion by the spring force of the release holding spring member when it reaches the position to hold the lock member in the lock release position; An electrical drive unit for releasing the lock release holding member in the release direction by controlling the lock release holding member based on the operation of the lock release holding member. And a disengagement control member that permits the disengagement operation of the lock release holding member when the lock member is to be locked. Steering lock device that.