JPH11342036A - Ratchet type driving mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the operability of a ratchet type driving mechanism. SOLUTION: A ratchet pawl 14 in a forked shape provided with a pair of pawl piece 14-u for up and the pawl piece 14-d for down is supported by a ratchet base 54 so as to engage one of the pawl pieces to a ratchet gear 16 under turning from a disengagement position and the connection end 14a of the ratchet pawl is connected to a driving lever 12 so as to be linked. Then, the driving lever 16 and the ratchet base 54 are respectively shifted and held at a neutral position under the shift force of corresponding return springs 68 and 66.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to transmitting only rotational force of a drive lever in an arbitrary direction from a ratchet pawl to a ratchet gear, and outputting a rotational force in a corresponding direction from an output end of the ratchet gear. It is applicable to various seating posture control devices with a large load on the movable body, such as a ratchet type drive mechanism that enables the movable body to move in the corresponding direction, particularly a drive mechanism such as a seat lifter that raises and lowers the seat in parallel. It relates to a ratchet drive mechanism.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a seat lifter that can secure the height of a seat according to the body shape and preference of a seated person and the height of a viewpoint suitable for driving, etc., under arbitrary adjustment, It is mounted on a seat of an automobile or the like as a seating posture control device.

[0003] The seat lifter has, for example, front and rear lifter links for supporting the seat so as to be able to move up and down. A drive mechanism using a drive handle or the like as a drive member is operatively connected to front and rear lifter links via a brake means, a reduction gear mechanism, and the like, so that each link is synchronized with a rotation operation of the drive member. This type of seat lifter is configured so that the seat can be raised and lowered under rotation.

[0004] However, in the seat lifter, the seat on which the seated person is seated is the object to be moved by the drive mechanism, and the load is large. Therefore, the handle operation for lifting and lowering the seat is heavy and not easy.

Therefore, a so-called ratchet type driving mechanism, which uses a driving member as a driving lever and can output only a rotational force due to rotation of the driving lever in one direction arbitrarily selected, is used as a driving mechanism for a seat lifter or the like. Provided. This type of ratchet-type drive mechanism is configured to be able to transmit only the rotational force of the drive lever in any one direction from the ratchet pawl to the ratchet gear, and to output the rotational force in the corresponding direction from the output end of the ratchet gear. By
A movable body such as a seat can be moved in a corresponding direction.

According to such a ratchet type driving mechanism, since the driving member is a driving lever, the operating force is reduced by the principle of leverage. Then, under the reciprocating drive (reciprocating rotation) of the drive lever, a rotational force in any one direction can be output, that is, the lifting and lowering of the sheet can be obtained under the reciprocal drive of the drive lever. Therefore, the driving operation can be simplified.

[0007]

Here, in the known ratchet type driving mechanism, the rotation direction of the ratchet gear, that is, the output rotation direction is generally switched by a dedicated lever, button, or the like. A lever, a button, and the like for switching the output rotation direction are usually arranged at a position adjacent to the drive lever. However, in a seat lifter of an automobile or the like, a drive mechanism is often arranged in a relatively narrow space such as a door side or a wall side, and an operation of a switching lever or a button is performed. Therefore, it is inevitable that the operability of a known ratchet drive mechanism provided in a seating posture control device such as a seat lifter is reduced.

Since the switching operation is performed by groping without visual observation, it is conceivable that the output rotation direction of the ratchet gear may be erroneously selected. In this case, the driving operation is actually noticed only when the driving lever is actually operated, and after the driving lever has been noticed, the driving lever has to be selected again by using a button or the like, so that the driving operation tends to be complicated. Therefore, also in this respect, a decrease in the operability of the drive mechanism is inevitable.

An object of the present invention is to provide a ratchet type driving mechanism for improving operability.

[0010]

According to the present invention, a drive lever and a ratchet base are concentrically connected to a rotatable external gear-shaped ratchet gear by a predetermined base member. Above, it is arranged and supported rotatably within a predetermined range. A bifurcated ratchet claw having a pair of up claw pieces and a down claw piece can be engaged with one of the claw pieces with the ratchet gear under rotation from the non-meshed position. , And is rotatably supported by the ratchet base, and the connection end of the ratchet pawl is connected to the drive lever via a predetermined connection pin so as to be interlocked therewith.

The drive lever and the ratchet base are respectively biased and held at a neutral position defined at an intermediate position of the rotation range under the biasing force of the corresponding return spring, and the drive lever is moved from the neutral position. Under the rotation of the ratchet claw with respect to the ratchet base, interlocked with the rotation operation of the ratchet claw, the side claw piece corresponding to this rotation direction is selectively meshed with the ratchet gear, and the ratchet claw and the ratchet base are provided. Under the subsequent rotation of the drive lever, the ratchet gear can be integrally rotated in the same direction by a corresponding amount.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ratchet type driving mechanism 10 according to the present invention includes a driving lever 12 which can rotate within a specific range. This ratchet-type drive mechanism transmits only rotational force of the drive lever 12 in any one direction from the ratchet claw 14 to the ratchet gear 16 and outputs a rotational force in a corresponding direction from the output end 18 of the ratchet gear. 10 are composed.

This type of ratchet type driving mechanism 10 is provided as a driving mechanism for a seating posture control device that applies a relatively large load to a movable body, for example, a seat lifter that uses the seat itself as a movable body. In addition, this ratchet type drive mechanism
The output end 18 of the seat 10 is formed, for example, as a serration bearing provided inside the boss 16a of the ratchet gear 16, and when the corresponding serration shaft (not shown) is fitted into the serration bearing, the seating posture control is performed. It is operatively connected to a device, for example, a drive unit of a seat lifter.

Here, an outline of a seat lifter provided with the ratchet type driving mechanism 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the seat lifter 20 is, for example, a slide rail (also referred to as an upper rail) of a seat slide device 22.
Front and rear lifter links pivoted at 24 points
26, 27, the link upper piece 26a of each lifter link,
27a are pivotally connected to a pair of left and right seat mount brackets 34 to which the seat cushion 30 and the seat back 32 are attached, respectively, and the link lower pieces 26b,
27b are connected via a connecting bar 36 so as to be synchronously rotatable.

For example, the upper portion 27a of the rear lifter link is formed as a sector gear, and the rotation from the brake device 38 for regulating the transmission of the load in the seat descending direction and the ratchet gear 16 (see FIG. 1) is reduced. The ratchet type drive mechanism 10 is
Is connected to the upper lifter link upper piece 27a in an interlockable manner.

In this configuration, the brake device
The drive shaft 42 of 38 is formed as a serration shaft corresponding to the ratchet gear output end 18, and the rotation of the ratchet gear 16, under engagement and meshing with each other, moves from the rear lifter link 27 to the front lifter link. 26 can be transmitted.

In the seat lifter 20 having this configuration,
The seat cushion 30, the seat back 32, that is, the seat 44, which is connected and fixed to the seat mount bracket 34,
It is supported to be able to move up and down via front and rear lifter links 26 and 27. Then, the rotation of the ratchet gear 16 caused by the rotation operation of the drive lever 12 of the ratchet type drive mechanism is transmitted to the front and rear lifter links 26 and 27 via the brake device 38 and the reduction gear mechanism 40, and each of the lifters The seat lifter 20 is configured to lift and lower the seat 44 under the synchronized rotation of the link.

By the way, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ratchet type driving mechanism 10 of the present invention is configured in a unit form using a base member 46 as a base.

The base member 46 is formed of, for example, a pair of an inner plate 48 and an outer plate 50 which are opposed to each other with a specific gap therebetween, and is inserted under a center pin 52 projecting from the outer plate. , Ratchet base 54 and lever base that is the main body of drive lever 12
12-1 is rotatably supported between these plates. Then, with the center pin 52 inserted and the boss 16a loosely inserted into the insertion hole 56 of the inner plate 48, the ratchet gear 16 moves the inner plate and the ratchet base 54.
It is supported rotatably between and.

That is, in this configuration, the ratchet base 54, the lever base 12-1, and the ratchet gear 16
Are respectively arranged on concentric axes.

The drive lever 12 is formed by covering and fixing the cover 12-2 from the side of the outer plate 50 to the lever base 12-1 supported by the center pin 52 of the outer plate.

The lever base 12-1 has a center pin
It is formed integrally with a pair of stopper pieces 58 at a separated position movable around 52. Then, the lever base is engaged with a corresponding engaging piece of the base member 46, for example, a later-described locking piece 60 provided on the outer plate 50.
12-1, that is, the rotation range of the drive lever 12 is defined. The rotation range of the drive lever 12 is, for example, 60
° degree can be exemplified.

In the present invention, the bifurcated ratchet pawl 14 having a pair of up pawls 14-u and down pawls 14-d is pivotally moved from an unengaged position. Support pin 62 so that the claw piece can be meshed with the ratchet gear 16.
As a result, the ratchet base 54 is rotatably supported by the ratchet base 54 at the circumferential side position, and the connection end 14a of the ratchet pawl is formed.
Are connected to the drive lever 12 via a connecting pin 64 protruding from the lever base 12-1.

Further, in the present invention, the driving lever 1
The ratchet base 54 and the ratchet base 54 can be biased and held at a neutral position defined at an intermediate position of the rotation range under the biasing force of the corresponding return springs 66 and 68, respectively. As the neutral position, for example, a position approximately 45 ° from the horizontal position can be exemplified.Clockwise and counterclockwise from this neutral position can be rotated at substantially the same angle, that is, approximately 30 °. The ratchet base 54 is configured.

For example, a ratchet base 54 is formed with a partial arc-shaped wall 70 at its peripheral end, and two tension coil springs 66-u, 66-d having the same tension are used for the ratchet base. As a return spring 66, a ratchet base can be biased in opposite directions, and a locking piece 70a of an arc-shaped wall end,
Under the locking of each terminal to a predetermined locking piece of the base member 46, for example, a locking piece 60 of the outer plate, the base member 46 is disposed along the arc-shaped wall.

The drive lever return spring 68 is substantially
It is formed as an S-shaped spring lever, so that bias to the neutral position and holding force can be applied to the drive lever 12.
On the opposite side of the ratchet base 54 from the adjacently disposed side, for example, the center pin 52 and the engagement pin 64
Utilizing the respective base portions 52a and 64a, it is installed between the outer plate 50 and the drive lever.

In the case where the ratchet type drive mechanism 10 is provided in the seat lifter 20 shown in FIG. 3, the clockwise direction in the figure is the up direction of the seat 44 by the drive lever 12, and the counterclockwise direction is the down direction. The lifting of the seat can be ensured under the rotation of the ratchet gear 16 accompanying the rotation of the drive lever in the direction of rotation (see FIG. 1).

In the neutral position of the drive lever 12 shown in FIG.
(66-u, 66-d), the ratchet gear 14 is held at the same neutral position under the biasing force, and the ratchet gear 16 is attached to the ratchet gear 16 by the up claw piece 14-u and the down claw piece 14-d. Are held at a non-meshing position where they do not mesh.

In this state, when the drive lever 12 is turned in the upward direction, that is, clockwise, against the biasing force of the return spring 68, the rotation of the drive lever first causes
The ratchet pawl 14 rotates prior to the ratchet base 54, and as shown in FIG.
-u is meshed with the corresponding portion of the ratchet gear 16. In the meshing state of the up claw piece 14-u with the ratchet gear 16, the subsequent rotation of the ratchet claw 14 in the up direction (clockwise) with respect to the ratchet base 54 is prevented. Is continuously rotated in the up direction, the ratchet base and the ratchet gear 16 are moved by a corresponding amount in the same direction as the drive lever, that is, in the up direction, while maintaining the meshing state of the up claw pieces. It is rotated integrally (see FIG. 5).

As described above, when the ratchet gear 16 is rotated in the corresponding direction under the turning operation of the drive lever 12, the corresponding rotation amount is increased by the brake device 38 and the reduction gear mechanism 40.
The seat 44 is lifted by a corresponding amount under the rotation of the rear lifter link with the front lifter link 26 via the rear lifter link 27 (see FIG. 3).

Thereafter, when the operation force of the drive lever is released when the drive lever 12 reaches the rotation regulation position, that is, the engagement position between the stopper piece 58 of the lever base and the locking piece 60 of the outer plate, the drive lever is released. The lever is biased and held in the neutral position under the biasing force of the return spring 68 and the biasing force of the tension coil spring 66-d on the corresponding side where the ratchet base 54 forms the return spring (FIG. 1). In addition, the drive lever to this neutral position
12, when the ratchet base 54 returns, the ratchet claw 14 rotates in the counterclockwise direction in the drawing, that is, in the direction in which the up claw piece 14-u separates from the ratchet gear 16 with these rotations. The ratchet gear does not rotate when returning to the neutral position.

When the drive lever 12 is turned again from the neutral position shown in FIG. 1 in the upward direction, the ratchet gear 16 is rotated in the same direction by a corresponding amount in the same manner as described above. Rear lifter link 2
The seat 44 is raised under the rotation of 6, 27.

When the seat 44 is lowered, the operation reverse to the above-mentioned operation, that is, the operation of rotating the drive lever 12 in the down direction (counterclockwise) is performed, and the ratchet pawl piece 14 for down is used. If the drive lever is further rotated in the same down direction after -d is engaged with the ratchet gear 16, the lowering of the seat 44 can be ensured under the rotation of the ratchet gear integrated with this drive lever.

After the drive lever 12 is turned in the down direction, the drive lever is under the biasing force of the return spring 68, and the ratchet base 54 is moved by the return spring 66.
Under the biasing force of the tension coil spring 66-u.

As described above, in the ratchet type driving mechanism 10 of the present invention, the rotation direction of the ratchet gear 16 is selected according to the turning operation of the driving lever 12. Then, the rotation of the ratchet gear in the same direction can be obtained under the continuous rotation operation of the drive lever 12, so that the rotation direction of the output can be selected under the rotation operation of the single drive lever,
And its rotation output is obtained continuously.

That is, according to the present invention, the drive lever 12
By rotating the seat 44 in a direction corresponding to the elevation and the descent of the seat 44, the driving can be obtained. Therefore, it is not necessary to switch the rotation output direction using a dedicated lever, button, or the like, as is well known. Therefore, the driving operation of the driving lever 12 is simplified, and the operability is improved.

Further, in addition to the necessity of switching the rotation output direction using a dedicated lever, button, or the like, the operation direction of the drive lever 12 matches the desired movement direction of the seat 44. The operability of the drive lever 12, and thus the ratchet drive mechanism 10, is improved.

By the way, the ratchet type driving mechanism 10 of the present invention is formed as a unit having the base member 46, that is, the inner plate 48 and the outer plate 50 as a base, so that it can be easily mounted. In addition to being formed as a unit, by taking out the rotation of the ratchet gear 16 from its output end 18, it can be used as the moving force of the movable body. For example, as a drive mechanism for a reclining device, a seat slide device, and the like,
The ratchet drive mechanism of the present invention may be used.

Here, in the embodiment of the present invention, two tension coil springs 66-u and 66-d are used as the return spring 66 for the ratchet base, and the return spring for the drive lever is used.
Each of the spring levers has a substantially S-shape as an example 68, but is not limited thereto. For example, the spring levers are biased to neutral positions by other spring means.
It may be possible to hold.

However, if the two tension coil springs 66-u and 66-d and the spring lever are used as the return springs 66 and 68, respectively, the ratchet type driving mechanism 10 can be increased in size and the overall structure can be improved. Appropriate biasing force can be easily provided and secured without complicating the configuration.

The output end 18 of the ratchet gear is formed as a serration bearing.
The output end may be formed as a non-circular detent shape, for example, as long as it is sufficient to transmit 16 rotational forces.

However, the output end 18 of the ratchet gear
The use of a serrated bearing makes it easy to standardize and standardize the shape of the output end, so that the versatility of the drive mechanism is further improved.

Further, in the embodiment of the present invention,
The drive lever 12 is embodied as a combination of the lever base 12-1 and the cover 12-2, but is not limited thereto.
For example, the lever base may be the drive lever itself, and the outer plate 50 may be decorated with a corresponding cover.

The embodiments of the present invention described above are intended to explain the present invention, and do not limit the present invention in any way. Modifications, alterations, and the like within the technical scope of the present invention may also be made. It goes without saying that all are included in the present invention.

[0046]

As described above, according to the ratchet type driving mechanism of the present invention, the driving can be obtained by rotating the driving lever in the direction corresponding to the moving direction of the movable body. Switching operation is unnecessary. Therefore, the driving operation of the driving lever is simplified, and the operability is improved.

In addition to the fact that the switching operation is not required, the operation direction of the drive lever coincides with the desired movement direction of the movable body. Therefore, in this respect, the operability of the drive lever and, consequently, the ratchet drive mechanism is also improved. Improve.

Further, since the ratchet type driving mechanism is formed as a unit having the base member as a base, it can be easily mounted. In addition to being formed as a unit, by taking out the rotation of the ratchet gear from its output end, this can be used as the moving force of the movable body, so that it can be easily diverted as a drive mechanism of various seating posture control devices. Available.

If the return spring for the ratchet base is two tension coil springs and the return spring for the drive lever is a substantially S-shaped spring lever,
Appropriate biasing force can be easily applied and secured without complicating the overall configuration of the ratchet drive mechanism.

Further, by forming the output end of the ratchet gear as a serration bearing, the output end shape can be easily standardized and standardized, so that the versatility as a drive mechanism is further improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a ratchet type driving mechanism according to the present invention as viewed from an inner plate side, showing a state at a neutral position.

FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a ratchet type driving mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a schematic vertical sectional view of a seat lifter.

FIG. 4 is a schematic front view similar to FIG. 1 of the ratchet type driving mechanism when an upside is selected.

FIG. 5 is a schematic front view similar to FIG. 1 of the ratchet-type driving mechanism in an upside rotation limit position;

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Ratchet-type drive mechanism 12 Drive lever 14 Ratchet claw 14-u, 14-d Up claw piece, down claw piece 16 Ratchet gear 18 Output end 46 Base member 54 Ratchet base 66 (66-u, 66-d) Ratchet Return spring for base (Tension coil spring) 68 Return spring for drive lever (Spring lever)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI F16H 31/00 F16H 31/00 A

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A rotating force of a driving lever in only one arbitrary direction is transmitted from a ratchet pawl to a ratchet gear,
In a ratchet-type drive mechanism that outputs a rotational force in a corresponding direction from an output end of a ratchet gear, a predetermined base member allows a drive lever and a ratchet base to be coaxial with a rotatable external gear-shaped ratchet gear. A bifurcated ratchet pawl, which is rotatably disposed and supported within a predetermined range and has a pair of up claw pieces and down claw pieces, is rotated by one of two pawls from an unengaged position. The piece can be meshed with the ratchet gear, and is rotatably supported by the ratchet base at a circumferential position thereof, and the connection end of the ratchet pawl is connected to the drive lever via a predetermined connection pin so as to be interlocked with the drive lever. The drive lever and the ratchet base are each moved to a neutral position defined at an intermediate position of the rotation range under the biasing force of the corresponding return spring. Under the rotation of the ratchet claw with respect to the ratchet base, which is interlocked with the rotation of the drive lever from the neutral position, the side pawl corresponding to this rotation direction is selectively applied to the ratchet gear. And ratchet claws,
A ratchet-type drive mechanism wherein the ratchet gear is integrally rotatable in the same direction by a corresponding amount under a subsequent rotation of the drive lever with the ratchet base. A base member formed of a pair of an inner plate and an outer plate disposed to face each other with a specific gap interposed therebetween, and a ratchet base, which is inserted under a center pin protruding from the outer plate, The drive lever is rotatably supported between the pair of plates, and the ratchet gear is driven by the insertion of the center pin and the loose fit of the boss with the output end into the insertion hole of the inner plate. The ratchet-type drive mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the ratchet-type drive mechanism is rotatably supported between the inner plate and the ratchet base. 3. A ratchet base is formed having a partial arc-shaped wall at its peripheral end, and two tension coil springs having the same tension are used as ratchet base return springs in opposite directions. The base is biased so as to be displaced along the arc-shaped wall under the engagement of each end with the engagement piece of the arc-shaped wall end and the predetermined engagement piece of the base member, and The drive lever return spring is formed as a substantially S-shaped spring lever, and can be biased to a neutral position and can apply a holding force to the drive lever. The ratchet-type drive mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, which is provided between the drive levers. 4. A ratchet-type drive mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the output end of the ratchet gear is formed as a serration bearing.