JPH11342849A - Steering handle for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make the operation of a steering handle and the operation of a brake operation device compatible, in a steering handle provided with a brake operation device. SOLUTION: This steering handle H provided at the front part of the driver's seat 1 of an automobile has a handle main body 4 fixed to a steering shaft which is covered by a steering cover 2, and a pair of grips 5L and 5R supported rotatable around the axial lines L and L which are extended parallel with the steering shaft at both the left end and the tight end of the handle main body 4, and a brake lever 22 is provided to the right side grip 5R. The steering handle H can be rotated 180 deg. to the left direction and the right direction respectively, and the driver can rotate the steering handle H without converting to grip the steering handle H, and without twisting his wrist, and as a result, he can operate the brake lever 22 smoothly.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle steering handle operated by a driver to steer a motor vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A brake pedal operated by a driver's foot is generally used as a brake operating device of an automobile, but a brake operating device other than a brake pedal is provided with a brake lever provided on a circular steering wheel. Has been proposed. In such a brake operating device, the braking intention of a driver who operates a brake lever provided on a steering handle is converted into an electric signal and input to a control device, and the control device drives an actuator to control a brake hydraulic pressure according to the driver's braking intention. Is caused to occur.

[0003]

However, since it is difficult to rotate the steering wheel more than 90 ° without releasing the hand from the circular steering handle, it is substantially impossible to operate the brake lever while operating the steering handle largely. It is possible. In order to avoid this, the maximum rotation angle of the steering wheel is set to 9
The angle may be limited to about 0 °. However, in this case, the steering wheel becomes too sensitive, which may adversely affect the steering performance during middle-high-speed running.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a steering wheel provided with a brake operating device, in which the operation of the steering handle and the operation of the brake operating device are compatible.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 is characterized in that the steering shaft and the steering shaft supported on the upper end of the steering shaft are rotated left and right by the steering shaft and the steering shaft. A pair of left and right grips rotatably supported about a substantially parallel axis is provided, and at least one of the grips is provided with a brake operating device.

According to the above structure, it is not necessary to forcibly twist the hand to grip the grip when operating the steering handle. Therefore, even when the steering angle is large, a smooth steering operation can be performed without changing the grip. The brake operating device can be operated without any trouble while operating the steering handle. In addition, since the maximum rotation angle of the steering handle can be sufficiently ensured, there is no possibility that the steering handle becomes too sensitive during middle and high speed traveling. Further, since the brake pedal is not required, it is possible to eliminate the mistake of depressing the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal, and to secure a wide space under the driver's foot.

The rotation axis of the grip need not be strictly parallel to the steering shaft, but may be substantially parallel.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, each of the maximum rotation angles in the left-right direction from the neutral position of the handle main body is 180 ° or less. .

According to the above configuration, the maximum steering angle can be obtained without releasing the hand from the grip and holding the grip, and while suppressing the amount of twist of the hand holding the grip.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on embodiments of the present invention shown in the accompanying drawings.

1 to 8 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle compartment equipped with a steering handle according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged view in two directions of FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2, FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4, and FIG.
7 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6, FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 in FIG.
Is an explanatory diagram of the operation.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a steering handle H provided in front of a driver's seat 1 of an automobile.
A handle body 4 fixed to a steering shaft 3 covered with a steering cover 2, and a pair of left and right ends of the handle body 4 supported rotatably around axes L, L extending parallel to the steering shaft 3. It has grips 5L and 5R. The handle body 4 has a boss 6 fixed to the steering shaft 3 and a pair of spokes 7, 7 protruding left and right from the boss 6.
At the illustrated neutral position, the front-rear dimension is smaller than the horizontal dimension. Therefore, when the steering handle H is at the neutral position, it is possible to minimize a decrease in visibility due to the meter panel 9 provided on the dashboard 8 being blocked by the handle main body 4 (see FIG. 1). The left and right grips 5L and 5R include grip arms 10L and 10R and grip bodies 11L and 11R, respectively, and are formed in a U-shape as a whole.

Next, the structure of the right grip 5R will be described with reference to FIGS.

A grip arm 1 formed in a substantially L-shape
0R includes a first member 13 and second member 14 coupled by two bolts 12, 12, the shaft portion 13 ₁ a ball bearing 15 projecting from the end portion of the first member 13,
Is rotatably supported 15 to grip support portion ₇₁ formed at the tip of the spoke portion 7 of the handle body 4 through by the axis line L, it is retained by a washer 16 and bolt 17. A substantially cylindrical grip body 11 </ b> R is connected to the other end of the first member 13 with a screw 20.

The rotatable range of the left and right grips 5L, 5R is determined by two stoppers 1 formed at the tip of the spoke portion 7.
It is regulated to about 120 ° by 8,19. For example, the right grip 5R can rotate 120 ° between a solid line position contacting the stopper 18 and a chain line position contacting the stopper 19 (see FIG. 2).

The gripping arm 10R has a recess 21, the boss portion 22 ₁ of the brake lever 22 as a brake operating member which is accommodated in the recess 21 is pivotally supported by the gripping arm 10R support shaft 23. Brake lever 22
It is urged in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 4 by a return spring 24, the stopper bolt 25 that Kaidotan is that screwed into the stopper surfaces 22 ₂ and the first member 13 of the brake lever 22
Is regulated by abutment.

[0017] To provide an operation reaction force to the brake lever 22, the pressing member 27 which is pivotally supported on the bifurcated portion 22 ₃ formed on the brake lever 22 by a pin 26, the gripping arms 10R
Elastic member 29 fixed to the inner wall of the concave portion 21 with a bolt 28
Abut. Accordingly, when the brake lever 22 is operated in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 4, the pressing member 27 compresses the elastic member 29 as shown by the chain line in FIG.

[0018] the inner wall of the recess 21 of the gripping arms 10R, mounting flange 30 ₁ of the potentiometer 30 is bolted 31 ... of three. Slit 22 the pin 33 fixed to the end of an arm 32 fixed to the rotary shaft 30 ₂ of the potentiometer 30 was formed on the brake lever 22
Engage with ₄ . Therefore, the brake lever 22 is
Rotates around the rotation shaft 3 of the potentiometer 30 together with the arm 32 being pressed pin 33 in slit 22 ₄
Since O ₂ rotates, the potentiometer 30 outputs an electric signal corresponding to the operation amount of the brake lever 22.

The left grip 5L does not include the brake lever 22 and the potentiometer 30, but the other structure is substantially the same as the above-described right grip 5R.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in (a), when the steering handle H is at the neutral position, the left and right grips 5L, 5R
Extends from the handle body 4 to the driver side to
8 and 18, the driver holds the left grip 5L with the left hand HL, and the right grip 5R with the right hand HR.
Can be held. From this state, (b) → (c) →
When the steering handle H is rotated 180 ° to the left (counterclockwise) as shown in (d) → (e), the right grip 5R does not change its positional relationship with the handle body 4 and hits the stopper 18. It is held at the position where it touches. As a result, the right hand HR is twisted leftward with the left rotation of the steering handle H, but it is relatively easy to twist the right hand HR 180 ° to the left, and the steering handle H
There is no need to change the grip until the is turned 180 ° to the left.

On the other hand, it is difficult to twist the left hand HL to the left by 180 ° with the left rotation of the steering handle H. However, when the steering wheel H rotates to the left, the left grip 5L rotates clockwise relative to the handle body 4 so as to always extend toward the driver, so that the driver hardly twists the left hand HL. The steering wheel H can be turned 180 degrees counterclockwise. The steering wheel H
Is rotated left by 120 ° to reach the position (d), the left grip 5L contacts the stopper 19, and is kept in contact with the stopper 19 until it reaches the position (e) therefrom.

When the steering wheel H is rotated clockwise, the movements of the left hand HL and the right hand HR are opposite to the case of the above-described left rotation. Therefore, although the left hand HL is twisted 180 ° to the right, there is no particular problem because the left hand HL is relatively easily twisted to the right. In addition, the right grip 5R is rotatable counterclockwise relative to the handle main body 4 so as to always face the driver, so that the driver can turn the steering handle H right 180 ° without twisting the right hand HR. Can be done.

When the maximum rotation angle of the steering handle H exceeds 180 °, the amount of twisting of the wrist increases, so that
Suitably, the maximum rotation angle is limited to 180 °.

In order to brake the vehicle, the grip body 11R is gripped by the thumb F ₁ , ring finger F ₄ and little finger F ₅ of the driver's right hand in FIG. 4, and the operating part 22 of the brake lever 22 is held by the index finger F ₂ and the middle finger F _3. Just subtract ₅ . As a result, the operation the elastic member 29 is compressed reaction force as described above occurs, the rotary shaft 30 ₂ of the potentiometer 30 outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the operation amount of the brake lever 22 rotates. The electric signal is input to a control device (not shown), and the control device drives the actuator to generate a brake hydraulic pressure according to a driver's braking intention, thereby executing braking of the vehicle.

As described above, the left and right grips 5L, 5R
Is rotatably supported with respect to the handle main body 4, so that the steering handle H can be easily rotated from the neutral position by 180 ° each on the left and right sides without holding the grips 5L, 5R with the left hand HL and the right hand HR. , Its operability is enhanced. In addition, since a sufficient steering angle of 180 ° for each of the left and right sides can be obtained, there is no possibility that the steering handle H becomes too sensitive to adversely affect the steering performance during medium-high speed running. Moreover, since there is no need to change the grip 5R with the right hand HR during operation of the steering handle H, not only the delicate and quick brake operation is possible, but also the operability of the steering handle H and the operability of the brake lever 22 are compatible. be able to. In addition, the brake pedal operated by the driver's foot can be eliminated, so that the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal can be prevented from being erroneously depressed, and a large space under the driver's foot can be secured.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, various design changes can be made in the present invention without departing from the gist thereof.

For example, in the embodiment, the brake lever 22 is provided on the right grip 5R. However, it may be provided on the left grip 5L, or the left and right grips 5R.
L and 5R may be provided respectively. Further, the brake operating member is not limited to the brake lever 22 and may be any member that can detect the driver's intention to brake. Further, in the embodiment, the left and right grips 5L and 5R are provided so as to be rotatable only in one direction from the neutral position in the left and right directions.

[0029]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is not necessary to forcibly twist the hand that holds the grip when operating the steering handle, so that the grip can be changed even when the steering angle is large. A smooth steering operation can be performed without any trouble, and the brake operating device can be operated without any trouble while operating the steering wheel. In addition, since the maximum rotation angle of the steering handle can be sufficiently ensured, there is no possibility that the steering handle becomes too sensitive during middle and high speed traveling. Further, since the brake pedal is not required, it is possible to eliminate the mistake of depressing the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal, and to secure a wide space under the driver's foot.

According to the second aspect of the present invention,
The maximum steering angle can be obtained without releasing the hand from the grip and holding the grip, and while keeping the amount of twist of the hand holding the grip small.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cabin of an automobile equipped with a steering handle according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view taken in two directions in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view in the direction of arrows in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of an operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Steering shaft 4 Handle main body 5L grip 5R grip 22 Brake lever (brake operating device) L axis

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A steering body (4) supported on an upper end of a steering shaft (3) and rotatable left and right on both left and right ends around an axis (L) substantially parallel to the steering shaft (3). A pair of left and right grips (5L, 5R) supported on the brake operating device are provided, and at least one of the grips (5L, 5R) has a brake operating device (22).
A steering handle for a vehicle, comprising: 2. The steering handle for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the maximum rotation angle in the left-right direction from the neutral position of the handle body is not more than 180 °.