JPS61108031A - Steering switch apparatus for car - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the installation work of a light transmitting unit and a light receiving unit by accommodating the light transmitting unit and the light receiving unit into a unit case and integrally forming the first sun gear. CONSTITUTION:A transmission/receiving part accommodating chamber 55 which is light-shielded is formed onto the outer periphery of a separating wall 34 in a unit case 5. Into said accommodation chamber 55, a light transmitting unit U1 consisting of a light emitting element 56 which converts the electric signals supplied from an optical diode, etc. into optical signals and a prism 57 which refracts the light of the light emitting element 56 and introduces said light into the optical switch side and a light receiving unit U2 consisting of a light receiving element 58 which converts the light signals supplied from a photodiode, etc. into electric signals and a prism 59 which refracts the light supplied from the optical switch side and introduces the light into the light receiving element 58 are accommodated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention A1 Object of the Invention (1) Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to a steering switch device for a vehicle, particularly a steering wheel pad having a light switch and a light input path and a light output path connected to the cough light switch. A light transmitting unit that is positioned above and rotatably provided on the steering shaft, and that sends light to the input light path and a light receiving unit that receives light from the light output path is disposed below the steering wheel, and the steering wheel located below the
A second fixed sun gear having the same number of teeth as the first fixed sun gear is provided on the pad with its axis aligned with the axis of the first sun gear, and is rotatably supported by the steering wheel. The present invention relates to an improvement in which first and second planetary gears meshing with the first and second sun gears are respectively attached to a support shaft, and a switch case of a combination switch is fixed to a steering column.

(2) Prior art Conventionally, the light transmitting unit, the light receiving unit, and the second sun gear are separately attached to a fixing member on the vehicle body side.

(3) Problems to be Solved by the Invention Accordingly, there are problems in that the number of parts to be installed is three, and it takes a lot of effort to install them, resulting in poor workability and high manufacturing costs.

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide the above-mentioned steering switch device, which reduces the number of parts to be installed, improves installation workability, and reduces manufacturing costs.

B1 Structure of the Invention (1) Means for Solving Problems The present invention houses the light transmitting unit and the light receiving unit/nod in a unit case, and integrally forms the first sun gear, and the unit case is The present invention is characterized in that the combination switch is disposed between the steering wheel and the switch case of the combination switch and is attached to the switch case.

(2) Operation The light transmitting unit, the light receiving unit, and the second sun gear are arranged at predetermined positions by attaching the unit case to the combination switch case.

The second sun gear and the second planet gear cooperate to hold the pad in place regardless of rotation of the steering wheel, and the revolution of the second planet gear with respect to the second sun gear is caused by the rotation of the first planet gear with respect to the first sun gear. This is done stably due to the revolution against.

The light emitted from the light transmitting unit is guided to the optical switch through the light input path, and when the optical switch is opened, the light reaches the light receiving unit through the light output path.

A photoelectric conversion operation is performed in the light receiving unit 7), and a predetermined electric device is operated by an electric signal from the light receiving unit.

(3) Example 1. In FIG. 2, a steering wheel 1 is fixed to a steering shaft 3 passing through a steering column 2 fixed to a vehicle body. Above the steering wheel 1, a pad 4 having an optical switch, etc. is rotatably held on the steering shaft 3, and below the steering wheel 1, a unit case 5 housing a light transmitting and receiving unit is disposed adjacent thereto. will be established. The unit case 5 is attached to a switch case 7 of a combination switch 6 fixed to the steering column 2.

The steering wheel 1 is made of aluminum alloy,
An annular grip portion 8 and an annular grip portion 4 extending inward from the inner peripheral surface thereof.
It is composed of spoke portions 9, an annular connecting portion 10 that connects the intermediate portions of the spoke portions 9, and a disc-shaped connecting portion 11 that connects the inner ends of the spoke portions 9. The grip portion 8 and the portion of the spoke portion 9 between the grip portion 8 and the annular connecting portion 10 are covered with a synthetic resin layer 12 . At the center of the connecting part 11, there is a spline groove 1 on the inner peripheral surface.
A boss 14 having a diameter of 3 is formed.

Steering column 2 in steering shaft 3
A stepped portion 15, a spline shaft 16, and a threaded shaft 17 are provided on the portion protruding from the steering column 2 side. A canceling sleeve 18 of a turn signal switch device is fitted onto the outer peripheral surface of the stepped portion 15, and a post 14 of a steering wheel l is fitted onto the spline shaft 16.

A washer 19 is interposed between the lower end surface of the post 14 and the cancel sleeve 18 and step portion 15 that oppose it.

A steering wheel retaining pad 20 is screwed onto the threaded shaft 17 of the steering shaft 3 protruding from the steering wheel 1 via a washer 21, thereby preventing the steering wheel 1 from coming off.

The retaining nut 20 has a cylindrical portion 2 having a blind screw hole 22 that is screwed into the screw shaft 17 of the steering shaft 3.
3, a screw shaft portion 24 connected to the cylindrical portion 23, and a hexagonal head-shaped tightening tool engagement portion 2 connected to the screw shaft portion 24.
5.

A boss 27 of the pad 4 is rotatably fitted into the cylindrical portion 23 of the retaining nut 20 via a bearing metal 26. A washer 28 is fitted onto the threaded shaft portion 24 of the retaining pad 20, and a band retaining nut 29 is screwed, thereby preventing the pad 4 from coming off. steering shaft 3
The shape is the same as that of the conventional one, and therefore, the pad 4 can be easily attached to the conventional steering shaft 3 by screwing the locking nut 20 having the above structure onto the ready-made screw shaft 17.

The unit case 5 is molded from synthetic resin, and its bottom wall 3
0 is attached to the switch case 7 with a plurality of screws 31. A boss 32 is provided protruding from the bottom wall 30, and the boss 32
surrounds the outer periphery of the post 14 of the steering wheel 1 and is fitted into the cancel sleeve 18, so that the boss 32
is arranged concentrically with the steering shaft 3. The outer peripheral surface of the post 32 has a first sun gear 33. is integrally formed, and the bottom wall 30 surrounds the first sun gear 331.
Between the annular partition wall 34 protruding from the first sun gear 33,
A planetary gear revolution space Sl with an open upper surface is formed.

The pad 4 is molded from synthetic resin, and the outer peripheral surface of the post 27 is provided with the first sun gear 33. A second sun gear 33□ having the same number of teeth as 33. is integrally formed with both gears 33. ．． 332
The axes of are coincident. Bad 4 is the second sun gear 33□
A planetary gear revolution space S2 with an open bottom surface is formed between the partition wall 35 and the second sun gear 33□.

A second... 3. As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of support shafts 36, three in the illustrated example, are rotatably supported at equal intervals on the circumference, and each support shaft 36 has a first and a second sun gear 33. ．． The first and second meshes each engage with 33□.
Planetary gear 37, . 37. is provided.

The second sun gear 33□ and the second planetary gear 37□ function to hold the pad 4 in place regardless of the rotation of the steering wheel 1, and the second sun gear 33□
The planetary gear 37□ revolves around the first planetary gear 37. The first sun gear 33. This is done stably due to the revolution against.

The support shaft 36 and both planetary gears 371.37□ are molded from synthetic resin. Next, referring to FIGS. ．． The configuration of 37□ and the mounting structure for the support shaft 36 and the like to the connecting portion 11 will be explained.

As shown in FIG. 5, the support shaft 36 has a large-diameter rotating portion 38, and a first planetary gear 37. are integrally formed, and a small-diameter gear attachment portion 39 is provided protruding from the other end. The outer peripheral surface of the gear mounting portion 39 has one end attached to the rotating portion 38.
A convex portion 40 is formed with the other end protruding from the end surface of the gear attachment portion 39, and a threaded hole 41 extending in the axial direction is formed in the axial center portion of the gear attachment portion 39. The second planetary gear 37□ is molded by itself from synthetic resin, and the first planetary gear 37. has the same number of teeth. The second planetary gear 37□ has a press-fit hole 42, a groove-shaped recess 43 formed in the wall of the press-fit hole along the generatrix direction thereof, one end of which is connected to the recess 43, and the other end of which is connected to the second planetary gear. A small hole 44 (FIG. 7) opened on the outer surface of the disk portion of the gear, and a screw insertion hole 45 (seventh hole) that penetrates the disk portion and opens into the press-fit hole 42.
Figure) is formed.

As shown in FIG. 6, a shaft insertion hole 46 is formed in the aluminum alloy connecting portion 11 of the steering wheel 1, and the connecting portion 1 is formed at the upper opening edge of the shaft insertion hole 46.
A recess 47 is formed in the upper surface of 1. Further, two pin-shaped protrusions 48 are protruded from the recess 47 with the shaft insertion hole 46 in between.

The bearing cylinder 49 fitted into the shaft insertion hole 46 is molded from synthetic resin and has a cylinder part 50 and a flange part 51 protruding from one end thereof, and the flange part 51 has a pair of through holes 5.
2 is formed.

- The cylindrical portion 50 of the bearing sleeve 49 is fitted into the shaft insertion hole 46, the flange portion 51 is fitted into the recess 47, and both projections 48 are passed through the both page through holes 52.

As shown in FIG. 7, the protruding portions of both protrusions 48 from the through holes 52 are caulked into a rehet head shape using the plasticity of the aluminum alloy, thereby allowing the bearing sleeve 49 to be attached to the connecting portion 11.
Fixed. Fixing the bearing sleeve 49 by utilizing the plasticity of the aluminum alloy in this manner is easy and economical since no fixing screws are required.

First planetary gear 37. The rotating part 38 of the support shaft 36 having a gear fitting part 39 is fitted into the bearing sleeve 49 from below the connecting part 11, and the gear mounting part "39" protruding from the upper open end of the bearing sleeve 49 connects the convex part 40 to the second planetary gear 37z. The second planetary gear 372 is fitted into the press-fit hole 42 by matching with the recess 43 and the small hole 44. By fitting the recess 43 and the projection 40 in this way, the second planetary gear 372 is prevented from rotating relative to the support shaft 36 and the first Positioning with respect to the planetary gear 37, that is, tooth-to-tooth matching is performed.

The second planetary gear 37 □ is prevented from being removed by a screw 54 that passes through the screw insertion hole 45 and is screwed into the screw hole 41 of the support shaft 36 . In this case, it is also possible to prevent the second planetary gear 37□ from coming off by passing the tip of the gear attachment portion 39 through the disk portion of the second planetary gear 37□ and fitting an E-ring-shaped retaining ring to the tip.

By positioning the second planetary gear 37□ with respect to the first planetary gear 371, the relative positional accuracy of both gears 37+ and 37□ becomes good, so that each of the first and second planetary gears is adjusted with respect to the first sun gear 33. 371.37□, the position of the second sun gear 33□, and thus of the pad 4, is precisely determined.

When the synthetic resin bearing sleeve 49 is interposed between the synthetic resin support shaft 36 and the shaft insertion hole 46 of the aluminum alloy connecting portion 11 as described above, the support shaft 36 is rotatably supported directly in the shaft insertion hole 46. This can prevent wear and galling of the support shaft 36 that would otherwise occur.

Next, the relationship between the light transmitting/receiving unit and the optical switch will be explained mainly with reference to FIG.

A light transmitting/receiving section housing chamber 55 that is shielded from light is formed on the outer periphery of the partition wall 34 in the unit case 5 . In the accommodation chamber 55, there is a light transmitting unit UI consisting of a light emitting element 56 such as a light emitting diode that converts an electrical signal into an optical signal and a prism 57 that refracts the light of the light emitting element 56 and guides it to the optical switch side, a photo diode, etc. A light-receiving unit U2 comprising a light-receiving element 58 that converts an optical signal into an electric signal and a prism 59 that refracts and guides light from the optical switch side is housed in the light-receiving element 58.

In the figure, for convenience, the light transmitting unit U1 is depicted on the left side and the light receiving unit Uz is depicted on the right side, but in reality, these units are arranged close to each other on the left or right side and constitute a set of light transmitting and receiving sections A. In the illustrated example, six light transmitting/receiving sections A are provided as shown in FIG.

The pad 4 includes a first optical switch 60 for operating a radio or the like. and a second optical switch 60 for operating an automatic constant speed traveling device, etc. and is provided.

First optical switch 60. A light input path 61 and a light output path 62 formed by embedding synthetic resin in the pad 4 are connected to the pad 4 . A light inlet 63 of the light input path 61 and a light outlet 64 of the light output path 62 are respectively opened at the lower end surface of the partition wall 35 and are a light outlet 65 and a light receiver of the light transmitting unit U1 formed on the ceiling of the light transmitting/receiving section housing chamber 55. They respectively face the light inlets 66 of the unit Uz. As a result, the light propagation distances between the light entrance 63 of the light input path 61 and the light exit 65 of the light transmitting unit U1, and between the light exit 64 of the light output path 62 and the light entrance 66 of the light receiving unit U2 are shortened. and light receiving unit) U
A decrease in the amount of light incident on z can be suppressed.

The inner end portions 9a of the spoke portions 9 located between the annular connection portion 10 and the disk-like connection portion 11 of the steering wheel 1 are connected to the light exit 65 of the light transmitting unit U+ and the light entrance of the light input path 61 by rotation of the steering wheel 1. 63 questions and Idemitsu path 6
2 and the light inlet 66 of the light receiving unit Uz.
In order to prevent the optical path between 64 and 66 from being blocked by the inner end portion 9a, a light guide 67 is attached to each inner end portion 9a to pass the light so as to circulate the light and secure both optical paths. It will be done.

Next, the mounting structure of the light guide 67 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 8 to 1O. As shown in FIG. 8, a pair of notch-like mounting grooves 68 are formed in the inner end portion 9a of each spoke portion 9 in opposite directions with a partition wall 69 sandwiched therebetween. The light guide 67 has first and second halves 67, . It is constructed into two halves from 67□, and a cutout-like engagement recess 70 is formed on the divided surface.

Both halves 67, . 6L is the 9th. As shown in FIG. 10, the engaging recesses 70 are engaged with the partition walls 68 and fitted into the grooves 68 with numbers. And both halves 67, . In order to hold 67□ in both numbered grooves 68, both halves 67, . An E-ring-shaped retaining ring 72 is attached to each of the pair of attachment grooves 71 of 67□.

These two halves 67, . 67□ into the grooves 68 with numbers, both halves 67, . 67□ is prevented from moving in the axial direction of the inner end portion 9a, and due to the engagement between the partition wall 69 and both engaging recesses 70, both halves 671.67□ are prevented from rotating around the axis of the inner end portion 9a. Each movement is prevented. Furthermore, both halves 67, . By sandwiching 67□, both halves 67, . 67□ are integrated. When the retaining ring 72 is used in this way, the light guide 6 is attached to the inner end portion 9a more easily than when the half holes 671.67□ are joined by adhesive.
7, the installation workability is improved.

The second optical switch 60□ is also connected to a light input path and a light output path, but is omitted from the drawing.

Light shielding covers 738 and 73t are attached to the upper and lower surfaces of the annular connecting portion 10 in the steering wheel 1 by screws 74, respectively, so as to surround the outer peripheral wall of the unit case 5 and the partition wall 35 of the pad 4.

Next, the horn switch device will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 and 11. This horn switch device passes through the steering wheel 1 from the unit case 5 to the pad 4.
The sliding connection part is connected to the unit case 5 and the planetary gear revolution space St of the pad 4.
, S2 and the rain space S+, Sz, the connecting portion 11 of the steering wheel 1 is effectively utilized.

That is, in the connecting portion 11, the first. 2nd planetary gear 3
7. ．． 37 □ Both ends are placed in a position that does not interfere with both revolution spaces S
A conductive slider 75 inserted into L and S2 is attached,
Two slip rings 76 are always in sliding contact with both ends of the slider 75, . 76□ is buried in the bottom surface of the revolution space S1, thus the bottom wall 30 of the unit case 5, and the top wall of the revolution space S1, therefore, the pad 4, respectively.

The slider 75 has first and second shaft portions 75. ．． 752, and the shaft portion 75. ．． The proximal end of 75□ is slidably held in a fit-type insulating cylinder 78 that penetrates the connecting part 11 and is fixed thereto with a screw 77, and a conductive spring 79 is inserted between the side proximal ends. It will be reduced.

The slip ring 76□ on the pad 4 side is connected to the horn switch 80 provided on the pad 4, and
The side slip ring 761 is connected to a horn (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 2, the switch case 7 of the combination switch 6 includes a wiper switch device 82 operated by a wiper lever 81 and a turn signal switch device 8 operated by a turn signal lever 83.
4 is stored.

Next, the operation of the embodiment described above will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 and FIG. 12.

For example, in FIGS. 1 to 4, the steering wheel 1
When rotated clockwise, each of the second planetary gears 37□ rotates clockwise in FIG.
revolves clockwise around. As a result, the second sun gear 33□ rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 3, so that the pad 4 is held in a fixed position regardless of the rotation of the steering wheel 1. The second planetary gear 37□ revolves around the first sun gear 33 of the first planetary gear 371. This is done stably due to the revolution against.

In FIG. 12, a lighting counter 86 of a light generation and light-to-electrical conversion signal processing section 85 generates an electric pulse signal at a constant period, and the electric pulse signal causes a light transmission unit (U+
The light emitting element 56 emits light.

The light generated from the light emitting element 56 is refracted by the prism 57 and guided to the light exit 65, and propagates from the light exit 65 through the space S3 between the inner end portions 9a of the adjacent spoke portions 9 or through the light guide 67. The light enters the light entrance 63 of the light input path 61 and reaches the first optical switch 601 via the light input path 61.

In this case, the light exit 65 and the light entrance 63 are opposed to each other, and the propagation distance of light between them is short, so that the amount of light incident on the light entrance path 61 decreases very little.

First optical switch 60. When the light input path 61 is closed, the light from the light input path 61 is guided to the light exit 64 via the light output path 62, enters the light entrance 66 of the light receiving unit Uz by the same propagation effect as described above, is refracted by the prism 59, and is received by the light receiving element 58. Ru. A photoelectric conversion operation is performed in the light receiving element 58, and the obtained electrical signal is amplified by the amplifier 87.

The electrical signal is synchronized with the lighting counter 86 by a synchronization circuit 90 in a launch circuit 89 of the electrical signal processing section 88, and then sent to a control circuit (not shown) via a buffer 91. This control circuit processes electrical signals and sends them to predetermined electrical equipment to operate them.

Light transmitting unit UI, light receiving unit 1-U2, and first sun gear 33. is arranged at a predetermined position by attaching the unit case 5 to the switch case 7 of the combination switch 6, so that light is reliably transmitted to and received from the pad 4, and the first sun gear 3
1st planetary gear 37 for 3I. Its rotation and revolution are also smooth.

Furthermore, no matter what rotational position the steering wheel 1 is in, both slip rings 76 are provided at the upper and lower ends of the slider 75 in the horn switch device.

Since it is in sliding contact with 76□, the horn switch 80
If you operate it, an alarm will sound.

C9 Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, the light transmitting unit and the light receiving unit are housed in the unit case, and the first sun gear is integrally formed, and the unit case is attached to the switch case of the combination switch. The light transmitting unit, the light receiving unit, and the first sun gear can be disposed at predetermined positions simply by performing the mounting work, and the workability of the mounting work is also good. Therefore, compared to the case where the light transmitting unit, the light receiving unit, and the first sun gear are separately attached, it is possible to save costs associated with the attachment work and reduce the manufacturing cost of the device.

In addition, since the unit case is placed between the steering wheel and the switch case, there is no need to create a special space around the steering shaft to place the unit case, and the dead space between the steering wheel and the switch case can be used effectively. There are also advantages.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is an overall plan view, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line nn in FIG. 1, and FIG.
Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line nn--n in Figure 1, Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the relationship between the first and second planetary gears and the support shaft, and Figure 6 is the steering wheel. FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view showing how the first and second planetary gears are attached to the steering wheel, and FIG. 8 is an exploded view showing the relationship between the steering wheel and the light guide. A perspective view, FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing how the light guide is attached to the steering wheel, and FIG.
FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view of a connecting portion in the horn switch device, and FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a signal path. U,, U2...Light sending unit, light receiving unit, ■...
・Steering wheel, 2... Steering column, 3... Steering shaft, 4... Band, 5
...Unit case, 6.Combination switch, 7.Switch case, 33. ．． 33□...
First and second sun gears, 36... support shaft, 37. ．． 37□
...First. 2nd planetary gear, 60. ...First optical switch, 61...Light input path, 62...Output path Patent applicant Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Figure 4 Figure 3 Figure 7 Figure 6 Figure 10 Figure 9 Figure 5 Figure 8 Figure 11 Figure 12

Claims (1)

[Claims] A pad having an optical switch and a light input path and a light output path connected to the optical switch is positioned above the steering wheel and rotatably provided on the steering shaft, and a light transmitting unit that sends light to the optical input path and a pad having a light input path and a light output path connected to the optical switch are provided. a light receiving unit that receives light from the steering wheel is disposed below the steering wheel, and a second fixed sun gear having the same number of teeth as the first fixed sun gear disposed below the steering wheel is disposed below the steering wheel. first and second planetary gears, which are provided on the pad so that their axes coincide with the axis of the first sun gear, and mesh with the first and second sun gears on a support shaft rotatably supported by the steering wheel. In the steering switch device for a vehicle, the light transmitting unit and the light receiving unit are housed in a unit case, and the first sun gear is integrally formed with the unit case, and a switch case of a combination switch is fixed to the steering column. A steering switch device for a vehicle, characterized in that: is arranged between the steering wheel and the switch case of the combination switch and is attached to the switch case.