JPS6113106A - Steering angle detector for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To detect the steering angle with a simple construction, by providing a brush which has a contact sliding over an electrode pattern of a position plate to keep the contact touching the electrode pattern corresponding to the rotated amount of a steering shaft. CONSTITUTION:A steering angle detector 10 is fixed concentric with a steering shaft 1 and has a guide housing 2 with a quadruply spiral concave section 2A. A position plate 3 having an electrode pattern is fixed on the bottom of the spiral concave 2A. In addition, the unit 10 also commonly has a brush 4 which outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the electrode pattern to the steering angle display through a wire harness 8 with a probe sliding over the electrode pattern of the position plate 3. Then, as the steering shaft 1 is turned, with the action between the spiral concave section 2A and a slit 9A of a shaft cover 9, the brush 4 moves linearly along the steering shaft 1 and gets in contact with the electrode pattern corresponding to the steering angle of the steering shaft 1 thereby enabling the detection of the steering angle.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention provides a steering angle indicator that prevents collisions caused by so-called accidental starts, where a parked vehicle starts without noticing that the steering wheel is turned. The present invention relates to a steering angle detection device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Steering signals indicating how much the steering wheel of a conventional vehicle is being rotated are used as control signals for power steering, suspension control devices, and the like.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention In a steering angle detection device of a steering angle indicator for displaying the degree of danger in accordance with the rotation angle from the center of the steering wheel, a steering angle resolution of several tens of degrees is sufficient. Furthermore, since this type of detection device requires multi-rotation detection, it is necessary to install a conversion circuit in order to utilize the aforementioned steering angle detection device for power steering, suspension control devices, and the like. Therefore, the present invention provides a steering angle detection device for a vehicle that does not require such a conversion circuit and has excellent cost performance.

Means for Solving the Problems A steering angle detection device for a vehicle according to the present invention includes a guide housing that is fixed concentrically to a steering shaft and has a spiral recess that rotates several times, and a guide housing that is fixed to the spiral recess of the guide housing. The steering wheel has a position plate having an electrode pattern made of conductive tlJ material, and a brush having a contact point that moves in the axial direction of the steering shaft as the steering shaft rotates and slides on the electrode pattern of the position plate.

Function: In the vehicle steering angle detection device according to the present invention, when the steering shaft A7 is rotated, the position plate is rotated accordingly. Then, as the contact point of the brush moves in the axial direction of the steering shaft while sliding on the electrode pattern of this position plate, this contact point always comes into contact with the electrode pattern corresponding to the amount by which the steering shaft is rotated. Steering angle can be detected.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1(A) is an overall view of a steering column (C) equipped with a steering angle detection device 10 according to the present invention, and reference numeral 1 is rotated by a handle (H) to change the direction of tires (not shown). This figure shows a known steering shaft. FIG. 1(b) shows a first
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing the portion indicated by the reference numeral (b) in FIG. Generally, the number of rotations of the steering wheel of a passenger car is approximately two times in each direction.

The steering angle detection device 10 according to the present invention includes a steering angle detection device 10 according to the present invention.
7 Guide housing 2 fixed to foot 1 concentrically with this
has. This guide housing 2 has a spiral recess 2A having four circumferences. A position plate 3 having an electrode pattern, which will be explained in detail below with reference to FIG. 2, is fixed to the bottom of the spiral recess 2A by adhesive, vapor deposition, or other means. The steering angle detection device 10 further includes:
It also includes a brush 4 having a contact that slides on the electrode pattern of the position plate 3 and outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the electrode pattern to a steering angle display device (not shown) via a wire harness 8. The movement of this brush 4 in the longitudinal direction of the steering shaft A7 is restricted by the spiral recess 2Δ of the guide housing 2.

This brush 4 is supported by a spring 7 and a brush bracket 1 by a shoulder 1 in an overlapping direction with respect to a steering shirt 1-1. The brush bracket 5 is supported by a sensor kite 9 extending through an axially elongated hole 9A formed in the bottom cover 9, so that its rotational movement is restricted. Therefore, when the steering columns 1 to 1 are rotated, the brush 4 is rotated by the action of the spiral four parts 2A of the kite housing 2 and the elongated hole 9Δ of the sill foot cover 9. The brush 4 moves linearly in the longitudinal direction along the steering shaft 1 integrally with the steering shirt 1, and the brush 4 comes into contact with an electrode pattern corresponding to a steering angle of 1 to the steering shirt 1, so that the steering angle can be detected.

Next, the relationship between the electrode pattern and the brush 4 will be explained in more detail with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 shows the linear development of the electrode pattern 3a of the position plate 3, and the positional relationship between the electrode pattern 3a and the contacts 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e of the brush 4, and the indicator lamps A, B, C, FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a connection diagram with a display section including D.

The electrode pattern 3a is formed of conductive metal,
This is arranged as shown in FIG. 2 to make contact 4 of brush 4.
By connecting a to the vehicle ground, this electrode pattern 3a is always kept at the same potential as the vehicle ground. be able to.

Therefore, the lamp (B) indicating that the steering wheel has rotated one or more turns to the right lights up, alerting the driver. or,
When the steering wheel is within 100 degrees left or right from the center, the indicator lamp does not light up, so as not to bother the driver.

Note that the display form of the electrode pattern 3a is not limited and may be modified in any manner. Moreover, this electrode pattern 3a
The material may be any conductive material, for example, it may be a resistor, and in this case, the position of the sensor tap can be moved. Moreover, although the spiral recess 2A of the guide housing 2 has been described as having four turns, the number of turns can also be changed as desired.

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, the steering angle of a vehicle can be detected reliably with an extremely simple structure without using a conversion circuit.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially sectional perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention,
(A) is an overall structural diagram of a steering column equipped with a steering angle detection device according to the present invention, (B) is an enlarged view of its main parts, and FIG. 2 is an electrode pattern of a steering angle detection device for a vehicle according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the brush and the contact of the brush. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Steering shaft, 2... Guide housing, 2A... Spiral recess, 3... Position plate, 3a... Electrode pattern, 4... Brush, 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d , 4e--contact, 5...
Brush bracket, 6... Sensor guide, 7... Spring, 8... Lie 1 harness, 9... Shift force bar, 9A... Elongated hole, 10... Steering angle detection device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] a guide housing that is fixed concentrically to the steering shaft and has a spiral recess that rotates several times; a position plate that is fixed to the spiral recess of the guide housing and has an electrode pattern made of a conductive material; A steering angle detection device for a vehicle, characterized in that the brush has a contact point that moves in the axial direction of the steering shaft and slides on the electrode pattern of the position plate.