JPS6159936B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a rotation transmission device for a steering wheel of an automobile.

As shown in Fig. 1, the steering wheel is usually fixed to the upper end of the steering shaft 2 with screws, so the lead wire from the horn switch attached to the pad 3 in the center of the steering wheel 1 is a slip. It is necessary to wire the wiring to the vehicle body side through a ring, and since the steering shaft 2 is directly connected to the steering wheel 1, there is a drawback that the space under the driver's seat becomes narrow. Furthermore, since the horn switch is attached to pad 3 fixed in the center of the steering wheel, the horn switch also rotates with the rotation of the steering wheel and its position changes, making it difficult to operate the horn quickly. .

On the other hand, in order to improve the operability and monitoring performance of a car, it is conceivable to place switches and gauges on the steering wheel pad closest to the driver. A structure was needed.

This invention was made by focusing on the above points, and has a structure in which the pad inside the steering wheel is made stationary with respect to the vehicle body and is not affected by rotational operation of the steering wheel. By removing this, the operability of the car can be improved, the area under the driver's seat can be made wider, and various switches and meters can be placed on the pad.In addition, the steering shaft can be driven completely by the drive motor. An object of the present invention is to provide a rotation transmission device for a steering wheel that can make the steering wheel extremely light and easy to operate.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings. FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional configuration diagram of the rotation transmission device, and numeral 4 indicates a cylindrical shaft mounted vertically on the upper part of a support member 5 fixed to the vehicle body. A pad 6 is screwed onto the upper end of the cylindrical shaft 4, and a horn switch, various switches, and meters are arranged on this pad 6, and the lead wires from there are routed through the inside of the cylindrical shaft. has been done. Reference numeral 7 denotes a steering wheel having a cylindrical portion 8 in the center, and is rotatably fitted around the outer circumferential portion of the cylindrical shaft 4 via two bearings 18. A coil spring 9 is attached to the lower part of the cylindrical portion 8 by being fitted onto the cylindrical shaft 4 between the lower flange portion of the cylindrical shaft 4, and when the steering wheel 7 is rotated from side to side, this spring It acts to twist and return it to the central position (original position). Furthermore, a gear 10 is provided on the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 8, and a rotation angle detector 11 that engages with this gear 10 and detects the rotation angle of the steering wheel 7 is disposed. On the other hand, a control motor 1 for rotating the steering shaft 12 connected to the steering mechanism is mounted near the pitman arm on the floor of the vehicle body.
3 are connected. A rotation angle detector 14 is connected to the rotation shaft of the control motor 13 and detects the rotation angle of the control motor 13 for feedback control. Reference numeral 15 denotes a control device for the control motor 13, which is configured to receive signals from the rotation angle detectors 11 and 14 and drive and control the control motor 13 by an angle corresponding to the rotation angle of the steering wheel 7. .

Next, to explain the operation of the above rotation transmission device, when the steering wheel 7 is turned, the rotation angle detector 1 engages with the gear 10 of the cylindrical portion 8.
1 detects the rotation angle of the steering wheel 7, and this signal is input to the control device 15.
The control device 15 outputs an output signal to the control motor 13 to drive the control motor 13 by a rotation angle corresponding to the input signal, and while inputting a signal from the rotation angle detector 14 connected to the control motor 13, Performs feedback control. Control motor 1
3, the steering shaft 12 is rotated by an angle equal to the rotation angle of the steering wheel 7, thereby operating the steering mechanism. After rotation, the steering wheel 7 is urged to return to the center position by the action of the coil spring 9, and performs a movement similar to a conventional steering wheel, and the steering shaft 12 is rotationally driven in accordance with the rotation of the steering wheel 7. Ru.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment, in which instead of the coil spring 9 used for restoring the steering wheel 7 to the center position, a restoring control motor 16 and a restoring control device are used. 17 are used. In other words, the restoration control motor 16 is mounted on the same axis of the rotation angle detector 11 and engaged with the gear 10, and the restoration control device 17 inputs the signal from the rotation angle detector 11, and the restoration control motor 16 16
The steering wheel 7 is biased so that its angle is always at the center position by closed loop control of the restoration control motor 16. Therefore, the rotation of the steering wheel 7 is operated to overcome the maximum torque of the restoration control motor, and this control system requires a torque limit function. When the steering wheel is rotated, the rotation angle is detected by the rotation angle detector 11, and the restoration control device 17 receives this detection signal and outputs a drive signal to the restoration control motor 16 to restore the steering wheel to the center position. Apply torque to the steering wheel in the direction of restoration. On the other hand, the control device 15 controls the rotation angle detector 1
A drive signal is output to the control motor 13 so as to rotate the steering shaft 12 at an angle equal to the rotation angle of the steering wheel 7 inputted from the controller 1.

As described above, according to the steering wheel rotation transmission device of the present invention, the pad is mounted stationary to the vehicle body, the steering wheel is rotatably fitted onto the cylindrical shaft that supports the pad, and the steering wheel is attached to the steering shaft. The control motor for rotational drive is connected, and the control motor is driven based on the signal from the rotation angle detector that detects the rotation angle of the steering wheel, and the rotation is transmitted to the steering shaft. This makes it extremely light and easy to operate, and creates space directly under the steering wheel, making the driver's seat wider. Furthermore, since the pad is placed stationary relative to the vehicle body, various switches and meters can be installed on the pad, and the operability and monitoring performance of the vehicle can also be improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing a conventional steering wheel mounting structure, Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing a rotation transmission device for a steering wheel according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 3 is the same sectional structure of another embodiment. It is a diagram. 4... Cylindrical shaft, 5... Support member, 6...
Pad, 7... Steering wheel, 8... Cylindrical portion, 11, 14... Rotation angle detector, 12...
Steering shaft, 13... Control motor, 1
5...control device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A cylindrical shaft with pads attached to the top is fixed to the vehicle body via a support member, a steering wheel with a cylindrical part in the center is rotatably fitted around the outer periphery of the cylindrical shaft, and A rotation angle detector is disposed in engagement with a gear provided in the
A steering wheel rotation transmission comprising: a control motor that rotationally drives a steering shaft connected to a steering mechanism; and a control device that controls rotation of the control motor based on an output signal from the rotation angle detector. Device.