JPS64354Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] This invention relates to an improvement of a central operation device for automobiles that allows various operations such as wipers, washers, turn signals, lighting, etc. to be performed centrally from the driver's seat.

Central control devices used in automobiles generally have an operation switch unit located at the top of the steering column that activates various functions required for driving and operation of the automobile by sliding, advancing and retracting, and rotating levers. It is composed of Normally, the steering wheel is configured with levers located on both sides of the steering wheel, with operation switch units concentrated for each function.One operation switch unit operates lights such as lighting and turn signals, while the other operation switch unit operates This is used to perform other operations such as wipers, washers, and hazards.

By the way, this type of centralized operation device has conventionally used a housing formed in an annular shape to attach various operation switch units to the steering column together with the housing. Specifically, various operation switch units are integrated into a housing in advance, the housing is passed through a steering shaft and fixed to a steering column, and then a steering wheel is attached to the tip of the steering shaft.

However, with this structure in which the housing that incorporates the operation switch unit is attached to the steering column, the steering wheel must be removed from the steering column each time the operation switch unit is replaced due to a malfunction. There were other inconveniences, and the maintainability was poor.

This invention was devised in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a central operating device for an automobile that allows the operating switch unit to be removed without removing the steering wheel from the steering column.

That is, in this invention, upper and lower holding plates are provided at the top of the steering column, facing each other with a gap in the axial direction of the steering column. Construct a connecting part that passes through the steering shaft,
An engagement hole is provided in the upper retaining plate portion at a position apart from the center of the steering wheel, and an operating switch unit is configured between the retaining plate portions in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of the steering column. The box is detachably housed, and the switch box is supported in the gap by the engagement member through the engagement hole, so that the operation unit can be removed without removing the steering wheel.

This invention will be explained below based on an embodiment shown in the drawings. 1 in the diagram is steering shaft 1
This is a steering column with a rotatable interior. The lower end of the steering shaft 1a is connected to the front wheels of an automobile (not shown) via a wheel steering joint 2 and an arm (not shown), and the steering of the automobile is controlled by rotating the steering shaft 1a. I am now able to do it. The upper end of the steering shaft 1a projects from the steering column 1, and the steering wheel 3 is attached to this projecting end. Therefore, steering operations can be performed through the steering wheel 3.

On the other hand, around the upper end of the steering column 1,
For example, three mounting brackets 4 are attached by welding. These mounting brackets 4 are arranged evenly, and a housing 5 and various operation switch units 6a and 6b are mounted on these mounting brackets 4, forming a central operation device 16. Here, the structure of the housing 5 and the operating switch units 6a and 6b, which are the main parts of this invention, will be explained. parts 7a and 7b are arranged, and these holding plate parts 7
A connecting part 8 having a shaft insertion part 8a is constructed in the center between a and 7b, and the connecting part 8
A unit mounting portion 9 is formed in the space around the. The housing 5 is fixed onto the mounting bracket 4 with a fixing device (not shown) such as a screw. On the other hand, the operation switch unit 6a,
6b is constructed by connecting a lever 1 which operates in the vertical direction, longitudinal direction, and rotational direction and is provided with a push lead 10a, and a switch box 11 which outputs a signal in response to the movement of the lever 10. There is. A multipolar connector 13 is connected to the switch box 11 via a connecting line 12. In addition, one operation switch unit 6
On the lever 10, the functions necessary for driving and operation of a car are set, such as hazard by the up and down movement of the lever 10, exhaust brake by the forward and backward movement, wiper by rotation, and washer by the push. The functions required for driving and operation of a car are set, such as main/dimension switching by moving the lever 10 up and down, turn signal by moving forward and backward, lighting by rotation, and headlamp wash by pushing. Each of the operation switch units 6a and 6b is arranged so that the lever 10 of the operation switch unit 6a is disposed on the left side of the steering wheel 3, and the lever 10 of the operation switch unit 6b is disposed on the right side of the steering wheel 3. are housed in the left and right sides of the unit mounting portion 9 of the housing 5 and are detachably mounted, respectively. That is, screw holes 12, 12 are provided on one side of the upper surface of each switch box 11, 11, respectively.
Further, the screw holes 12, 12 are located on the left and right sides of the holding plate portion 7a of the housing 5 at positions spaced outward from the outer diameter of the center portion 3a of the steering wheel 3.
Small holes 13a, 13a (engaging holes) are provided corresponding to the respective holes. Therefore, the switchboxes 11, 11 are housed in the unit mounting portion 9, and the fixing screws 14 (engaging members) as fixing devices are inserted into the switchboxes 11, 11 from the upper and lower directions of the housing 5 through the holding plate portion 7a. 11 screw holes 12...
The operation switch units 6a and 6b are removably attached by screwing them into the steering wheel 3, and the fixing screws 14 are located outside the center 3a of the steering wheel 3, so the steering wheel 3 can be removed. Each operation switch unit 6 can be removed by loosening the fixing screws 14...
a and 6b can be easily removed from the housing 5. In addition, the multi-pole connector 1 of each operation switch unit 6a, 6b
3 and 13 are detachably attached to the back surface of the holding plate portion 7b located at the lower stage of the housing 5. Note that 15 is a switch unit for lighting the fog lights and park lamps, and this switch unit 15 is also connected to the above-mentioned operation switch unit 6.
Like a and 6b, it is removably attached to the housing 5.

However, in the centralized operation device 16 configured as described above, the operation switch unit 6 may fail due to a failure or the like.
When replacing the operation switch units 6a and 6b, the switch boxes 11 and 11 of the operation switch units 6a and 6b can be fixed by applying a screwdriver or the like to each fixing screw 14 through the space of the steering wheel 3 and loosening the fixing screw 14. is released. And each switch box that became free 11,1
1 from the unit mounting part 9 to the side, each operating switch unit 6a, 6b is removed from the housing 5 together with the multi-pole connectors 13, 13, and then a new operating switch unit 6 is removed.
Once a and 6b are attached to the housing 5, the replacement is complete.

Therefore, only the operation switch units 6a and 6b can be removed without removing the steering wheel 3 from the steering column 1, thereby improving maintainability.

In the above-described embodiment, the operation switch unit is attached and detached using screws, but other types of attachment and detachment structures such as engagement and locking may also be used.

As explained above, according to this invention, there is a structure that releases the fixation of the switchbox without affecting the steering wheel, and a structure that allows the switchbox to be pulled out in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of the steering column. Accordingly, various operation switch units can be removed without removing the steering wheel, thereby improving maintainability.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawing is an exploded perspective view showing an automobile central operation device according to an embodiment of the invention. 1... Steering column, 3... Steering wheel, 5... Housing, 6a, 6b...
Operation switch unit, 7a, 7b... Holding plate portion, 8... Connecting portion, 10... Lever, 11... Switch box, 12... Screw hole, 13a... Small hole (engaging hole), 14... Fixing screw (engaging member).

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A vehicle that is equipped with a steering shaft with a steering wheel attached to its end, a steering column that rotatably houses the steering shaft, and various operation switch units that are centrally located on the steering column and are necessary for driving and operating the vehicle. , which are arranged at the upper part of the steering column so as to face each other with a gap in the axial direction of the steering column.
a lower retaining plate part, a connecting part installed in the center between the respective retaining plate parts and passing through the steering shaft, and a connecting part provided in the upper retaining plate part at a position away from the center of the steering wheel. an engaging hole, a switch box constituting the operating switch unit that is removably housed between the holding plate portion in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of the steering column, and a switch box that is installed through the engaging hole. A central operating device for an automobile, comprising an engaging member that supports the above-mentioned in the gap.