KR20040046760A - Automatic type side-step structure of an Automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An automatically operated side step of a vehicle is provided to improve the efficiency and simplification of the structure by functioning a side sill member as the side sill member in traveling and a step cover member in opening a door by using the side sill member for both the side sill member and the step cover member, to secure a wider tread step space for passengers with the step cover member and to improve convenience of customers. CONSTITUTION: The automatically operated side step of a vehicle is composed of a step cover member used for both the step cover member and a side sill member and an automatic operating unit for operating the step cover member. The step cover member comprises a step cover inner panel(12) facing a panel(70) of a vehicle body in closing a door and including a step unit(120) on which passengers tread and a step cover outer panel(10) combined to at least both ends of the step cover inner panel to form a box-shaped space. The automatic operating unit includes a motor(30) installed to the vehicle body and a linear moving member linearly moved by rotary power of the motor and extended to the space of the step cover member. The step cover outer panel has a supporting base(20) including a guide groove(24) for receiving the linear moving member. The step cover member rotates to be protruded to the first direction to function as the step unit by moving the linear moving member to the first direction and returns to the original position to function as the side sill member by moving the linear moving member to the second direction.

Description

Automatic type side-step structure of an Automobile}

The present invention relates to a sidestep of a motor vehicle, in particular a sidestep structure with an automatic actuation function.

As shown in FIG. 1, in general, a jeep-shaped vehicle having a large height is provided with a side step 70 'protruding from the lower side of the side body and inside the side sill panel 10' so that the rider can use the side step. It has a structure that makes it easy to move up and down the ground and vehicles using the platform.

An example of a side step structure of the prior art will be described with reference to FIG. 2A.

In FIG. 2A, the step cover upper panel 12 'is disposed on the lower side of the side seal member composed of a side seal outer panel 70' and a side seal inner panel 72 'and a reinforcement panel 74' connecting the two panels. And a step cover member composed of a lower panel 14 'is supported by a bracket 60' coupled to the vehicle body by bolts or the like. (A) shows the extension distance from the outer surface of the side seal outer panel 70 'to the end of the step cover member, that is, the width of the space where the occupant steps on, and (B) shows the step cover member on the floor f of the vehicle body. This means the extended distance to the upper surface of the space, that is, the height of the space where the occupants step on.

By the way, according to the prior art of such a structure, since the step cover member is mounted on the lower part of the side seal panel, (B) is large and the height difference from the ground is low, there is a fear that the step collides with the ground while driving, and thus the step cover member is damaged. There is a problem in that the size of (A) is limited to the limit that the door D cannot extend beyond the outer surface of the door D, and thus does not sufficiently serve as an answer when getting on and off. In particular, due to the structure of the step cover member being lowered to face the outer surface of the side seal panel, when the occupant tries to step on the step cover member when the passenger gets off, the leg part touches the side seal panel and is contaminated by foreign matter such as dust. There is a disadvantage that does not meet the convenience.

Another prior art shown in Figure 2b is a step cover inner panel 12 'coupled with bolts along the lower outer surface of the side seal member consisting of a side seal outer panel 70' and a side seal inner panel 72 '; Disclosed is a step cover member including a step cover outer panel 14 'which surrounds the inner panel 12' and forms a step surface. This structure is simpler than that of FIG. 2A and advantageous in terms of preventing contamination of the legs when getting on and off. However, the length of (A) is also limited, and due to the structure in which the step cover member is disposed adjacent to the outer surface of the side seal member ( There was a problem in that the height of B) was small, so that the function as a step could not be sufficiently performed.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a side step structure of a new structure that can provide a sufficient space and the width of the passenger's step in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and improved the convenience of the customer when getting on and off.

1 is a perspective view showing a side seal member and a side step structure of a general vehicle;

2A and 2B are side cross-sectional views illustrating examples of prior art side step structures;

3 is a side sectional view showing a side step structure of the present invention in the closed state of the door;

4 is a side view illustrating a part of a side step structure of the present invention;

5 is an enlarged view illustrating an installation structure of a motor in the side step structure of the present invention of FIG. 3;

6 is an enlarged view illustrating a coupling relationship between a step cover inside and an outer panel and a body side panel in the side step structure of the present invention of FIG. 3; And

Fig. 7 is a side sectional view showing the side step structure of the present invention in the open state of the door.

The automatic actuated side step structure of the vehicle of the present invention for achieving the above object includes a step cover member serving as a side seal member and an automatic actuating portion for operating the step cover member, wherein the step cover member includes a vehicle when the door is closed. It consists of a step cover inner panel formed to face the body side panel of the occupant and the step cover outer panel including a step end stepped by the occupant and at least both ends of the step cover inner panel to form a box-shaped space, automatic operation The unit includes a linear movement member linearly moved by the rotational force of the motor and the motor installed on the vehicle body, and extends at least to the space of the step cover member, and the step cover outer panel includes a guide groove for receiving the linear movement member on its inner surface. The step cover member further comprises a support base to move the linear movement member in the first direction. To the functionality of tepdan rotation so as to project in a first direction and that is made by movement in the second direction of the linearly moving member to return to its original position so as to function as a side seal member in its default configuration.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention proposes a rack gear that meshes with a pinion of a motor shaft as a linear moving member and an adjusting rod formed at the end of the rack gear.

Further, the automatic operation unit of the present invention includes a first switch for generating an on-off signal by opening and closing the door, a second switch arranged in contact with a step end of the step cover inner panel in a closed state of the door, and an inside of the step cover in the open state of the door. And a third switch arranged to be in contact with at least the bottom of the panel.

According to the configuration of the present invention, the forward and reverse rotation of the motor is controlled by the signal of the first switch, the second switch or the third switch to stop the rotation of the motor by automatically switching the step cover member in accordance with the opening and closing of the door It can be expected to rotate to the proper position.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 3 is a side cross-sectional view showing generally the side step structure of the present invention in the closed state (during running) of the door, and the left side of the figure shows the inward direction of the vehicle. One of the structural features of the present invention is that the side seal member serves as a step cover member, which will be used hereinafter as a term for the step cover member for convenience.

In the drawing, the step cover member of the present invention is provided with an uneven step end 120 is vertically extended and then bent inwardly extending into the vehicle inner panel 12 and the top and bottom of the inner panel 12 Both ends are combined with a step cover outer panel 10 forming a substantially trapezoidal box space. In addition, the body side panel 70 of the vehicle is bent facing the step cover inner panel 12, as shown in detail in Figure 6 the outward inclined surface near the bottom end 110 of the inner panel 12 It is desirable to maintain a constant interval d with. 6, 72 may be a part of the support bracket, or the body side panel 70 may be integrally extended so as to firmly support the end 110 and the end 112 of the step cover outer panel 10. As shown in FIG.

As shown in detail in FIG. 5, the motor 30 is located in a square bracket 38 coupled to the side of the body side panel 70. The pinion 32 is installed on the rotation shaft of the motor 30, and the pinion 32 meshes with the rack gear 34 that is engaged at the top thereof and linearly moves from side to side. One end of the rack gear 34 is located between the left side wall of the bracket 38 and the pinion 32, and the other end passes through the body side panel 70 and the step cover inner panel 12 to form the panels 10 and 12. ) Extends to the space formed, the other end is formed integrally with the adjusting rod 36 which is installed to pass through the guide groove (24).

On the other hand, in Figure 3, the support base 20 is installed in the middle portion of the inclined lower surface 14 of the step cover outer panel 10, the support base 20 is a base portion of a substantially triangular shape and the The guide groove 24 is formed in the base portion having a perforated extension portion, and a rotation shaft 22 extending through both ends of the step cover is provided near the center of gravity of the base portion. As shown in FIG. 4, the support base 20 is preferably formed in both directions to have a predetermined width with respect to the center of the step cover member, and both ends of the rotation shaft 22 are rotatably installed in the body body. It is good to be.

Next, the sensor switch for electrically operating the side step of the present invention is provided on the switch (s1), the body side panel 70 in contact with the inner surface of the door (D) is a step end of the step cover inner panel 12 It is provided on the switch (s2) and the body side panel 70 in contact with 120 and the switch (s3) arranged to contact the lower end of the panel 12 during the rotation of the step cover member to be described later. Each switch s1, s2, s3 transmits an electrical signal to the motor 30 through a cable, for example, and an electronic controller for controlling the rotation direction and on / off of the motor 30 is separated from the motor by the signal of the switch. It is preferable to install the furnace or built-in type.

The operation of the present invention will be described based on the configuration of the present invention described above.

First, when the occupant opens the door in the door closed state of FIG. 3, the off state signal of the switch s1 is transmitted to the motor 30 so that the motor 30 rotates clockwise. Accordingly, the rack gear 34 and the adjusting rod 36 meshing with the pinion 32 move to the right, and the lower surface 14 of the step cover outer panel 10 is forced by the movement of the adjusting rod 36. Receives the fall and rotates counterclockwise. At this time, the adjustment rod 36 is installed along the corresponding length of the step cover member along the guide groove 24, since the rotating shaft 22 extends through the entire length of the step cover member, such adjustment rod 36 The movement of causes the rotation of the step cover member about the rotation shaft 22. In addition, since a predetermined interval d is formed between the body side panel 70 and the step cover inner panel 12, the step cover member can rotate smoothly without interference from the body side panel 70.

Figure 7 shows the final position of the step cover member of the present invention in the door open state. The adjusting rod 36 moves along the guide groove 24 to be in contact with the upper end thereof, and the end 110 of the step cover inner panel 12 is in contact with the switch s3. The switch s3 transmits an on signal to the motor 30, whereby the rotation operation of the motor 30 is stopped. In FIG. 7, the length A of the part providing the stepped width of the occupant as the step end and the length B of the part providing the stepped height are determined by the shape of the step cover inner panel 12. It can be seen that, by designing the C, it provides more flexible and wider answer space.

Next, when the occupant closes the door in the state of FIG. 7, the motor 30 rotates in the reverse direction by the ON signal of the switch s1, and then the step cover member rotates in the direction of the arrow in the drawing by taking a reverse process. It will return to the state of FIG. Then, the motor 30 stops its rotational operation by the ON signal of the switch s2.

In the present invention described above, the side seal member functions as a step cover member without providing a step cover member separately from the side seal member. Therefore, the present invention functions as a side seal member during driving of a vehicle and as a step cover member when the door is opened. Since the function is performed, the structure is advantageous in terms of efficiency and simplicity, and the manufacturing process can be greatly simplified. In addition, the step cover member may provide a wider step space, and does not require a step cover member of the type protruding from the side seal member as in the prior art, so that clothes and the like come into contact with the step cover member when the passenger gets on and off. It is advantageous in that inconvenience can be solved. Further, since the rotation of the step cover member is automatically operated by the signal of opening and closing of the door, there is a superior effect in terms of customer convenience and automation.

Claims (2)

An auto actuated side step structure of an automobile, wherein the side step structure includes a step cover member serving as a side seal member and an automatic actuating portion for operating the step cover member, The step cover member is formed to face the body side panel of the vehicle when the door is closed, and is coupled to at least both ends of the step cover inner panel and the step cover inner panel including a step end where the occupant steps to form a box-shaped space. It consists of a step cover outer panel, The automatic operation unit includes a motor installed in the vehicle body and a linear moving member linearly moved by the rotational force of the motor and extending at least to the space of the step cover member, wherein the step cover outer panel moves the linearly on the inner surface thereof. The step cover member is rotated so as to protrude in the first direction to function as a step by the movement in the first direction of the linear movement member further comprising a support base including a guide groove for receiving the member And a side step member for returning to its original position to function as the side seal member by the movement of the linear moving member in the second direction. The method of claim 1, The automatic operation unit includes a first switch for generating an on-off signal by opening and closing the door, a second switch arranged in contact with a step end of the step cover inner panel in a closed state of the door, and the step cover in the open state of the door. And a third switch arranged to be in contact with at least the bottom of the panel.