WO2006098319A1

WO2006098319A1 - Reclining adjuster

Info

Publication number: WO2006098319A1
Application number: PCT/JP2006/305019
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yutaka Sakamoto
Original assignee: Delta Tooling Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2005-03-14
Filing date: 2006-03-14
Publication date: 2006-09-21
Also published as: JP2006247241A

Abstract

A reclining adjuster (10) capable of adjusting the tilt angle of an upper bracket (14) fixed to a seat back relative to a lower bracket (12) fixed to a seat cushion. The reclining adjuster comprises a worm wheel (20) axially fixed to the upper bracket (14) so as to be rotated integrally with each other, a worm (22) meshed with the worm wheel (20), and a front bearing (30) and a rear bearing (32) rotatably pivoting the worm (22) on the lower bracket (12). The bearing member (30B) forming the front bearing (30) is vertically slidably supported on the lower bracket (12), and when the tilt angle of the seat back relative to the seat cushion is maintained, the bearing member is displaced to the upper side (worm wheel (20) side) by the energizing force of a plate spring (40).

Description

Specification

Reclining Ajya Star

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a recliner adjuster for adjusting an inclination angle of a seat back with respect to a seat cushion.

Background art

[0002] As a reclining adjuster, a worm wheel fixed to a seat back side member so as to rotate coaxially and integrally with a seat cushion is engaged with a worm rotatably supported on the seat cushion side member. The configuration is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). In such a reclining adjuster, a biasing force of a spring is applied to the worm via an arm member having an engaging claw for locking the rotation of the worm, and the worm is moved toward the worm wheel by the biasing force. A technique for reducing backlash between the worm and the worm wheel by pressing is known (Patent Literature).

2). As a result, it is possible to suppress the generation of abnormal noise and a decrease in seating feeling while maintaining the inclination angle of the seat back with respect to the seat cushion.

Patent Document 1: JP 2000-342371 A

Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-319849

Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

[0003] However, since the conventional technology as described above is configured to transmit the urging force of the spring to the worm through the arm member, if the rigidity of the arm member itself or the support rigidity of the arm member is low, the back is There was a problem that the effect of reducing the rush was reduced. In addition, since the arm member has a structure that pushes the worm, which is a rotating member, it is necessary to release the pressing state of the worm by the arm member when adjusting the inclination angle of the seat back.

[0004] In consideration of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to provide a reclining adjuster capable of effectively reducing the backlash between the worm and the worm wheel with a simple structure. Means for solving the problem

In order to achieve the above object, a reclining adjuster according to the first aspect of the present invention is a reclining adjuster for adjusting an inclination angle of a seat back with respect to a seat cushion. A worm wheel provided on the seat back, a worm fitted to the worm wheel, and a worm rotatably supported by the seat cushion so as to rotate coaxially and integrally with the seat back. In addition, a bearing that is displaceable in a direction in which the worm contacts and separates from the worm wheel in the supported state, and the bearing are attached to the seat cushion in a direction in which the worm approaches the worm wheel. And a biasing member that biases.

[0006] In the reclining adjuster of the above aspect, for example, in the case of a power type such as electric power, the inclination angle of the seat back rotating integrally with the worm wheel is adjusted by rotating the worm. On the other hand, in the case of a manual type, for example, with the worm rotation locked state released, the spring force acting on the seat back or the load from the occupant's upper body is applied to increase the inclination angle of the seat back relative to the seat cushion. Adjust.

[0007] When the inclination angle of the seat back with respect to the seat cushion is maintained, the bearing is biased toward the worm wheel by the urging force of the urging member, so the worm supported by the bearing is pressed against the worm wheel. It is done. This reduces backlash between the worm and the worm wheel. If torque acts on the worm (electric) or worm wheel (manual), backlash occurs between the worm and the worm wheel due to the reaction force against the urging force of the urging member. As a result, the seat back rotates, that is, the tilt angle is allowed to be adjusted.

[0008] Here, since the biasing member directly biases the bearing supported to be displaceable by the seat cushion, backlash between the worm and the worm wheel is reliably reduced. In other words, there is no provision of a member that reduces the support rigidity between the bearing and the urging member. By urging the bearing with the urging member, the backlash between the worm and the worm wheel is reliably reduced. And the backlash reduction (elimination) state is easily maintained. Further, since the urging member urges the worm via the bearing, in other words, the urging member does not contact the worm that is the rotating member, so the inclination angle of the seat back is adjusted. In this case, a simple structure is realized in which it is not necessary to release the biased state of the bearing.

As described above, in the reclining adjuster of the above aspect, the backlash between the worm and the worm wheel can be effectively reduced with a simple structure.

[0010] In the reclining adjuster according to the first aspect of the present invention, the worm has a ball between a concave portion formed in a mortar shape at one end in an axial direction and a mortar-shaped concave portion provided in the seat cushion. The one end side in the axial direction is supported rotatably with respect to the seat cushion, and the bearing is rotatably supported on the other end side in the axial direction of the worm with respect to the seat cushion. Gore.

[0011] In the reclining adjuster having the above-described configuration, one end of the worm is rotatable with respect to the seat cushion by the one end side bearing portion configured to hold the ball between the recess and the recess on the seat cushion side. It is supported in the radial direction and the thrust direction. The bearing that supports the other end of the worm is biased toward the worm wheel by the biasing member while maintaining the above-described inclination angle. As a result, the posture of the worm around the ball on one end side is allowed to change, and the worm is pressed against the worm wheel while the axial direction is inclined with respect to the direction of the inclination angle adjustment (rotation). For this reason, it is possible to reduce the backlash as described above by energizing only one of the bearings.

[0012] Further, in the reclining adjuster having the above-described configuration, the bearing has a bearing member supported on the seat tack so as to be displaceable in a direction in which the worm contacts and separates from the worm wheel, and the axial direction of the worm The ball is held between a worm-side recess formed in a mortar shape at the other end and a mortar-shaped cushion-side recess formed in the bearing member so as to open to the worm-side recess, In addition, the bearing member may be urged by the urging member in a direction in which the worm approaches the worm wheel.

[0013] In the reclining adjuster, the bearing on the other end side of the worm wheel has the same configuration as the bearing portion on one end side except that the bearing member can be displaced with respect to the seat cushion. RU For this reason, if the bearing member is supported so as to be slidable linearly with respect to the seat cushion, the axis of the worm is inclined in a direction to eliminate the backlash when the bearing member is biased by the biasing force of the biasing member. Can do. In other words, the bearing guide structure is simplified. Become simple. In addition, the mortar-shaped cushion-side recess of the bearing member uses a part of the urging force from the urging member (the force that pushes the other end of the worm toward the worm wheel) to the worm through the ball to the bearing portion on one end side. Since this is converted into a pressing force, the backlash in the thrust direction is eliminated when the seat back is tilted.

[0014] In the reclining adjuster according to the first aspect, one end side of the urging member is locked to the seat cushion, and the other end side is opposite to the worm wheel side of the bearing member. An abutted leaf spring may be used.

In the reclining adjuster having the above configuration, the bearing member of the bearing is biased toward the worm wheel side by being urged by the leaf spring that is in contact with the side opposite to the worm wheel. As a result, a configuration that effectively reduces backlash with a simpler structure is realized. In addition, since the leaf spring requires a small installation space, it is possible to reduce the size of the reclining adjuster.

[0016] Further, a second aspect of the present invention is a reclining adjuster for adjusting an inclination angle of a seat back portion (back) with respect to the seat seat portion (cushion), and the reclining adjuster for the seat seat portion, A worm wheel provided on the seat back so as to rotate coaxially and integrally with the seat back, a worm meshed with the worm wheel, and transmitting the rotation to the worm wheel, and the seat seat On the other hand, the first and second bearings rotatably support the worm about its rotating shaft, and the first bearing holds one end of the worm in the rotating shaft direction so as to be rotatable with respect to the seat portion. The second bearing holds the other end of the worm in the direction of the rotation axis so as to be displaceable in the direction of contact with and away from the worm wheel, and the second bearing and the second bearing are An urging member over arm is biased in a direction close to the Womuhoi Lumpur, the reclining province of Asia Star equipped with, are provided.

The invention's effect

As described above, the reclining adjuster according to the present invention has an excellent effect that the backlash between the worm and the worm wheel can be effectively reduced with a simple structure.

Brief Description of Drawings FIG. 1A is a side sectional view of a reclining adjuster according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a side cross-sectional view showing an enlarged main part of a reclining adjuster according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a reclining adjuster according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a reclining adjuster according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4A is a side view of the reclining adjuster according to the embodiment of the present invention with the reduction gear motor removed.

4B is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4B-4B of the reclining adjuster according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view showing a slide structure of a bearing constituting the reclining adjuster according to the embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0019] A reclining adjuster 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. In addition, arrow UP, arrow LO, arrow FR, arrow RE, arrow IN, and arrow OUT, which are shown in each figure as appropriate, are the upward directions based on the vehicle seat to which the reclining adjuster 10 is applied or its seated person. , Downward direction, forward direction (vehicle traveling direction), rear direction, width (left and right) direction inner side, and width direction outer side are shown. is doing.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the reclining agitator 10, and FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the reclining agitator 10. The reclining adjuster 10 as shown in these figures is capable of rotating about a lower bracket 12 as a first bracket fixed to a seat cushion (not shown) and an axis along the width direction with respect to the lower bracket 12. And an upper bracket 14 as a second bracket that is pivotally supported.

The lower bracket 12 as shown in FIG. 3 has a boss 16 projecting from the upper part 12A toward the outside in the width direction of the vehicle seat. The boss 16 includes a bracket shaft portion 16A formed in a disk shape, a wheel shaft portion 16B formed in a disk shape coaxial with the bracket shaft portion 16A and having a smaller diameter than the bracket shaft portion 16A, and the like. And a boss hole 16C penetrating with the main body of the lower bracket 12. The lower part of the lower bracket 12 Flange portions 12C are extended on the front and rear sides of 12B, and each flange portion 12C is provided with an attachment hole 12D for attachment to a seat cushion.

[0022] The upper bracket 14 has a shaft hole 14B provided through the lower portion 14A, and the bracket shaft portion 16A of the boss 16 is loosely fitted into the shaft hole 14B, whereby the lower bracket 12 It is pivotally supported with respect to. The upper bracket 14 is provided with a mounting hole 14D for attachment to the seat back at the upper part 14C, and is fixed to the seat back by a fastening means (bolts, nuts, rivets, etc.) penetrating the mounting hole 14D. It has become so. Accordingly, the reclining adjuster 10 is configured to be able to change the inclination angle of the seat back with respect to the seat cushion by the rotation of the upper bracket 14 with respect to the lower bracket 12.

[0023] The lower bracket 12 is fixed to the width direction end portion side and the rear end side of the seat cushion, and the upper bracket 14 is fixed to the lower end side of the seat back. The reclining adjuster 10 in this embodiment as shown in FIG. 2 includes a motor 18 with a speed reducer, and the power of the motor 18 with a speed reducer is adjusted when adjusting the inclination angle of the seat back with respect to the seat cushion. The electric reclining adjuster is used.

Further, the reclining adjuster 10 as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 includes a worm gear W that includes a worm wheel 20 and a worm 22 that meshes with the worm wheel 20. In the electric reclining adjuster 10 as described above, the worm gear W has a lead angle smaller than the friction angle, and the seat back (upper bracket 14) is fixed to the seat cushion (lower bracket 12). An inclination angle holding function for holding at an inclination angle and a power transmission function for converting the power of the motor 18 with a reduction gear into turning power around the boss 16 of the upper bracket 14 with respect to the lower bracket 12 are achieved.

[0025] For this reason, the worm gear W has its worm wheel 20 fixed to the upper bracket 14 so as to be rotatable coaxially and integrally therewith, and the worm 22 is rotated around the axis (rotating shaft) around the lower bracket 12. Is rotatably supported by the shaft. This will be specifically described below.

[0026] The worm wheel 20 has a shaft hole 20A penetrating the shaft center portion, and the wheel shaft portion 16B of the boss 16 is loosely fitted in the shaft hole 20A so as to be rotatable. The worm wheel 20 is provided with a rivet hole 20B and a through hole 20C. In this embodiment, rivets Two holes 20B and two through holes 20C are provided. On the other hand, the upper bracket 14 is provided with rivet holes 14E corresponding to the rivet holes 20B, and engaging projections 14F correspondingly to the through holes 20C. The worm wheel 20 is fixed to the upper bracket 14 by caulking the front ends of a pair of rivets 24 that pass through the rivet holes 14E and 20B in a state where the engagement protrusions 14F are inserted into the through holes 20C. The lower bracket 12 is configured to rotate coaxially and integrally with the upper bracket 14.

[0027] The reclining adjuster 10 includes a cover bracket 26 having a shape similar to the lower bracket 12 in a side view, and the upper bracket 14 and the worm are interposed between the cover bracket 26 and the lower bracket 12. The wheel 20 is slidably sandwiched. A rivet hole 26B is provided in the upper part 26A of the cover bracket 26 corresponding to the boss hole 16C. The cover bracket 26 and the lower bracket 12 are connected by a rivet 28 penetrating the boss hole 16C, the shaft holes 14B and 20A, and the rivet hole 26B. FIG. 2 shows a state before the rivet 28 is caulked. Since the boss 16 functions as a spacer, the upper bracket 14 and the worm wheel 20 are prevented from being fixedly sandwiched between them.

[0028] From the lower portion 26C of the cover bracket 26, a leg portion 26D is erected inward in the width direction, and a flange portion 26E is extended in the front-rear direction from the tip of the leg portion 26D. The front and rear flange portions 26E respectively correspond to the flange portions 12C of the lower bracket 12, and mounting holes 26F are provided corresponding to the mounting holes 12D. The cover bracket 26 and the lower bracket 12 are fastening means (not shown) penetrating through the mounting holes 26F and 12D in a state where the flange portions 26E and 12C are overlapped so that the positions of the mounting holes 26F and 12D coincide with each other. Therefore, it is fixed to the seat cushion (frame).

[0029] A worm 22 of a worm gear W is disposed between the cover bracket 26 and the lower portions 26C and 12B of the lower bracket 12. The worm 22 is meshed with a worm wheel 20 whose axis is substantially coincided with the longitudinal direction and whose axis is coincident with the width direction. The lower portions 26C and 12B of the cover bracket 26 and the lower bracket 12 are respectively formed with window portions 26G and 12E into which a part of the worm 22 is inserted in order to prevent interference with the worm 22, and the reclining adjuster Contributes to the 10 thickness reduction. In addition A force in which a small worm wheel 22A is coaxially and integrally formed at one axial end portion (rear end in this embodiment) of the worm 22 will be described in the explanation of the support structure of the worm 22 below. The rear end of the worm 22 may be damaged.

[0030] A worm 22 as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B is supported by a front bearing 30 and a rear bearing 32 so as to be rotatable about an axis along the front-rear direction with respect to the lower bracket 12, that is, the seat cushion. The front bearing 30 is recessed so as to open toward the worm side recess 3 OA in the worm side recess 30A recessed in the front end axial center of the worm 22 and a bearing member 30B supported by the lower bracket 12 (described later). The bracket-side recess 30C is provided, and the ball 30D enters the worm-side recess 30A and the bracket-side recess 30C. Each of the home-side recess 30A and the bracket-side recess 30C has a conical surface on the inner surface and an apex angle of about 90 °.

[0031] Further, the rear bearing 32 faces the worm side recess 32A recessed in the rear end axial center portion of the worm 22 and the bearing member 32B fixedly supported by the lower bracket 12 toward the worm side recess 32A. A bracket-side recess 32C that is recessed so as to open, and a ball 32D that enters the worm-side recess 32A and the bracket-side recess 32C, respectively. The worm-side recess 32A and the bracket-side recess 32C each have a conical surface, and each apex angle is approximately 90 ° and the opening area is made equal.

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 3, 4A, and 4B, the bearing member 30B of the front bearing 30 and the bearing member 32B of the rear bearing 32 protrude from the end on the worm 22 side to both sides in the width direction. Joints 30E and 32E are provided. The bearing members 30B and 32B are held with respect to the lower bracket 12 by allowing these engaging portions 30E and 32E to enter the front and rear ends of the window portions 12E and 26G of the lower bracket 12 and the cover bracket 26, respectively.

Here, the front ends of the windows 12E and 26G as shown in FIGS. 3, 4B, and 5 are such that their upper edges are located above the other portions, so that the bearing member 30B The slide allowable portion 34 allows the slide to be moved upward and returned. In addition, a guide claw 36 is disposed on the rear side of the sliding allowance portion 34 in the window portion 26G so as to be always engageable with the upper end of the rear surface of the engagement portion 30E of the bearing member 30B. By this guide claw 36, the bearing member 30B slides while being guided in the vertical direction, and the posture change (tilt) of the bearing member 30B is prevented. It is becoming. On the other hand, the bearing member 32B is inserted into the rear end portions of the window portions 12E and 26G so as not to move up and down. FIG. 5 shows a state in which the bearing member 30B is located at the lower movement limit where it contacts the lower edge of the slide allowance portion 34 (which is biased upward by the urging force of the leaf spring 40 described later). Show the status).

The worm 22 is supported with respect to the lower bracket 12 in the radial direction and the thrust direction by the front bearing 30 and the rear bearing 32 described above. The reclining adjuster 10 is configured so that the worm 22 rotates around the axis while being supported by the front bearing 30 and the rear bearing 32, thereby rotating the worm wheel 20 to adjust the inclination angle of the seat back with respect to the seat cushion. It has become.

[0035] The reclining adjuster 10 includes a leaf spring 40 as a biasing member that biases the bearing member 30B of the front bearing 30 upward (warm wheel 20 side). A spring support member 42 is disposed below the center of the warm 22 in the axial direction. The spring receiving member 42 is formed in a stepped cylindrical shape having a length in the width direction and a central portion 42A having a larger diameter than both end portions 42B. By fitting in the through hole 26H of the cover bracket 26, the central portion 42A is positioned between the lower bracket 12 and the lower portions 12B and 26C of the cover bracket 26. The spring receiving member 42 (the central portion 42A thereof) is configured to function also as a spacer and a reinforcing member for maintaining a space between the lower portions 12B and 26C of the lower bracket 12 and the knucked bracket 26.

[0036] The leaf spring 40 as shown in Fig. 1B is elongated in the front-rear direction and is formed in a substantially W shape in a side view so that the front and rear ends 40A, 40B are convex upward. Is curved. The leaf spring 40 has the front end 40A abutted against the lower end surface of the bearing member 30B in an elastically deformed state in which the front-rear center portion 40C curved so as to protrude upward is engaged on the spring receiving member 42. At the same time, the rear end 40B is brought into contact with the lower end surface of the bearing member 32B. That is, the rear end 40B is locked to the lower bracket 12 via the rear bearing 32, and the front end 40A of the elastically deformed leaf spring 40 is in contact with the lower end surface of the bearing member 30B. Thereby, the bearing member 30B is urged upward as described above, and is biased upward by this urging force.

[0037] When the bearing member 30B of the front bearing 30 is positioned at (in the vicinity of) the lower limit of movement in the vertical direction, the worm 22 can transmit the rotation to the worm wheel 20 (the appropriate backlash between them). It is configured to be able to take this driving state and a biased state biased upward by the urging force of the leaf spring 40. In the biased state of the bearing member 30B as shown in FIG. 1B, the bracket-side recess 30C (conical surface thereof) pushes the upward biasing force F toward the front end of the worm 22 in the radial direction Fr and the worm 22 in the rear. It is designed to convert to thrust force Fs that pushes in the direction. That is, the worm 22 is pressed against the worm wheel 20 and pressed against the rear bearing 32 by the urging force of the leaf spring 40.

[0038] The reclining adjuster 10 includes a rotation transmission mechanism that transmits the driving force of the motor 18 with a speed reducer to the worm 22. The rotation transmission mechanism includes the small worm hoist 22A and the small worm hoist 22A. The worm wheel 22A is configured to include a small worm 44 that engages with the worm wheel 22A. The small worm 44 is integrally provided at the center in the longitudinal direction of the worm shaft 46 that is elongated in the width direction. The worm shaft 46 is inserted into the shaft passage portion 12G connected to the window portion 12E of the lower bracket 12 and the shaft passage portion 261 (all see FIG. 3) connected to the window portion 26G of the cover bracket 26. These members protrude inward and outward in the width direction.

[0039] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4B, the worm shaft 46 is configured such that the inner portion in the width direction with respect to the small worm 44 is rotatable through a bearing 50 fixed to the lower bracket 12 by a pair of rivets 48. It is supported by a pair of rivets 48 and is supported by a pair of rivets 48 so as to be rotatable through a bearing 54 held by a bearing holder 52 that is fixed to the cover bracket 26. The worm shaft 46 is coupled to an output portion 18A of a motor 18 with a reduction gear fixed to a cover bracket 26 via a bracket 56 so as to be rotatable. Although not shown, the speed reducer of the motor 18 with a speed reducer is a worm that rotates integrally with the rotating shaft of the motor unit, and an output unit that is fitted around the worm and rotates about an axis along the width direction. The key part 46A formed in the width direction outer side part with respect to the small worm 44 in the worm shaft 46 is fitted to the shaft center part of this worm wheel in a non-rotating state.

[0040] The motor 18 with a speed reducer is an electric motor that can rotate forward and backward. For example, the motor 18 rotates forward to angularly displace the seat back in the backward tilt direction, and reversely rotates and angularly displaces the seat back in the forward tilt direction. It ’s a sea urchin. The forward / reverse rotation of the motor 18 with a reduction gear is, for example, arranged on the side of the seat cushion. The switch can be switched in accordance with the operation direction of the placed operation switch.

[0041] The reclining adjuster 10 described above is provided in a pair of left and right on each seat, and the left and right reclining adjusters; the motor with a speed reducer L0; and the L8 operate in synchronization with each other. The left and right reclining adjusters 10 may share a motor with a reduction gear.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

[0043] In the reclining adjuster 10 having the above configuration, when adjusting the inclination angle of the seat back with respect to the seat cushion, for example, the seated person operates the operation switch in a desired adjustment direction. Then, the motor 18 with a speed reducer operates in the direction according to the seated person's request, and the worm shaft 46, that is, the small worm 44 is rotated. The rotation of the small worm 44 is transmitted to the small worm wheel 22A, and the worm 22 formed in the small worm wheel 22A rotates around the axis.

[0044] At this time, due to the reaction force from the worm wheel 20 accompanying the torque input from the worm 22 to the worm wheel 20, the bearing member 30B of the front bearing 30 is displaced downward against the biasing force of the leaf spring 40. An appropriate backlash is formed between the worm 22 and the worm wheel 20 (the driving state described above is achieved). Accordingly, the worm wheel 20 is rotated in a desired direction by the rotation of the worm 22. When the seat occupant (operator) releases the operation switch, the rotation of the motor 18 with speed reducer (input of driving force) is stopped and the seat cushion seat fixed to the worm wheel 20 via the upper bracket 14 is stopped. Tilt to the back stops.

[0045] In the electric reclining adjuster 10, since the lead angle (lead angle) of the worm gear W is smaller than the friction angle, in other words, the worm gear W cannot be driven from the worm wheel 20 side ( Since the automatic tightening occurs), the seat back does not rotate with respect to the seat cushion due to the moment around the boss 16 input from the seat back side. Therefore, the seat back is held at a predetermined (adjusted) inclination angle with respect to the seat cushion.

Here, in the tilt angle maintaining state where the driving force from the motor 18 with a speed reducer is not input, the bearing member 30B of the front bearing 30 is biased upward by the urging force of the leaf spring 40 (described above). Is biased). That is, the worm 22 is biased toward the worm wheel 20 by the radial force Fr obtained by converting a part of the urging force F, and the backlash of the worm gear W is eliminated. In particular, between the leaf spring and the bearing member 30B, the urging force of the leaf spring 40, which is an urging member that does not require the arrangement of a member that causes a decrease in support rigidity, such as a conventional arm member, is directly applied. Therefore, the backlash of the worm gear W is reliably eliminated. As a result, in a state where the tilt angle of the seat back with respect to the seat cushion is maintained, it is remarkably suppressed that the seat back rattles in the tilt direction with respect to the seat cushion. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the seating feeling from being lowered and the generation of abnormal noise.

[0047] In the reclining adjuster 10, the leaf spring 40 biases the bearing member 30B of the bearing 30 without directly pressing the worm 22 as the rotating member, so that the worm 22 is biased toward the worm wheel 20 side. Therefore, a simple structure is realized in which it is not necessary to release the biased state of the front bearing 30 when adjusting the inclination angle of the seat back. In other words, in the electric reclining adjuster 10, a configuration that eliminates backlash without providing an operation unit other than the operation switch described above was realized.

As described above, in the reclining adjuster 10 according to the present embodiment, the backlash between the worm 22 and the worm wheel 20 can be effectively reduced with a simple structure.

[0049] Further, in the reclining adjuster 10, since the rear bearing 32 allows the worm 22 to change its attitude around the ball 32D, only the front bearing 30 is biased to tilt (rotate) the axis of the worm 22. Backlash can be effectively eliminated by tilting compared to the time). The front bearing 30 also has a configuration in which the ball 30D is disposed between the worm-side recess 30A and the bracket-side recess 30C, each of which has a conical inner surface. The configuration that eliminates backlash has been realized. For this reason, the guide portions of the bearing member (the front ends of the window portions 12E and 26G, that is, the shape of the slide allowing portion 34 and the shape of the guide pawl 36 are simple.

[0050] In particular, the conical surface of the bracket-side recess 30C converts part of the urging force of the leaf spring to the thrust force Fs. Therefore, in the state of maintaining the inclination angle with respect to the seat cushion of the seat back, the thrust force Fs causes the rear side The gap in the thrust direction between the worm 22 and the front and rear bearings 30, 32 The gap is eliminated. For this reason, in the seat to which the reclining adjuster 10 is applied, it is possible to more effectively prevent the seating feeling from being lowered or the generation of abnormal noise.

[0051] Further, since the reclining adjuster 10 employs the leaf spring 40 that urges the bearing member 30B while being in contact with the lower surface as the urging member, the structure is simpler and the leaf spring 40 Because the installation space is small and the backlash prevention mechanism is provided, the reclining adjuster 10 will not increase in size. That is, the reclining adjuster 10 having the backlash prevention mechanism is downsized.

In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the reclining adjuster 10 is an electric reclining adjuster has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this and can be applied to a manual reclining adjuster. . In the manual reclining adjuster, for example, the worm gear W is configured to have a lead angle larger than the friction angle, and the inclination angle of the seat back with respect to the seat cushion is adjusted according to the moment input to the seat back, and the lock is applied. The inclination angle of the seat back is maintained by preventing the rotation of the worm 22 by means. Even in this case, as in the case of the electric type, the bearing member 30B biased by the leaf spring 40 eliminates the backlash of the worm gear W when the inclination angle is maintained, and also adjusts the inclination angle. Allow rotation of the worm wheel 20. In a manual reclining adjuster, when the locking means has a biasing member that biases the lock member, the biasing member may be shared with the biasing member of the present invention.

[0053] In the above embodiment, an example in which the front and rear bearings 30, 32 are both configured to support both a radial load and a thrust load has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, for example, Instead of the front bearing 30, a radial bearing and a thrust bearing that are independent from each other are provided, and the plate spring 40 may be configured to urge the radial bearing toward the worm wheel. Further, for example, the rear bearing may include a radial bearing such as a ball bearing, and the radial bearing may be rotatably supported with respect to the lower bracket 12.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the leaf spring 40 is provided as the biasing member has been shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a torsion coil spring or the like is used instead of the leaf spring 40. It's okay.

Industrial applicability [0055] By applying the present invention to a vehicle seat reclining mechanism, the backlash between the worm and the worm wheel provided in the reclining mechanism can be effectively reduced with a simple configuration.

Explanation of symbols

[0056] 10 reclining azimuth

12 Lower bracket (seat cushion)

14 Uppa bracket (seat back)

20 warm hoist

22 warm

30 front bearing (bearing)

30A worm side recess

30B bearing member

30C bracket side recess

30D ball

32A worm side recess (recess)

32C bracket side recess (recess)

32D Bonore

40 leaf spring (biasing member)

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] A reclining adjuster for adjusting the inclination angle of the seat back with respect to the seat cushion,

A worm wheel provided on the seat back so as to rotate coaxially and integrally with the seat back with respect to the seat cushion;

A worm mixed with the worm wheel;

A bearing that rotatably supports the worm with respect to the seat cushion, and that is displaceable in a direction in which the worm contacts and separates from the worm wheel in the supported state; and the bearing with respect to the seat cushion, A biasing member that biases the worm in a direction approaching the worm wheel;

Recliner Ajiyasu with

[2] In the worm, a ball is held between a concave portion formed in a mortar shape at one end in the axial direction and a mortar-shaped concave portion provided in the seat cushion, so that one end in the axial direction is It is supported rotatably with respect to the seat cushion,

2. The reclining adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the bearing pivotally supports one end of the worm in the axial direction relative to the seat cushion.

[3] The bearing is

The seat cushion has a bearing member supported so as to be displaceable in a direction in which the worm contacts and separates from the worm wheel.

A ball is held between a worm-side recess formed in a mortar shape at the other axial end of the worm and a mortar-shaped cushion-side recess formed in the bearing member so as to open to the worm-side recess. Configured

3. The reclining adjuster according to claim 2, wherein the bearing member is urged by the urging member in a direction in which the worm approaches the worm wheel.

[4] The claim 3, wherein the urging member is a leaf spring whose one end is locked to the seat cushion and whose other end is in contact with the side opposite to the worm wheel side of the bearing member. Reclining Ajiyasta.

[5] Provided with a rotational force transmission member for the worm to be moved toward one end in the axial direction. The reclining adjuster according to claim 1.

6. The reclining adjuster according to claim 1, wherein a lead angle of the worm teeth is smaller than a friction angle thereof.

[7] A reclining adjuster for adjusting the inclination angle of the seat back with respect to the seat seat,

A worm wheel provided on the seat back so as to rotate coaxially and integrally with the seat back with respect to the seat seat;

A worm that meshes with the worm wheel and transmits its rotation to the worm wheel;

The first and second bearings support the worm with respect to the seat seat so as to be rotatable about its rotation axis. The first bearing rotates one end of the worm in the rotation axis direction with respect to the seat seat. The first and second bearings, wherein the second bearing holds the other end of the worm in the rotational axis direction so as to be displaceable in a direction in which the second bearing is in contact with or separated from the worm wheel;

A biasing member that biases the second bearing in a direction in which the worm approaches the worm wheel;

Recliner Ajiyasu with

8. The reclining adjuster according to claim 7, wherein the worm has a concave portion in which a conical inner surface is formed at one end and the other end in the rotation axis direction.

[9] The first bearing has a concave portion formed with a conical inner surface, and holds the ball between the concave portion of the one end portion of the worm and the concave portion of the first bearing, The reclining adjuster according to claim 8, which supports a worm.

[10] The second bearing has a concave portion formed with a conical inner surface, and holds the ball between the concave portion of the other end portion of the worm and the concave portion of the second bearing, The reclining adjuster according to claim 8, which supports a worm.

11. The reclining adjuster according to claim 7, wherein the biasing member includes a leaf spring having one end side locked to the seat seat portion and the other end side contacting the second bearing.

[12] Rotational force transmission for the worm being driven on one end side in the direction of the rotation axis The reclining adjuster according to claim 7, comprising a member.

The recline according to claim 7, wherein a lead angle of the worm tooth is smaller than a friction angle thereof.