JP4502539B2 - Vehicle steering lock device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a steering lock device for a vehicle, and in particular, linear between a housing fixed to a steering column surrounding a steering shaft, a front position engaging with the steering shaft, and a rear position releasing the engagement. A lock pin that is supported on the front end of the housing so as to be reciprocally movable; and a slider that is supported on the housing and coupled to the lock pin so as to be capable of reciprocating sliding in the same direction as the reciprocating direction of the lock pin; an electric motor which is fixedly supported on said housing, a power conversion means interposed between said electric motor and said slider as possible to convert the rotary motion into linear motion, is fixedly supported on said housing, said electric to control the operation of the motor which in an electronic control unit electrically connected, key An improvement of the steering lock device suitably used in the smart entry system which enables switching the locked and unlocked without.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in such a steering lock device, the power conversion means provided between the electric motor and the slider is, for example, a planetary gear mechanism for reducing the output of the electric motor as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-59903. And a cam mechanism provided between the final gear of the planetary gear mechanism and the slider.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-mentioned conventional one, the number of parts necessary for configuring the power conversion means is relatively large, and the power conversion means is hardly compact, which is an obstacle to downsizing the housing and the steering lock device.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides a vehicle steering lock device in which the power conversion means and the housing can be made compact by allowing the power conversion means to be configured with a small number of equipment. With the goal.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is provided between a housing fixed to a steering column surrounding a steering shaft, a front position engaging with the steering shaft, and a rear position releasing the engagement. A lock pin that is supported on the front end of the housing so as to be capable of linear reciprocation, and is supported by the housing and coupled to the lock pin so that reciprocation in the same direction as the reciprocation of the lock pin is possible. a slider that, an electric motor is fixedly supported by the housing, a power conversion means interposed between said electric motor and said slider as possible to convert the rotary motion into linear motion, it is fixedly supported by the housing , of the vehicle and an electronic control unit which in electrically connected to control the operation of the electric motor In tearing locking device, the electric motor, the are arranged with an output shaft extending in the reciprocating direction perpendicular to the direction of the lock pin to the rear of the lock pin, the electronic control unit, of the said electric motor housing disposed between the front end, the power conversion means, a worm wheel meshed with the worm gear fixed to the output shaft of the electric motor, wherein the a axis extending in the reciprocating direction of the lock pin worm gear And a screw shaft that is positioned in front of the worm wheel and rotates together with the worm wheel, and a nut that is restricted from rotating around the axis and allowed to move in the axial direction and is screwed onto the screw shaft. the slider on the nut, characterized in that the engagement formation.
[0006]
According to such a configuration, the electric motor by meshing of the worm wheel having an axis extending worm gear, and the reciprocating movement direction of the lock pin is fixed to the output shaft of the electric motor extending in the reciprocating direction perpendicular to the direction of the locking pin The rotational motion of the electric motor is converted into a linear motion by screwing a nut onto a screw shaft that is positioned in front of the worm wheel and rotates together with the worm wheel. By using a single component, the number of components can be reduced, the power conversion means and the housing can be made compact, and the degree of freedom in arrangement when the steering lock device is mounted on a vehicle can be increased. can Ru.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on one embodiment of the present invention shown in the accompanying drawings.
[0008]
1 to 6 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a steering lock device, which is a sectional view taken along line 1-1 of FIG. 2, and FIG. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the steering lock device, FIG. 4 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 3 in a state before the insertion unit is inserted into the housing, and FIG. 5 is a direction seen from FIG. FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 1.
[0009]
First, in FIGS. 1 to 3, this steering lock device is locked to enable the steering shaft 11 to rotate in response to the vehicle user carrying the portable transmitter / receiver getting into the vehicle, for example, in a smart entry system. The state is released, and the vehicle user carrying the portable transmitter / receiver operates so as to be locked to prevent the steering shaft 11 from rotating in response to the vehicle user leaving the vehicle.
[0010]
This steering lock device is linear between a housing 13 that is fixed to a cylindrical steering column 12 that surrounds the steering shaft 11, a forward position that engages the steering shaft 11, and a rear position that releases the engagement. The lock pin 16 is supported on the front end of the housing 13 to enable reciprocal movement, and is reciprocated in the same direction as the reciprocating direction of the lock pin 16 to be supported on the housing 13 and coupled to the lock pin 16. Slider 17, an electric motor 18 fixedly supported on the housing 13 behind the lock pin 16, and a power conversion interposed between the electric motor 18 and the slider 17 to enable the rotary motion to be converted into a linear motion. Means 19 and solenoid 20 for determining the operation start timing of the slider 17 on the lock side , And an electronic control unit 21 which is fixedly supported to the housing 13 and electrically connected thereto to control the operation of the electric motor 18 and the solenoid 20.
[0011]
The housing 13 is the rear end, i.e. opposite bottomed cylinder opened the side shaped housing main 14 and the steering column 12, a cover plate coupled to the housing main 14 so as to close the open end of the housing main 14 The housing main body 14 is fixed to the steering column 12.
[0012]
On the front end side, that is, on the steering column 12 side, a projecting portion 14 a that fits into a fitting hole 22 provided in the side wall of the steering column 12 is integrally projected on the end wall of the housing main body 14. A slide hole 23 for slidably fitting the lock pin 16 is provided in the end wall in a portion including 14a, and an engagement recess 24 capable of engaging the lock pin 16 on the outer periphery of the steering shaft 11. Is provided.
[0013]
Referring also to FIG. 4, an insertion unit 25 is accommodated in the housing 13, and this insertion unit 25 is sandwiched between the housing main body 14 and the cover plate 15 and accommodated in the housing 13. The insertion body 26 is configured by assembling the lock pin 16, slider 17, electric motor 18, solenoid 20, power conversion means 19, electronic control unit 21, and bus bar assembly 27.
[0014]
The insert 26 includes a case 30 formed by coupling the first and second case members 28 and 29, and a substantially flat support wall formed integrally with the first case member 28 on the side opposite to the second case member 29. Part 31 and a storage wall part 32 which is formed in a cylindrical shape having a quadrangular cross section and is provided integrally with the support wall part 31 and connected substantially at a right angle. The insert 26 is accommodated in the housing 13. Sometimes, an operating hole 33 connected to the sliding hole 23 provided in the housing main body 14 is slidably fitted between the support wall portion 31 and the housing main body 14 so that the lock pin 16 and the slider 17 can slide. The storage wall 32 is disposed in the housing 13 at a position where the support wall 31 is interposed between the operation hole 33 and the storage wall 32.
[0015]
The power conversion means 19 has a worm gear 36 fixed to the output shaft 18a of the electric motor 18 extending in a direction perpendicular to the reciprocating direction of the lock pin 16, and an axis extending in the reciprocating direction of the lock pin 16. A worm wheel 37 that meshes with the worm wheel 37, a screw shaft 38 that is positioned in front of the worm wheel 37 and rotates with the worm wheel 37, the rotation around the axis is restricted, and the movement in the axial direction is allowed, and the screw The power conversion means 19 and the electric motor 18 are accommodated in the case 30. The nut 39 is screwed onto the shaft 38.
[0016]
The electric motor 18 is fixedly supported by at least one of the first and second case members 28 and 29 and is accommodated in the case 30. In this embodiment, the electric motor 18 is interposed between the first and second case members 28 and 29. The electric motor 18 is fixedly supported by being sandwiched. Further, the other end of the worm gear 36 whose one end is coaxially connected to the output shaft 18 a of the electric motor 18 is rotatably supported by being sandwiched between the first and second case members 28 and 29.
[0017]
A worm wheel 37 meshing with the worm gear 36 and a screw shaft 38 on which, for example, a double thread is engraved are formed integrally, and the first and second case members 28 and 29 are integrated. The screw shafts 38 are coupled to each other so as to sandwich the screw shaft 38 from both sides in the axial direction.
[0018]
Referring also to FIG. 5, the first case member 28 has a bottomed cylindrical guide tube 40 having a right-angled quadrilateral cross-sectional shape, while preventing the nut 39 from rotating around its axis. The worm wheel 37 and the screw shaft 38 are rotated by a support shaft 41 which is integrally provided so as to be movably accommodated and supported at both ends by the end wall of the guide tube 40 and the second case member 29. It is supported as possible.
[0019]
The guide tube 40 is disposed in the operation hole 33 formed between the support wall 31 integral with the first case member 28 and the housing main body 14. A pair of connecting holes 42, 42 disposed on both sides of the nut 39 are provided so as to extend along the axial movement direction of the nut 39. On the other hand, the nut 39 is provided with a pair of connecting portions 43 and 43 that face the connecting holes 42 and 42, respectively.
[0020]
The slider 17 is formed in a box shape that is open on the side opposite to the support wall 31 and is accommodated in the operation hole 33. The end of the slider 17 on the steering column 12 side is connected to the lock pin 16. A locking wall 44 for engaging the substantially L-shaped hook portion 16a provided integrally is provided. Thus, when the slider 17 and the lock pin 16 are outside the housing 13, the hook portion 16 a can be freely engaged and disengaged from the locking wall 44. When the slider 17 and the lock pin 16 engaged with 44 are housed in the housing 13, the hook portion 16a is in sliding contact with the inner surface of the housing main body 14 as shown in FIG. It is impossible to release the engaged state of the portion 16a and the locking wall 44.
[0021]
The slider 17 accommodates a spring 45 interposed between the slider 17 and the lock pin 16, and the spring 45 has a hook portion 16 a of the lock pin 16 on the locking wall 44 of the slider 17. A spring force that urges the lock pin 16 in the engaging direction is exhibited. Thus, when the slider 17 moves closer to the steering shaft 11 side, the lock force of the spring 45 moves in a direction in which the lock pin 16 engages with the steering shaft 11, and the slider 17 moves away from the steering shaft 11. When moved, the lock pin 16 moves in a direction away from the steering shaft 11 by the hook portion 16 a being pushed by the locking wall 44. Thus, when the engaging recess 24 of the steering shaft 11 is displaced from the sliding hole 23 and the slider 14 moves close to the steering shaft 11, the lock pin 16 is moved by the spring force of the spring 45. The lock pin 16 is brought into contact with the engaging recess 24 as the steering shaft 11 is rotated to a position where the outer periphery of the steering shaft 11 is elastically contacted with the engaging recess 24 corresponding to the sliding hole 23. Will be engaged.
[0022]
A pair of connecting arm portions 17a, 17a disposed so as to sandwich the guide tube 40 from both sides is provided on the slider 17 on the side opposite to the lock pin 16, and these connecting arm portions 17a are integrally provided. , the distal end portion inner 17a, the engaging portion of the generally U-shaped to detachably join the connecting portion 43 of the guide tube 40 a nut 39 which is arranged so as to face the connection hole 42, 42 46, 46 are provided.
[0023]
With further reference to FIG. 6, the storage wall 32 stores the solenoid 20, and a stay 47 provided on the solenoid 20 is fastened to the storage wall 32 by a screw member 48. As a result, the position of the solenoid 20 in the storage wall 32 is fixed.
[0024]
A through hole 49 is provided in the support wall 31 at a position corresponding to the central portion of the solenoid 20, and the rod 50 provided in the solenoid 20 is inserted into the through hole 49. On the other hand, the slider 17 is provided with an engagement recess 51 corresponding to the through-hole 49 when the lock pin 16 is in the unlocked position where the lock pin 16 is detached from the engagement recess 24 of the steering shaft 11, and the slider 17 is in a non-energized state. In this state, the solenoid 20 is engaged with the engagement recess 51 at the tip of the rod 50 projected from the through hole 49. In this state, the lock pin 16 is engaged with the engagement recess 24 of the steering shaft 11. The slider 17 is prevented from moving in the direction. Thus, when the solenoid 20 is energized, the rod 50 operates in a direction in which the rod 50 is detached from the engagement recess 51, thereby causing the slider 17 to move in a direction in which the lock pin 16 is engaged with the engagement recess 24 of the steering shaft 11. It becomes possible to move.
[0025]
In the bus bar assembly 27, most of the plurality of metal bus bars 56 are embedded in a synthetic resin support plate 55 formed so as to have a substantially L-shaped cross section so as to surround the storage wall portion 32. The support plate 55 is elastically engaged with the support wall portion 31. Thus, the necessary bus bars 56 are electrically connected to the electric motor 18 in the state where the support plate 55 is elastically engaged with the support wall portion 31.
[0026]
A base end of an operating arm 52 that protrudes toward the support plate 55 of the bus bar assembly 27 through the slit 54 provided in the storage wall 32 is fixed to the rod 50 of the solenoid 20. A microswitch 53 having a detector 53 a that can contact the tip of the arm 52 is fixed to the support plate 55. Thus, the micro switch 53 is operated in a direction in which the rod 50 is released from the engagement recess 51 with the solenoid 20 energized, that is, the direction in which the lock pin 16 is engaged with the engagement recess 24 of the steering shaft 11. When the slider 17 can move, the operating arm 52 is fixed to the support plate 55 at a position where the operating arm 52 is detected by the detector 53a.
[0027]
A slit 58 extending in parallel with the operation direction of the slider 17 is provided in the support wall portion 31 between the support plate 55 and the storage wall portion 32 of the bus bar assembly 27, and an operation arm provided integrally with the slider 17. 59 is inserted through the slit 58. On the other hand, microswitches 60 and 61 having detectors 60a and 61a capable of contacting the tips of the operating arms 59 are fixed to the support plate 55 of the bus bar assembly 27. One microswitch 60 has a lock pin. When the slider 17 is in a position where the 16 is engaged with the engaging recess 24 of the steering shaft 11, the operating arm 59 is fixed to the support plate 55 at a position where the detector 60a is detected, and the other micro switch 61 is locked. When the slider 17 is in a position where the pin 16 is disengaged from the engagement recess 24 of the steering shaft 11, the operating arm 59 is fixed to the support plate 55 at a position where it is detected by the detector 61a. That is, the pair of microswitches 60 and 61 can determine whether the slider 17 and the lock pin 16 are in the locked position or the unlocked position.
[0028]
The electronic control unit 21 is formed by mounting electric parts such as a microchip (not shown) on a substrate 62 made of a synthetic resin and performing printed wiring connecting the electric parts, and a support plate for the bus bar assembly 27. When the coupling boss 55a included in the support plate 55 and the coupling boss 32a included in the storage wall 32 are elastically fitted to the substrate 62 disposed so as to cover 55 and the storage wall 32. The electronic control unit 21 is disposed between the electric motor 18 and the front end portion of the housing 13 so as to be connected to some of the bus bars 56 of the bus bar assembly 27 and housed in the housing 13. In this way, the electronic control unit 21 is assembled to the insert 26.
[0029]
In addition, a connector 63 is integrally provided on the substrate of the electronic control unit 21, and the connector 63 is provided at the opening end side end of the housing main body 14 in the housing 13 when the insertion unit 25 is accommodated in the housing 13. An opening 64 is provided to face the surface.
[0030]
Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The power conversion means 19 interposed between the electric motor 18 and the slider 17 and capable of converting the rotational motion into a linear motion is perpendicular to the reciprocating direction of the lock pin 16. A worm gear 36 fixed to the output shaft 18a of the electric motor 18 extending in any direction, a worm wheel 37 having an axis extending in the reciprocating direction of the lock pin 16 and meshing with the worm gear 36, and the front of the worm wheel 37 a screw shaft 38 that rotates together with the worm wheel 37 located, is constituted by a nut 39 screwed to the screw shaft 38 is allowed to move in the axial direction while being restricted rotation about the axis, the nut the slider 17 is engaged binding to 39.
[0031]
In such power conversion means 19, the output of the electric motor 18 is decelerated by meshing the worm gear 36 and the worm wheel 37, and the nut 39 is screwed into the screw shaft 38 that rotates together with the worm wheel 37, thereby rotating the electric motor 18. The movement is converted into the linear movement of the slider 17, and the power conversion means 19 is composed of four parts, that is, a worm gear 36, a worm wheel 37, a screw shaft 38 and a nut 39, thereby reducing the number of parts. In addition, the power conversion means 19 and the housing 13 can be made compact, and the degree of freedom in arrangement when the steering lock device is mounted on the vehicle can be increased.
[0032]
In the case of forming the screw shaft 38 and the worm wheel 37 integrally, it is possible to further reduce the number of parts constituting the power conversion means 19, to increase the connection rigidity of the screw shaft 38 and the worm wheel 37 it can.
[0033]
Incidentally, the housing 13 houses a case 30 composed of first and second case members 28 and 29 coupled to each other. The electric motor 18 and the power conversion means 19 include first and second cases. In this embodiment, the electric motor 18 is fixedly supported by at least one of the two case members 28 and 29, and the worm gear 36, the worm wheel 37, the screw shaft 38 and the nut 39, which are components of the power conversion means 19, are provided in the first embodiment. At least one of the first and second case members 28 and 29 is accommodated in the case 30 so as to be operatively supported, and the first case member 28 can be connected to the power conversion means 19 of the slider 17. A pair of connecting holes 42, 42 is provided.
[0034]
Therefore, by assembling the case 30 in which the electric motor 18 and the power conversion means 19 are previously stored in the housing 13, the electric motor 18 and the power conversion means 19 are assembled to the housing 13 while the power conversion means 19 and the slider 17 are connected. As a result, the assemblability can be improved. In addition, since the operating sound of the electric motor 18 and the power conversion means 19 is double-shielded by the case 30 and the housing 13, it is possible to obtain excellent silencing performance.
[0035]
The first and second case members 28 and 29 constituting the case 30 that houses the power conversion means 19 sandwich the worm wheel 37 and the screw shaft 38 from both sides in the axial direction. A bottomed cylindrical guide tube 40 that accommodates the nut 39 so as to be axially movable while preventing rotation about its axis is provided integrally, and both ends are supported by the end wall of the guide tube 40 and the second case member 29. Since the worm wheel 37 and the screw shaft 38 are rotatably supported by the support shaft 41, the support structure of the components of the power conversion means 19 can be simplified.
[0036]
Moreover a pair of connecting holes 42, 42 to face the pair of connecting portions 43, 43 provided on the nut 39 is provided on the guide cylinder 40, the slider 17 to the two joining portions 43, 43 engaged detachably joins Thus, the nut 39 and the slider 17 can be easily connected.
[0037]
By the way, the housing 13 has a shape in which the opposite side to the steering column 12 is open and is fixed to the steering column 12, and the open end of the housing main body 14 is closed and coupled to the housing main body 14. An insertion unit 25 is inserted into the housing main body 14 in an open state, and this insertion unit 25 is inserted into the housing 13 when the cover plate 15 is coupled to the housing main body 14. Will be housed.
[0038]
Thus, the insertion unit 25 includes a lock pin 16, a slider 17, an electric motor 18, a solenoid 20, power conversion, and an insertion body 26 sandwiched between the housing main body 14 and the cover plate 15 and accommodated in the housing 13. The means 19, the electronic control unit 21 and the bus bar assembly 27 are assembled, and the lock pin 16, the slider 17, the electric motor 18, the solenoid 20, the power conversion means 19, the electronic control unit 21 and the bus bar are assembled. Since the assembly 27 may be assembled to the insertion body 26 outside the housing 13, the lock pin 16, the slider 17, the electric motor 18, the solenoid 20, the power conversion means 19, the electronic control unit 21, and the bus bar assembly 27 are mounted on the housing 13. The assembling property when assembling can be improved.
[0039]
Moreover, the bus bar assembly 27 that electrically connects the electronic control unit 21 and the electric motor 18 also constitutes a part of the insertion unit 25, and the steering lock is provided so that the electronic control unit 21 is accommodated in the housing 13. The apparatus can be configured compactly, and the electrical connection work of the electric motor 18 and the electronic control unit 21 can be easily performed outside the housing 13, so that the assemblability can be further improved.
[0040]
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various design changes can be made without departing from the present invention described in the claims. It is.
[0041]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the worm gear fixed to the output shaft of the electric motor extending in the direction perpendicular to the reciprocating direction of the lock pin , and the worm having the axis extending in the reciprocating direction of the lock pin. The output of the electric motor is decelerated by the meshing of the wheels, and the rotational motion of the electric motor is converted into linear motion by screwing the nut to the screw shaft that is positioned in front of the worm wheel and rotates with the worm wheel. , strive to reduce parts products point number by configuring the power conversion means in four parts, it is possible to FIG Rukoto compactness of the power converting means and the housing, located in mounting the steering lock device in a vehicle Ru it is possible to increase the degree of freedom of the above.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a steering lock device, taken along line 1-1 in FIG.
2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a steering lock device.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 3 in a state before the insertion unit is inserted into the housing.
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a part of the interpolation unit with a different viewing direction from FIG. 3;
6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Steering shaft 12 ... Steering column 13 ... Housing 16 ... Lock pin 17 ... Slider 18 ... Electric motor 18a ... Output shaft 19 ... Power conversion means
21 ... Electronic control unit 36 ... Worm gear 37 ... Worm wheel 38 ... Screw shaft 39 ... Nut

Claims (1)

Linear reciprocation between the housing (13) fixed to the steering column (12) surrounding the steering shaft (11) and the front position where the steering shaft (11) is engaged and the rear position where the engagement is released A lock pin (16) supported on the front end portion of the housing (13) to enable movement, and a reciprocating slide in the same direction as the reciprocating movement direction of the lock pin (16) to the housing (13). a slider (17) which is supported and connected to the locking pin (16), an electric motor (18) which is fixedly supported on said housing (13), the electric as possible to convert the rotary motion into linear motion a motor (18) and said slider (17) a power conversion means interposed between (19), is fixedly supported on said housing (13), the electric The steering lock device of a vehicle including an electronic control unit electrically connected (21) thereto to control the operation of chromatography data (18),
The electric motor (18) includes an output shaft (18a) extending in a direction perpendicular to the reciprocating direction of the lock pin (16) and is disposed behind the lock pin (16).
The electronic control unit (21) is disposed between the electric motor (18) and the front end of the housing (13),
Said power conversion means (19), said has a worm gear (36) fixed the said output shaft of the electric motor (18) (18a), an axis extending in the reciprocating direction of the lock pin (16) The worm wheel (37) that meshes with the worm gear (36), the screw shaft (38) that is positioned in front of the worm wheel (37) and rotates with the worm wheel (37), and the rotation around the axis is restricted. vehicles with configured out with nut (39) which is allowed to move in the axial direction is screwed on the screw shaft (38), wherein the slider nut (39) (17) is characterized by being engaged binding Steering lock device.

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