JPH0446772B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to a vehicle hood opening/closing device.

[Prior Art] In a conventional vehicle hood opening/closing device, the drive shaft of the motor and the output shaft that connects the link mechanism for opening and closing the hood are interlocked via a worm gear mechanism. A clutch mechanism is provided to interrupt the interlock between the drive shaft and the output shaft, and a manual opening/closing mechanism is provided to operate the clutch mechanism. In order to improve responsiveness in an emergency, this manual opening/closing mechanism immediately releases the clutch and switches to manual opening/closing when an operating knob provided on the outside of the housing is operated.

However, the clutch mechanism normally uses a spring force to prevent the clutch from being unnecessarily disengaged. Therefore, when the motor breaks down and it becomes necessary to manually open and close the top, the clutch mechanism will return and open the top unless the operating part of the manual opening/closing mechanism continues to be manually operated against the spring elasticity. There was a problem with the manual opening/closing operation in that it was not possible to open/close manually.

The opening/closing roof structure of an automobile disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 62-64620 merely discloses that the hood of the vehicle is opened and closed by a motor, and in this roof structure, the motor may fail. In this case, there is a serious drawback that the vehicle top cannot be closed on rainy or cold days, and cannot be opened even on sunny, warm days. Further, in the driving device for a sliding roof device for a vehicle disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 50-43428, when the bolt 22 is loosened, the tooth surface 7c of the first pressure plate 7 and the second pressure plate 9 are The mechanism is simply designed so that it can be switched between manual operation by disengaging the tooth surface 9a using a spring 14, and electric operation using the motor 3, and if the motor 3 breaks down, the notch of the motor drive shaft 10 Since the sliding roof 2 cannot be opened or closed unless a screwdriver or the like is inserted and rotated, the drive shaft (output shaft) needs to be thick in the 10 direction, making it difficult to operate in a narrow space. Another drawback is that the clutch mechanism cannot be released instantaneously in an emergency such as to prevent a human body from being caught.

The sliding roof drive device described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 189431/1989 is provided with a male screw 37 coaxially with the output shaft 16 for releasing the clutch mechanism, and when the drive motor 11 breaks down, the male screw 37 is inserted with a screwdriver or the like. Since the sliding roof cannot be opened or closed manually unless it is rotated and screwed into the female thread 32, the thickness in the direction of the output shaft 16 is required, making it difficult to operate in a narrow space. The disadvantage is that it cannot be released instantaneously.

"Means for Solving the Problems" The present invention has been made for the purpose of solving the above problems, and its specific means includes transmitting the rotational driving force of the motor to the output shaft via an intermediate gear, In a vehicle hood opening/closing device that automatically opens and closes a vehicle hood using a link mechanism connected to the output shaft, a transmission gear provided between the intermediate gear and the output shaft and meshing with the intermediate gear; a housing that rotatably houses the output shaft and rotatably supports the output shaft; a transmission gear shaft that is rotatably supported within the housing and rotatably supports the transmission gear; and a transmission gear shaft that is axially movable on the transmission gear shaft. a clutch disk that is supported such that the clutch disk transmits the rotation of the transmission gear to the transmission gear shaft when it meshes with the side surface of the transmission gear; and a clutch disk that applies spring elasticity to the clutch disk in a direction in which it meshes with the transmission gear. a biasing means for biasing the clutch, a clutch release member that engages with the clutch disk, and an operating bolt provided protruding from the outside of the housing, the bolt being rotated to release the clutch through the clutch release member. an operating bolt for releasing the lateral engagement between the clutch disk and the transmission gear; and an interlocking member provided outside the housing to interlock the operating bolt and the clutch release member, the interlocking member and an interlocking member that can operate the clutch release member by pressing against the spring elasticity of the urging means.

"Operation" According to the present invention, when the operating bolt protruding outside the housing is rotated and screwed toward the inside of the housing by the above-mentioned specific means, a release member that can be interlocked with the operating bolt engages the clutch on the transmission gear shaft. Since the disc is moved in the direction of the transmission gear shaft, the clutch disc is moved by the release member on the transmission gear shaft in the clutch release direction while resisting the spring elasticity of the biasing means, and the transmission meshes with the intermediate gear. To disengage a gear and a clutch disk from the side and maintain the disengaged state. Therefore, the connection between the rotary drive shaft of the motor and the output shaft remains disconnected, and the top can be opened and closed manually.

Moreover, in the present invention, the clutch disk 30 is engaged with the side surface of the transmission gear 27 that is rotatably supported by the transmission gear shaft 26, and the clutch mechanism is released by operating a shaft on the transmission gear shaft 26, which is different from the output shaft 6. Therefore, the thickness in the direction of the output shaft 6 is unnecessary, and the clutch mechanism can be easily released even in a narrow space. Furthermore, in the present invention,
Since the clutch mechanism can be released by manually pressing the interlocking member 46 protruding from the housing 20, the clutch mechanism can be released instantly in an emergency.

"Embodiment" An embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an outline of a vehicle top opening/closing device, in which a hinge bracket 2 is attached to the side of a vehicle 1.
is fixed, and one end of the collapsible pillar 3 is swingably supported on the hinge bracket 2 by a hinge 4. A swinging arm 7 is fixed to the output shaft 6 of the top opening/closing drive device A attached to the vehicle 1, and the swinging arm 7 and the collapsible pillar 3 are connected via link rods 8 to hinges 9, 10.
Connect by. A forming bar 11 supports a hood 12 that closes between the collapsible pillar 3 and the rear of the vehicle 1. The forming bar 11 is swingably supported by the collapsible pillar 3 and the hinge 14. Further, the forming bar 11 is connected by a link rod 16 and a hinge 17, which is supported by the hinge bracket 2 by a hinge 15. A hard roof 18 is removably attached to the collapsible pillar 3.

Therefore, when the swing arm 7 is swung by the output shaft 6 of the top opening/closing drive device A, which has a motor 5 whose forward and reverse rotation is controlled, the link constituted by the link rods 8, 16, forming bar 11, etc. The mechanism 19 causes the collapsible pillar 3 to swing between the closed position ( ) and the released position ( ) to automatically open and close the top 12 .

In FIGS. 2 and 3, A indicates the above-mentioned hood opening/closing drive device, in which the motor 5 is attached and the worm gear 21 of the drive shaft 5a is attached.
and a worm wheel 23 fitted on the worm wheel shaft 22. An intermediate gear 24 is fitted onto the worm wheel shaft 22 and is coupled to the worm wheel 23 by a coupling member 25 to rotate together. 26 is the housing 2 of the drive device A
A transmission gear shaft having both ends rotatably supported at 0, and a transmission gear 2 that meshes with the intermediate gear 24 on one side.
7 is loosely fitted so that it can rotate freely. The transmission gear 27 has engagement pawls 28 protruding from its side surface at equal angular intervals. An engagement recess 31 formed on the side surface of the clutch disk 30, which is inserted into the transmission gear shaft 26 to restrict free rotation with a key 29 and to freely move in the axial direction.
and the engaging pawl 28 on the side surface of the transmission gear 27 are engaged to form a clutch mechanism. A spring 32 is attached between the clutch disk 30 and the retaining ring 33, and causes the spring force of the spring 32 to act on the other side of the clutch disk 30. 34 is a pinion fitted on the other side of the transmission gear shaft 26. The clutch release member 37 is a reduction gear 3 fixed to the output shaft 6.
Mesh with 5. 37 is the clutch disk 30
An engagement protrusion 38 that fits into an engagement annular groove 36 formed in a cylindrical shape is mounted in the housing 20 by an operating shaft 40, which is a clutch release member formed in a semicircular shape and is inserted and fixed into a shaft insertion portion 39. The operating shaft 40 is formed with an enlarged diameter portion 41, and its axial movement range is restricted by the inner wall 42 of the housing 20 and the intermediate vertical wall 43. Further, a protrusion 44 protruding from the housing 20 is formed on the operating shaft 40, and an interlocking member 46 is fixed to an end 45 of the protrusion 44. An operation bolt insertion hole 47 is formed in the interlocking member 46, and an operation bolt 49 is screwed into a screw hole 48 formed in the housing 20.
Insert.

In this embodiment, the vehicle hood opening/closing drive device A described above is arranged as a pair on both sides of the vehicle, and swings between the hood closed position () and the hood open position (). Regulation of the swinging angle of the swinging arm 7 and adjustment of the rotation of the motor 5 disposed on both sides of the vehicle are performed by limit switches, encoders, stoppers, etc.
Since this is outside the scope of the present invention, its explanation will be omitted.

As clarified from the above description, in the case where it is necessary to immediately manually open and close the top in an emergency, the interlocking member 46 fixed to the end 45 of the protrusion 44 of the operating shaft 40 is attached to the housing 20. When pushed inward, the stepped portion of the enlarged diameter portion 41 of the operating shaft 40 moves the clutch release member 37 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. Since the engagement protrusion 38 of the clutch release member 37 is fitted into the engagement ring groove 36 of the clutch disc 30, the clutch release member 37 moves the clutch disc 30 against the spring force of the spring 32, thereby releasing the clutch. The disc 30 and the engagement claw 28 of the transmission gear 27 are disengaged to release the engagement clutch mechanism. In this case, when the pressure on the interlocking member 46 is released, the spring force causes the clutch disk 30 to return and the clutch mechanism to recover its connection.

In addition, when manually opening and closing the top due to a failure of the motor 5, etc., when the operating bolt 49 is rotated with a screwdriver or the like and screwed into the screw hole 48, the head of the operating bolt 49 engages the interlocking member 46. is pressed to move the operating shaft 40, the clutch release member 37, and the clutch disc 30 in the same manner as described above, and release the clutch mechanism based on the engagement between the clutch disc 30 and the engagement pawl 28 of the transmission gear 27. In this case, since the operating bolt 49 is screwed into the threaded hole 48, the released state of the clutch mechanism due to meshing is maintained.

When the meshing clutch mechanism is released, the motor drive shaft 5a and the output shaft 6 are disconnected, and the reverse rotation prevention effect from the worm wheel 23 side of the worm gear mechanism does not work, making it possible to manually open and close the top 12. .

"Effects" As clarified by the explanation of the specific means and operation described above, the present invention provides that when the operating bolt protruding outside the housing is rotated and screwed toward the inside of the housing, the operating bolt Since the interlockable release member engages with a clutch disk which is fitted to the transmission gear shaft under a spring elastic force so as to restrict rotation only and to be movable in the axial direction, the clutch disk is engaged with the transmission gear shaft by the release member. The spring is moved on the gear shaft in the direction of releasing the clutch mechanism while compressing the spring, and the clutch mechanism is released and removed due to the lateral engagement of the transmission gear that meshes with the intermediate gear that rotates integrally with the output shaft. Since the condition can be maintained, if manual opening/closing is required in the event of a motor failure, there is no need to keep pressing the clutch release member against the spring elasticity as in conventional manual opening/closing mechanisms, so the hood can be opened manually. This not only improves the operability of opening and closing, but also completely prevents the clutch mechanism from unexpectedly recovering its engagement and making manual opening and closing impossible.

Furthermore, in the present invention, the clutch disk is engaged with the side surface of the transmission gear that is rotatably supported by the transmission gear shaft, and the clutch mechanism is released by shaft operation on the transmission gear shaft, which is different from the output shaft. Since the thickness of the clutch mechanism is not required, the clutch mechanism can be easily released even in a narrow space.Furthermore, the clutch mechanism can be released by pressing the interlocking member protruding from the housing, making it easier to release the clutch mechanism in an emergency. It has excellent effects such as instant release.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The accompanying drawings show one embodiment of the present invention, with FIG. 1 being a schematic side view, FIG. 2 being a plan view, and FIG. 3 being FIG. 2B.
-B-line cut sectional view, Figure 4 is clutch disk 3
5 and 6 are cross-sectional views of essential parts showing the operation of the manual opening/closing mechanism of the present invention. 1... Vehicle, 5... Motor, 5a... Drive shaft,
6...Output shaft, 12...Top, 19...Link mechanism, 20...Housing, A...Top opening/closing drive device, 21...Worm gear, 23...Worm wheel, 24...Intermediate gear, 26... Transmission gear shaft, 27... Transmission gear, 28... Transmission gear side surface (engaging pawl), 30... Clutch disk, 32...
Spring, 37...Clutch release member, 40...Operating shaft, 46...Interlocking member, 49...Operating bolt.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a vehicle hood opening/closing device that transmits the rotational driving force of a motor to an output shaft via an intermediate gear and automatically opens and closes a vehicle hood by a link mechanism connected to the output shaft, the intermediate a transmission gear provided between a gear and the output shaft and meshing with the intermediate gear; a housing rotatably housing the intermediate gear and rotatably supporting the output shaft; and a transmission gear rotatably supported within the housing. a transmission gear shaft rotatably supporting the transmission gear; and a clutch disk movably supported in the axial direction by the transmission gear shaft, the clutch disk controlling the rotation of the transmission gear when meshing with the side surface of the transmission gear. a clutch disc for transmitting transmission to a gear shaft; a biasing means for biasing a spring force in a direction in which the clutch disc meshes with the transmission gear; a clutch release member that engages with the clutch disc; and a clutch release member provided to protrude outside the housing. an operating bolt which releases the lateral engagement between the clutch disk and the transmission gear through the clutch release member by a screw rotation operation of the bolt; an interlocking member provided outside the housing for interlocking the clutch release member, the interlocking member being operable to operate the clutch release member by pressing the interlocking member against the spring elasticity of the biasing means; A vehicle hood opening/closing device characterized by comprising: