JP3784764B2 - Steering wheel tilt control device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a steering wheel tilt control device including a tilt control means for tilting a steering wheel with a tilt mechanism.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When the tilt angle of the steering wheel of an automobile can be adjusted, the steering wheel tilts up to the flip-up position when the driver pulls out the ignition key to get off, and then the steering wheel is inserted when the driver gets on and inserts the ignition key. The following patent document discloses that the steering wheel does not get in the way when the driver gets on and off by tilting down to the driving operation position.
[0003]
[Patent Literature]
Japanese Patent No. 2588408 [0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional system, when the driver inserts the ignition key, the steering wheel is always tilted down to the driving operation position. For example, when the navigation system is operated by setting the ignition key to the accessory position, the navigation system There was a problem that even if it tried to tilt up the steering wheel to the flip-up position so as not to obstruct the operation, it could not be done.
[0005]
Therefore, it is conceivable that the steering wheel can be tilted up to the flip-up position even when the ignition key is inserted, but in this way the steering wheel is tilted up to the flip-up position, that is, steering operation is difficult. The engine may start in a state.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and allows the steering wheel to be tilted up as much as possible while prohibiting engine starting in a state where the steering wheel is tilted up to the flip-up position. The purpose is to enable effective use.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tilt control means for tilting the steering wheel with a tilt mechanism, and the tilt control means is provided with a steering wheel in a state where an ignition key is inserted. A tilt control device for a steering wheel that permits the engine to start when the steering wheel is in the flip-up position , wherein the tilt control means stops the vehicle The steering wheel tilt is characterized in that when the engine is stopped and the engine is stopped, the steering wheel is moved to the flip-up position based on a command operation of the driver by depressing the brake pedal a plurality of times within a predetermined time. A control device is proposed.
[0008]
According to the above configuration, even if the ignition key is inserted, the movement of the steering wheel to the flip-up position is allowed. Therefore, the driver inserts the ignition key and uses the navigation system or audio system, while interfering with the steering wheel. The space in the passenger compartment can be used effectively without being used. Moreover, even if the ignition key is inserted, starting the engine is prohibited when the steering wheel is in the flip-up position, so the engine starts when the steering wheel is flipped up and steering operation is difficult Can be reliably avoided.
[0009]
Also the tilt control means, only a stopped vehicle while stopping 且 one engine, since moving the flip-up position of the steering wheel based on a driver's instruction operation, while movement of the vehicle or engine operation a situation of moving the steering wheel is flipped position can be prevented, yet drivers are moved to the steering wheel is flipped position command operation consisting stepping several times a brake pedal within a predetermined time during since the operation compared with the case where splashing the steering wheel by operating the switch by hand Ri readily Na, driver operation load is improved operability is reduced.
[0010]
The control unit 41 of the embodiment corresponds to the tilt control means of the present invention.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the embodiments of the present invention shown in the accompanying drawings.
[0012]
1 to 6 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an overall side view of a tilt mechanism of a steering wheel, FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the control system, FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of a starter motor drive system, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation.
[0013]
First, the structure of the steering wheel tilt mechanism will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0014]
A steering column 12 is supported on a stay 11 provided on the lower surface of the dashboard via a tilt mechanism 13 so as to be swingable up and down. A steering shaft 15 having a steering wheel 14 at the rear end is provided inside the steering column 12. Is supported rotatably. A pulley housing 16 of a cable type steering device is provided at the front end of the steering column 12. The cable-type steering device transmits steering torque input to the steering wheel 14 to the steering gear box via the Bowden cable, and is flexible even if the position of the pulley housing 16 is moved by the tilt of the steering wheel 14. Steering torque can be transmitted through the Bowden cable having
[0015]
The tilt mechanism 13 includes a fixed bracket 17 having a U-shaped cross section that is fixed to the lower surface of the stay 11. The tilt mechanism 13 is swingably supported on the upper portion of the fixed bracket 17 via a tilt shaft 18 that extends in the left-right direction of the vehicle body. A middle portion in the longitudinal direction of the steering column 12 is fixed to a swing bracket 19 having an inverted U-shaped cross section.
[0016]
A pillow ball 22 is swingably supported on a lower end portion of an arm 21 extending downward from a cylindrical actuator housing 20, and one bolt 23 is a washer 24, the pillow ball 22, a collar 25, and the fixing bracket 17. And is fastened to a weld nut 26 fixed to the back surface of the fixing bracket 17.
[0017]
A worm 29 formed on the rotation shaft 28 of the actuator motor 27 fixed to the upper surface of the front portion of the actuator housing 20 in the left-right direction is supported on a worm wheel 31 rotatably supported by the actuator housing 20 via a pair of ball bearings 30, 30. I'm engaged. A push-pull rod 32 arranged on the axis of the actuator housing 20 so as to be movable back and forth is engaged with the worm wheel 31 via a ball screw mechanism 33. The lower end of the arm 34 fixed to the side surface of the steering column 12 and the rear end of the push-pull rod 32 are connected via a ball joint 35.
[0018]
Thus, when the actuator motor 27 of the tilt mechanism 13 is rotationally driven in one direction, the worm wheel 31 that meshes with the worm 29 provided on the rotation shaft 28 of the actuator motor 27 rotates, and the worm wheel 31 is connected to the worm wheel 31 via the ball screw mechanism 33. The push-pull rod 32 that meshes with each other moves forward with respect to the actuator housing 20. As a result, the arm 34 connected to the push-pull rod 32 via the ball joint 35 is pulled forward, and the steering column 12 to which the arm 34 is fixed swings around the tilt shaft 18 in the clockwise direction. 14 is tilted down toward the driving operation position indicated by the solid line in FIG.
[0019]
Conversely, when the actuator motor 27 of the tilt mechanism 13 is rotationally driven in the other direction, the push-pull rod 32 moves rearward with respect to the actuator housing 20, so that the arm 34 connected to the push-pull rod 32 via the ball joint 35. Is pushed rearward and the steering column 12 to which the arm 34 is fixed swings counterclockwise around the tilt shaft 18, so that the steering wheel 14 is tilted up toward the flip-up position shown by the chain line in FIG. . In the process of tilting down and tilting up, a slight torsional load is applied to the actuator housing 20 of the tilt mechanism 13, but the torsional load is absorbed by the pillow ball 22 and the ball joint 35.
[0020]
Note that the flip-up position refers to the steering wheel 14 reaching the upper limit (or exceeding a preset position) in order to make it easier for the driver to get on and off, and for the driver to effectively use the space in the passenger compartment while the vehicle is stopped. ) A tilted position. The driving operation position refers to a position where the steering wheel 14 is tilted down by a predetermined amount from the flip-up position so that the driver can most easily perform the driving operation.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 4, on the input side of the control unit 41, there are a 12V battery 42 as a power source, a shift position sensor 43 for detecting the shift position of the automatic transmission, and an engine speed sensor 44 for detecting the engine speed. A brake switch 45 that detects that the brake pedal has been depressed, an ignition key detection switch 46 that detects that the ignition key has been inserted, a tilt switch 47 that activates the tilt mechanism 13 by a driver's switch operation, A steering position sensor 48 for detecting the position (tilt angle) of the steering wheel 14 is connected. On the output side of the control unit 41, the actuator motor 27 of the tilt mechanism 13 and a starter motor described later are prohibited. Do And normally closed starter cut relay 49 for prohibiting the starting of the engine and is connected.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 5, a starter motor 52 for starting the engine and a normally open starter relay 53 are arranged in series between the battery 42 and the ground portion 51, and the starter motor 52 and the starter relay 53 are connected to the starter motor 52 and the starter relay 53. Thus, the ignition switch 54, the starter cut relay 49, and the coil 53a of the starter relay 53 arranged in series are connected in parallel. On the other hand, between the battery 42 and the ground portion 55, the collector and emitter of the NPN first transistor 56, the coil 49a of the starter cut relay 49, and the collector and emitter of the NPN second transistor 57 are connected in series. Placed in. The voltage at the A terminal of the control unit 41 connected to the base of the first transistor 56 is low when the shift position is other than “P” (parking position), and the control unit is connected to the base of the second transistor 56. The voltage at the B terminal 41 is low when the tilt mechanism 13 is in the flip-up position.
[0023]
Accordingly, since the starter cut relay 49 is normally closed, when the driver turns on the ignition switch 54, the coil 53a of the starter relay 53 is excited and the relay contact is closed, and the starter motor 52 is operated by the battery 42. Then the engine starts.
[0024]
However, if the shift position detected by the shift position sensor 43 is other than the “P” position, the A terminal of the control unit 41 goes low and the first transistor 56 is turned off, so the coil 49a of the starter cut relay 49 is turned off. Is not excited, and therefore engine starting is prohibited. Further, if the steering position detected by the steering position sensor 48 is in the flip-up position, the B terminal of the control unit 41 goes low and the second transistor 57 is turned off, so that the coil 49a of the starter cut relay 49 is excited. Therefore, starting of the engine is prohibited.
[0025]
In short, engine start is permitted only when the shift position is the “P” position and the steering wheel 14 is in a position other than the flip-up position (that is, the driving operation position).
[0026]
Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0027]
First, after the control unit 41 is initialized in step S1, if the shift position is the “P” position in step S2, the engine is stopped in step S3, and the steering position is the jumping position in step S4, In step S5, the starter cut relay 49 is turned off to prohibit engine start. As a result, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the engine starts when the steering wheel 14 is in the flip-up position that is not suitable for driving operation.
[0028]
If the driver does not operate the tilt switch 47 for manually changing the tilt angle of the steering wheel 14 in the subsequent step S6, it is determined in step S7 whether or not the ignition key has been inserted in the previous loop. If the ignition key was previously inserted in S7 and the ignition key detection switch 46 detects in step S8 that the ignition key has not been inserted in the current loop, that is, at the moment when the ignition key is removed, in step S9 the ignition key is inserted. The in state is cleared, and the process returns to step S2. That is, if the driver does not operate the tilt switch 47 when the steering wheel 14 is in the flip-up position, the steering wheel 14 is held in the jump-up position when the ignition key is removed. You can get off without being disturbed.
[0029]
If the steering position is not in the flip-up position in step S4 but is in the driving operation position, when the driver operates the tilt switch 47 and outputs a tilt-up signal in step S10, the tilt mechanism 13 is activated in step S11 and the steering is performed. The wheel 14 is tilted up to the steering position (including the flip-up position) intended by the driver. In step S12, the tilt angle of the steering wheel 14 is stored. The tilt angle stored here is referred to in step S4. In this way, even when the ignition key is inserted in step S17 described later, the steering wheel 14 can be tilted up at the will of the driver, so that the driver is not obstructed by the steering wheel 14 and is not obstructed by the vehicle interior. Space can be used effectively.
[0030]
In step S4, when the steering position is in the flip-up position, and in step S6, the driver operates the tilt switch 47 to output a tilt down signal, the tilt mechanism 13 is activated in step S13, and the steering wheel 14 is moved by the driver. Tilt down to the intended steering position, and the tilt angle of the steering wheel 14 is stored in step S14. The tilt angle stored here is referred to in step S4. In step S15, the starter cut relay 49 is turned on to allow the engine to start. At this time, since the steering wheel 14 is in the driving operation position intended by the driver, there is no problem even if the engine is started.
[0031]
If the previous ignition key was not inserted in step S7 and the ignition key detection switch 46 detected that the ignition key was inserted in the current loop in step S16, that is, at the moment when the ignition key was inserted, in step S17. The ignition key is set to the inserted state, and in step S13, the tilt mechanism 13 is automatically operated without the driver operating the tilt switch 47, and the steering wheel 14 is tilted down. The tilt angle at this time may be a preset tilt angle or the tilt angle stored in the previous step S14. In step S14, the current tilt angle of the steering wheel 14 is stored, and in step S15, the starter cut relay 49 is turned on to allow the engine to start.
[0032]
As described above, when the driver gets on and inserts the ignition key, the steering wheel 14 is automatically tilted down to the driving operation position, thereby reducing the operation burden on the driver and improving convenience. Further, since the tilt mechanism 13 operates only when the shift position is the “P” position and the vehicle is stopped, the steering wheel 14 is tilted up while the vehicle is moving or the engine is operating, and the driver feels uncomfortable. There is no fear of giving.
[0033]
Further, in the present invention, in place of the driver operating the tilt switch 47 and tilting up the steering wheel 14 to the flip-up position in step S10, it is determined that the driver has stepped on the brake pedal a plurality of times within a predetermined time. 45 is to so that is tilted up to the flip-up position of the steering wheel 14 upon the detection, thereby the driver operation load is improved operability is reduced.
[0034]
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, various design changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0035]
For example, although the cable type steering device is illustrated in the embodiment, the present invention can be applied to a general shaft type steering device.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, even when the ignition key is inserted, the steering wheel is allowed to move to the flip-up position, so that the driver inserts the ignition key and uses the navigation system and the audio system. The space in the passenger compartment can be used effectively without being disturbed by the steering wheel. Moreover, even if the ignition key is inserted, starting the engine is prohibited when the steering wheel is in the flip-up position, so the engine starts when the steering wheel is flipped up and steering operation is difficult Can be avoided reliably.
[0037]
The tilt control means, only a stopped vehicle while stopping 且 one engine, since moving the flip-up position of the steering wheel based on a driver's instruction operation, during movement of the vehicle or during engine operation to be able to prevent a situation of moving the steering wheel is flipped position in advance, and since drivers to move the steering wheel is flipped position command operation consisting stepping several times a brake pedal within a predetermined time hand Ri if the operation is easily Na compared to flipping up the steering wheel by operating the switch, the driver of the operation load is reduced operability is improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1 is an overall side view of a steering wheel tilt mechanism. FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of part 3 in FIG. ] Circuit diagram of starter motor drive system [Fig. 6] Flow chart explaining operation [Explanation of symbols]
14 Steering wheel 13 Tilt mechanism 41 Control unit (tilt control means)

Claims (1)

A tilt control means (41) for tilting the steering wheel (14) with a tilt mechanism (13) ;
The tilt control means (41) permits the steering wheel (14) to move to the flip-up position with the ignition key inserted, and when the steering wheel (14) is at the jump-up position, A steering wheel tilt control device that prohibits starting ,
The tilt control means (41) controls the steering wheel (14) based on a command operation of the driver depressing the brake pedal a plurality of times within a predetermined time when the vehicle is stopped and the engine is stopped. wherein the moving the flip-up position, the tilt control equipment of the steering wheel.

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