JP4530563B2 - 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 reciprocation between a housing fixed to a steering column surrounding a steering shaft, and a position where the steering shaft is engaged and a position where the engagement is released. A lock pin supported on the housing, a reciprocating slide in the same direction as the reciprocating movement direction of the lock pin, a slider supported on the housing and coupled to the lock pin, and fixed to the housing Smart entry with a supported electric motor and power conversion means that can convert the rotary motion into linear motion and interposed between the electric motor and the slider, and can be switched between lock and unlock without a key The present invention relates to an improvement of a steering lock device suitably used in a system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in such a steering lock device, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-59903, for example, a planetary gear mechanism for reducing the output of the electric motor, and the power conversion means provided between the electric motor and the slider, The final gear of the planetary gear mechanism and a cam mechanism provided between the sliders.
[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]
Moreover, in the said conventional thing, it is the structure which assembles | assembles the components which comprise a power conversion means one by one in a housing, and it cannot be said that assembly property is excellent.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, the power conversion means can be configured with a small number of equipment, and the power conversion means and the housing can be made compact and the assemblability can be improved. An object of the present invention is to provide a steering lock device for a vehicle in which a slider and a nut can be easily connected.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a linear reciprocating movement between a housing fixed to a steering column surrounding a steering shaft, a position engaging with the steering shaft, and a position releasing the engagement. A lock pin supported on the housing as possible, a slider supported on the housing and coupled to the lock pin to enable reciprocal sliding in the same direction as the reciprocating direction of the lock pin, and fixedly supported on the housing In a vehicle steering lock device comprising: an electric motor that is capable of converting a rotary motion into a linear motion; and a power conversion means that is interposed between the electric motor and the slider, the power conversion means includes the electric motor. Worm gear fixed to the output shaft of the worm wheel and the worm wheel meshing with the worm gear The first and second case members include a screw shaft coaxially and integrally connected to the worm wheel, and a nut screwed to the screw shaft, and sandwiching the worm wheel and the screw shaft from both sides in the axial direction. Are coupled to each other and the power conversion means is housed in a case fixedly disposed in the housing, and the nut is fitted to the first case member so that the nut cannot be relatively rotated and can move in the axial direction. A bottom tube-shaped guide tube is integrally provided, and the worm wheel and the screw shaft are rotatably supported by a support shaft supported at both ends by the end wall of the guide tube and the second case member, and the axial direction of the nut connecting portions of the pair facing to the pair of connecting holes formed in the guide tube extends in the moving direction is provided integrally with the nut, the outer the slider of the guide tube to the two joining portions Characterized in that it is engaged et disengageably engaged.
[0007]
According to such a configuration, the output of the electric motor is decelerated by the meshing of the worm gear and the worm wheel, and the nut is engaged with the screw shaft that rotates together with the worm wheel, so that the rotary motion of the electric motor is converted into a linear motion. By configuring the power conversion means with four parts, the number of parts can be reduced, and the power conversion means and the housing can be made compact. Moreover, since the screw shaft and the worm wheel are integrally formed, the number of parts constituting the power conversion means can be further reduced, and the coupling rigidity of the screw shaft and the worm wheel can be increased. Further, by assembling the case in which the power conversion means is pre-assembled into the housing, the assembly of the power conversion means to the housing is completed, and the assemblability can be improved. In addition, since the operating sound of the power conversion means is double-shielded by the case and the housing, it is possible to obtain excellent noise reduction. Further, the component part of the power conversion means is configured to rotatably support the worm wheel and the screw shaft by the end wall of the guide tube integrally provided on the first case member and the support shaft supported at both ends by the second case member. Ru can be simplified support structure. Also the together with the nut is engaged relatively non-rotatably and axially movably fitted in the guide tube, a pair of connecting holes is set vignetting extending in the moving direction of the nut to the guide tube, each of these connecting holes Since the slider is engaged from the outside of the guide tube with a pair of connecting portions provided integrally with the nut, the nut and slider of the power conversion means can be easily connected.
[0008]
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.
[0009]
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 sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG.
[0010]
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.
[0011]
This steering lock device is a linear reciprocation between a housing 13 fixed to a cylindrical steering column 12 surrounding the steering shaft 11 and a position where the steering shaft 11 is engaged and a position where the engagement is released. A lock pin 16 that is supported on the housing 13 so as to be movable, and a slider 17 that is supported on the housing 13 and connected to the lock pin 16 so as to be capable of reciprocating sliding in the same direction as the reciprocating direction of the lock pin 16. The electric motor 18 fixedly supported by the housing 13, the power conversion means 19 interposed between the electric motor 18 and the slider 17 so as to be able to convert the rotary motion into a linear motion, and the slider 17 toward the lock side. Solenoid 20 for determining operation start timing, electric motor 18 and solenoid 20 And an electronic control unit 21 for controlling.
[0012]
The housing 13 includes a bottomed cylindrical housing main body 14 that is open on the side opposite to the steering column 12, and a cover plate 15 that is coupled to the housing main body 14 so as to close an open end of the housing main body 14. The housing main body 14 is fixed to the steering column 12.
[0013]
On the steering column 12 side, a projecting portion 14a 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, and includes the projecting portion 14a. The end wall is provided with a sliding hole 23 into which the lock pin 16 is slidably fitted, and an outer periphery of the steering shaft 11 is provided with an engagement recess 24 capable of engaging the lock pin 16.
[0014]
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.
[0015]
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.
[0016]
The power conversion means 19 regulates rotation around an axis line, a worm gear 36 fixed to the output shaft 18 a of the electric motor 18, a worm wheel 37 meshing with the worm gear 36, a screw shaft 38 that rotates together with the worm wheel 37. And a nut 39 that is allowed to move in the axial direction and is screwed onto the screw shaft 38. The power conversion means 19 and the electric motor 18 are accommodated in the case 30. The
[0017]
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.
[0018]
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.
[0019]
Referring also to FIG. 5, the first case member 28 is provided with a bottomed cylindrical guide tube 40 having a right-angled quadrilateral cross-sectional shape so that the nut 39 cannot be relatively rotated and moved in the axial direction. The worm wheel 37 and the screw shaft 38 are rotatably supported by a support shaft 41 which is integrally provided so as to be fitted and supported at both ends by the end wall of the guide tube 40 and the second case member 29. Is done.
[0020]
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 integrally provided with a pair of connecting portions 43 and 43 that face the connecting holes 42 and 42, respectively.
[0021]
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.
[0022]
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.
[0023]
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. , 17a is substantially engaged with the connection portions 43, 43 of the nut 39 disposed so as to face the connection holes 42, 42 of the guide tube 40 so as to be detachable from the outside of the guide tube 40. U-shaped engaging portions 46 are provided.
[0024]
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.
[0025]
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.
[0026]
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.
[0027]
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.
[0028]
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.
[0029]
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 assembled to the insert 26 so as to be connected to some of the bus bars 56 of the bus bar assembly 27.
[0030]
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.
[0031]
Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The power conversion means 19 that can convert the rotational motion into a linear motion and is interposed between the electric motor 18 and the slider 17 is fixed to the output shaft 18 a of the electric motor 18. The worm gear 36, the worm wheel 37 meshing with the worm gear 36, the screw shaft 38 that rotates together with the worm wheel 37, the rotation around the axis line is restricted, and the movement in the axial direction is allowed. The slider 17 is engaged with the nut 39.
[0032]
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.
[0033]
Further, since the screw shaft 38 and the worm wheel 37 are integrally formed, the number of parts constituting the power conversion means 19 can be further reduced and the connection rigidity of the screw shaft 38 and the worm wheel 37 is increased. be able to.
[0034]
Incidentally, the housing 13 houses a case 30 composed of first and second case members 28 and 29 coupled to each other, and 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.
[0035]
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.
[0036]
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 not to rotate relative to the axial direction is integrally provided, and a support shaft that is supported at both ends 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 at 41, the support structure for the components of the power conversion means 19 can be simplified.
[0037]
Moreover the guide cylinder 40 which is fitted a nut 39 can be relatively unrotatable and axially moving a pair of connecting holes 42, 42 extending in the direction of movement of the nut 39 have been kicked setting, these connecting holes 42, 42 Since the slider 17 is detachably engaged with the pair of connecting portions 43, 43 provided integrally with the nut 39 from the outside of the guide tube 40 , the nut 39 and the slider 17 can be easily connected. Can do.
[0038]
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.
[0039]
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.
[0040]
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.
[0041]
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.
[0042]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the number of components of the power conversion means can be reduced, the power conversion means and the housing can be made compact, the assemblability can be improved, and the excellent silencing performance It is possible to easily connect the nut and the slider of the power conversion means while simplifying the support structure of the components of the power conversion means.
[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 of electric motor ... Power conversion means 28 ... first case member 29 ... second case member 30 ... case 36 ... worm gear 37 ... worm wheel 38 ... screw shaft 39 ... nut 40 ... guide cylinder 41 ... Spindle 42 ... Connection hole 43 ... Connection part

Claims (1)

Linear reciprocation between a housing (13) fixed to a steering column (12) surrounding the steering shaft (11) and a position where the steering shaft (11) is engaged and a position where the engagement is released is performed. The lock pin (16) supported on the housing (13) as possible and the lock pin (16) supported on the housing (13) so as to be able to reciprocate in the same direction as the reciprocating movement of the lock pin (16). A slider (17) coupled to the pin (16), an electric motor (18) fixedly supported by the housing (13), and an electric motor (18) and a slider capable of converting rotational motion into linear motion (17) In a steering lock device for a vehicle provided with a power conversion means (19) interposed therebetween,
The power conversion means (19) includes a worm gear (36) fixed to the output shaft (18a) of the electric motor (18), a worm wheel (37) meshing with the worm gear (36), and the worm wheel ( 37) a screw shaft (38) coaxially and integrally connected to the screw shaft (38), and a nut (39) screwed to the screw shaft (38).
A case in which the first and second case members (28, 29) sandwiching the worm wheel (37) and the screw shaft (38) from both sides in the axial direction are coupled to each other and fixedly disposed in the housing (13). The power conversion means (19) is stored in (30),
The first case member (28) is integrally provided with a bottomed cylindrical guide tube (40) for fitting the nut (39) so as not to be relatively rotatable and axially movable. The worm wheel (37) and the screw shaft (38) are rotatably supported by the end wall of the second casing member (29) and the support shaft (41) supported at both ends by the second case member (29).
A pair of connecting portions (43) extending in the axial movement direction of the nut (39) and facing the pair of connecting holes (42) provided in the guide tube (40) are provided integrally with the nut (39). A steering lock device for a vehicle, wherein the slider (17) is engaged with both connecting portions (43) so as to be disengageable from the outside of the guide tube (40) .

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