JP4815515B2 - Vehicle steering lock device - Google Patents

Description

  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, an electric motor fixedly supported in the housing, and a power conversion interposed between the electric motor and the lock pin that enables a rotary motion to be converted into a linear motion. And a steering lock device suitable for use in a smart entry system that can be switched between locking and unlocking without a key.

  Conventionally, such a steering lock device is known, for example, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-59903. In this device, for example, a planetary gear mechanism for reducing the output of an electric motor, a final gear of the planetary gear mechanism, and Power conversion means, an electric motor, a slider, and a lock pin configured with a cam mechanism provided between the sliders are directly supported by the housing.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-5990

The invention of the present application is supported by the housing so as to enable linear reciprocation between a housing fixed to a steering column surrounding the steering shaft and a position where the steering shaft is engaged and a position where the engagement is released. Steering lock for a vehicle, comprising: a lock pin that is fixedly supported in the housing; and a power conversion means that is capable of converting a rotary motion into a linear motion and is interposed between the electric motor and the lock pin. In the apparatus, the electric motor is arranged so that an axis of an output shaft thereof is orthogonal to a reciprocating direction of the lock pin, and the power conversion means is supported at both ends in the housing, so that the lock pin reciprocates. a support shaft extending in a direction, a worm gear fixed to the output shaft of the electric motor, the U A worm wheel which is supported on the support shaft while meshed with Mugiya a screw shaft interlocked rotation with the worm wheel is also supported on the support shaft, is connected to the locking pin, allows to move axially And a nut that is restricted from rotating around the axis and is screwed onto the screw shaft.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a steering lock apparatus, and is sectional drawing which follows the 1-1 line | wire of FIG. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view of a steering lock device. It is a perspective view corresponding to Drawing 3 in the state before inserting an insertion unit in a housing. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a part of the interpolation unit with a different viewing direction from FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG.

  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.

  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.

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 which is arranged so that the axis of the output shaft 18a is orthogonal to the reciprocating direction of the lock pin 16 and is fixedly supported by the housing 13, the electric motor 18 which can convert the rotational motion into a linear motion, and Power conversion means 19 interposed between the sliders 17 and operation of the sliders 17 on the lock side It includes a solenoid 20 for determining the start timing, and an electronic control unit 21 for controlling the electric motor 18 and the solenoid 20.

  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.

  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.

  Referring also to FIG. 4, an insertion unit 25 is accommodated in the housing 13, and the insertion unit 25 is sandwiched between the housing main body 14 and the cover plate 15 to be inside the housing main body 14 of the housing 13. The lock 26, 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 assembled to the insert 26 accommodated in the housing.

  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.

The power conversion means 19 includes a worm gear 36 fixed to the output shaft 18 a of the electric motor 18, a worm wheel 37 that meshes with the worm gear 36, a screw shaft 38 that rotates in conjunction with the worm wheel 37, and rotation around the axis. The power conversion means 19 and the electric motor 18 are accommodated in the case 30. The nut 39 is restricted and is allowed to move in the axial direction and is screwed into the screw shaft 38. Is done.

  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.

In this embodiment , the worm wheel 37 meshing with the worm gear 36 and the screw shaft 38 on which the double thread is engraved on the outer periphery are formed integrally, and the first and second case members 28 and 29 are integrated. The worm wheel 37 and the screw shaft 38 are coupled to each other so as to be sandwiched from both sides in the axial direction.

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. is provided integrally so as to direction movably accommodated in the support shaft 41 at both ends Ru extends in the reciprocating movement direction of the lock pin 16 is supported by the end wall and the second case member 29 of the guide tube 40, The worm wheel 37 and the screw shaft 38 are rotatably supported.

  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.

  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.

  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.

  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, a substantially U-shaped engaging portion that is detachably engaged with the connecting portions 43, 43 of the nut 39 disposed so as to face the connecting holes 42, 42 of the guide cylinder 40. 46, 46 are provided.

  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.

  A through hole 49 is provided in the support wall 31 at a position corresponding to the central portion of the solenoid 20, and a 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.

  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.

  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.

  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.

  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.

  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.

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 supported in the housing 13 at both ends. a support shaft 41 extending in the reciprocating direction of the lock pin 16, a worm gear 36 fixed to the output shaft 18a of the electric motor 18 which is perpendicular to the reciprocating direction of the lock pin 16 is engaged with the worm gear 36 A worm wheel 37 supported by the support shaft 41, a screw shaft 38 that is supported by the support shaft 41 together with the worm wheel 37, and rotates in conjunction with the worm wheel 37, and the rotation around the axis is restricted and the axis line And a nut 39 that is allowed to move in the direction and is screwed onto the screw shaft 38. There in Rukoto engaged, the nut 39 is Ru is connected to the lock pin 16 via the slider 17.

In such a power conversion means 19, the output of the electric motor 18 is decelerated by the meshing of the worm gear 36 and the worm wheel 37, and the nut 39 is screwed to the screw shaft 38 that rotates in conjunction with the worm wheel 37 , so that the electric motor 18 The rotational motion is converted into the linear motion of the slider 17, and the power conversion means 19 is composed of four parts, that is, the worm gear 36, the worm wheel 37, the screw shaft 38 and the 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.

  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.

  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 in 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.

  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.

  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.

  In addition, a pair of connecting holes 42 and 42 that face the pair of connecting portions 43 and 43 provided in the nut 39 are provided in the guide cylinder 40, and the slider 17 is detachably engaged with both the connecting portions 43 and 43. Thus, the nut 39 and the slider 17 can be easily connected.

  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.

  Thus, the insertion unit 25 includes a lock pin 16, a slider 17, an electric motor 18, a solenoid, and an insertion body 26 sandwiched between the housing main body 14 and the cover plate 15 and accommodated in the housing main body 14 of the housing 13. 20, the power conversion means 19, the electronic control unit 21, and the bus bar assembly 27 are assembled. The lock pin 16, the slider 17, the electric motor 18, the solenoid 20, the power conversion means 19, and the electronic control. Since the unit 21 and the bus bar 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. Can improve the ease of assembly when assembling the That.

  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.

  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.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Steering shaft 12 ... Steering column 13 ... Housing 16 ... Lock pin 18 ... Electric motor
18a ... Output shaft 19 ... Power conversion means
36 ... Worm gear
37 ... Worm wheel 38 ... Screw shaft 39 ... Nut
41 ... support shaft

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. A lock pin (16) supported on the housing (13), an electric motor (18) fixedly supported in the housing (13), and an electric motor capable of converting rotational motion into linear motion. (18) and a power steering means (19) interposed between the lock pins (16), a steering lock device for a vehicle,
The electric motor (18) is arranged so that the axis of the output shaft (18a) is orthogonal to the reciprocating direction of the lock pin (16),
The power conversion means (19) includes a support shaft (41) supported at both ends in the housing (13) and extending in a reciprocating direction of the lock pin (16), and the output shaft of the electric motor (18). A worm gear (36) fixed to (18a), a worm wheel (37) meshed with the worm gear (36) and supported by the support shaft (41), and also supported by the support shaft (41). The screw shaft (38) that rotates in conjunction with the worm wheel (37) and the lock pin (16) are connected to the lock pin (16) , and the rotation around the axis is restricted while allowing the screw shaft (38) to move. And a nut (39) that is screwed onto the steering lock device for a vehicle.

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