JP7108906B2 - Lid lock device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a locking device for a lid such as a fuel lid of a vehicle.

A vehicle fuel supply portion structure described in Patent Document 1 below includes a fuel lid capable of opening and closing a fuel supply opening of a vehicle body, and a fuel adapter (substrate) extending from the fuel supply opening to a fuel supply opening. A lock mechanism for locking the fuel lid and a push-push type (knock cam type) push lifter for pushing the fuel lid open by a push operation are separately attached to the fuel adapter.

On the other hand, in the lid device described in Patent Document 2, the fuel lid is locked and unlocked by a push rod of a knock cam type push lifter. In this lid device, the push rod is locked by an electric locking mechanism fixed to the opening housing (substrate) together with the push lifter. When the fuel lid is pushed open, the push rod rotates about the axis by 90° while being displaced from the retracted position to the projected position. As a result, the locking piece provided at the tip of the push rod is disengaged from the fuel lid, and the fuel lid is unlocked. Further, the push rod is reversely rotated about the axis by 90° while being displaced from the protruded position to the retracted position when the fuel lid is closed. As a result, the locking piece locks the fuel lid. In this state, the electric lock mechanism locks the push rod so that the push rod is held in the locked state.

In the lid opening/closing device described in Patent Document 3 below, similar to the lid device described in Patent Document 2 below, the push rod of the push lifter locks and unlocks the fuel lid, and is integrated with the push lifter. The push rod is locked by an electric locking mechanism. In this lid opening/closing device, the push lifter is of the heart cam type.

JP 2010-6114 A JP 2014-91841 A U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0045049

In the prior art disclosed in Patent Literature 1, the lock mechanism and the push lifter are attached separately to the fuel adapter (base body), which complicates the attachment structure. In this respect, in the prior arts described in Patent Documents 2 and 3, the push lifter and the lock mechanism are attached together to the base, so the attachment structure is simplified.

However, in the prior arts described in Patent Documents 2 and 3, if the push rod is accidentally pushed into the retracted position during refueling, i.e., when the fuel lid is open, the push rod rotates in the opposite direction, resulting in locking. Posture. In this state, the locking piece of the push rod improperly engages with the fuel lid, making it impossible to close the fuel lid. Further, if the push lifter fails while the fuel lid is closed, the fuel lid remains locked by the push rod, making it impossible to open the fuel lid (lid).

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention enables the lid to be closed without pushing back a push rod that has been pushed in by mistake, and allows the lid to be opened even if the push lifter fails in the closed state of the lid. To provide a lid lock device that simplifies the mounting structure of a lid.

The lid lock device according to claim 1 comprises a case attached to a base body on which a lid can be opened and closed, and a lock shaft formed in a cylindrical shape and supported by the case and having a push rod inserted therein. a lock mechanism that rotates the lock shaft forward and backward by the driving force of the drive source housed in the case, and locks and unlocks the lid by a lock portion formed at the tip of the lock shaft; Each time the push rod is pushed in the axial direction, it moves axially inside the lock shaft and alternately repeats projection and retraction. a push lifter for pushing the lid open.

In addition, the "cylindrical shape" described in claim 1 includes those having an open cross-section such as a C-shape or a U-shape when viewed from the axial direction. In other words, the "push rod" described in claim 1 may have a substantially cylindrical shape into which the lock shaft can be inserted.

In the first aspect of the invention, the case is attached to the base on which the lid is pivotally supported so as to be openable and closable. The case accommodates the drive source of the lock mechanism and supports a tubular lock shaft. The lock mechanism described above rotates the lock shaft forward and backward by the driving force of the drive source, and locks and unlocks the lid by the lock portion formed at the tip of the lock shaft. The push rod is inserted inside the lock shaft, and alternately repeats projection and retraction every time it is pushed in the axial direction. The lid is pushed open by the protrusion of the push rod.

In this invention, the lock shaft is rotated by the driving force of the drive source regardless of the pushing operation of the push rod. is not rotated to the locked position. Therefore, the lid can be closed without pushing the push rod back to the projecting position. Further, since the lock shaft is rotated independently of the pushing operation of the push rod as described above, the lid can be opened even if the push lifter fails while the lid is closed. Moreover, since the lock mechanism and the push lifter are not configured to be separately attached to the base, the attachment structure to the base is simplified.

The lid locking device according to claim 2 is the lid locking device according to claim 1, wherein the lock shaft and the push rod are arranged coaxially.

In the second aspect of the invention, the cylindrical lock shaft and the push rod inserted inside the lock shaft are arranged coaxially, thus saving space for arranging the lock shaft and the push rod. Space can be saved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lid locking device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the lock shaft and the push rod are arranged concentrically.

In the third aspect of the invention, the lock shaft formed in a cylindrical shape and the push rod inserted inside the lock shaft are arranged concentrically, so that there is almost no gap between the lock shaft and the push rod. does not occur. This further promotes space saving of the installation space for the lock shaft and the push rod. Further, since water is suppressed from entering between the lock shaft and the push rod, it is possible to prevent the push lifter from operating due to water freezing inside the lock shaft.

The lid locking device according to claim 4 is the lid locking device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the locking mechanism includes a spur gear rotated by the drive source, and the spur gear. a fan-shaped spur gear that meshes with the lock shaft and rotates integrally with the lock shaft.

In the invention according to claim 4, when the spur gear is rotated by the drive source, the sector-shaped spur gear meshed with the spur gear is rotated integrally with the lock shaft. By using the spur gear and the fan-shaped spur gear in this way, the lock mechanism can be made simple and compact. In addition, compared to the case where the lock mechanism is composed of a worm that is rotated by a drive source and a wheel that meshes with the worm, it is possible to reduce mold costs and parts costs.

A lid lock device according to claim 5 is the lid lock device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein in the protruding state of the push rod, the convex portion formed on the push rod By entering the first groove formed inside the lock shaft, the rotation of the lock shaft is restricted.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, when the push rod protrudes, that is, when the lid is opened, the protrusion formed on the push rod enters the first groove formed inside the lock shaft, thereby rotation is regulated. As a result, even if the drive source is erroneously operated while the push rod is protruding, it is possible to prevent the lock shaft from being inadvertently rotated.

Claim 6 is the lid lock device according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein in a state in which the lid is closed and locked by the lock shaft, the push button is closed. The protrusion formed on the rod enters the second groove formed inside the lock shaft, thereby disabling the pushing operation of the push rod.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, when the lid is closed and locked by the lock shaft, the push rod of the push lifter cannot be pushed, thereby preventing malfunction of the push lifter. .

The lid locking device according to claim 7 is the lid locking device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the driving source is a motor, and the motor has an axial direction of It is arranged parallel to the axial direction of the lock shaft and the push rod.

According to the seventh aspect of the invention, the axial direction of the motor constituting the drive source is arranged parallel to the axial directions of the lock shaft and the push rod. As a result, it is possible to save the installation space for the lock mechanism, the push lifter, and the drive source.

The lid lock device according to claim 8 is the lid lock device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a rotation operation portion projecting to the outside of the case, and the rotation operation portion The lock shaft can be rotated to the unlocked position by a rotating operation.

According to the eighth aspect of the invention, the lock shaft can be rotated to the unlocked position by rotating the rotating operation portion projecting to the outside of the case. As a result, the lid can be unlocked even when the drive source of the lock mechanism stops working due to trouble in the electrical system when the lid is closed and locked by the lock shaft, for example.

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, the lid can be closed without pushing back the push rod that was accidentally pushed in, and the lid can be closed even if the push lifter fails in the closed state of the lid. It can be opened, and the attachment structure to the base is simplified.

According to the second aspect of the invention, it is possible to save the installation space for the lock shaft and the push rod.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the lock shaft and the push rod can be further space-saving, and water can be prevented from entering between the lock shaft and the push rod. This prevents the water from freezing inside the shaft to prevent the push lifter from operating.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the lock mechanism can be made simple and compact, and the mold cost can be reduced compared to the case of using a worm rotated by a drive source and a wheel meshed with the worm. can be reduced, and the cost of parts is reduced.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, even if the drive source is erroneously operated while the push rod is in the open state, the lock shaft is prevented from being inadvertently operated.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, when the lid is closed and locked to the lock shaft, the push rod cannot be pushed, thereby preventing malfunction of the push lifter.

According to the seventh aspect of the invention, it is possible to save the installation space for the lock mechanism, the push lifter, and the drive source.

According to the eighth aspect of the invention, the lid can be locked even when the drive source of the lock mechanism stops operating due to trouble in the electrical system, for example.

1 is a perspective view showing a fuel lid assembly including a lid lock device according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing an open state of the fuel lid; FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the fuel lid assembly shown in FIG. 1 viewed from an angle different from that in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 2 showing a closed state of the fuel lid; FIG. 4 is a plan view of part of the configuration shown in FIG. 3 as viewed from the direction of arrow A in FIG. 3, showing an unlocked state of the fuel lid; FIG. 5 is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 4 showing a locked state of the fuel lid; 1 is a perspective view showing a lid locking device according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where a push rod is positioned at a projecting position and a lock shaft is positioned at an unlocking position; FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the lid lock device shown in FIG. 6 as seen from a different angle from that of FIG. 6, showing a state where the push rod is positioned at the retracted position and the lock shaft is positioned at the locked position; 8 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 7 showing a state in which the push rod is positioned at the projecting position and the lock shaft is positioned at the unlocking position; FIG. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing the lid lock device shown in FIG. 6; 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part corresponding to a part of FIG. 6, showing a state in which the push rod of the push lifter shown in FIG. 6 is positioned at the projecting position and the lock shaft is positioned at the unlocking position; FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a main portion corresponding to a part of FIG. 6, showing a state in which the push rod of the push lifter shown in FIG. 6 is positioned at the retracted position and the lock shaft is positioned at the unlocked position; FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part corresponding to a part of FIG. 6, showing a state in which the push rod of the push lifter shown in FIG. 6 is positioned at the retracted position and the lock shaft is positioned at the locking position; FIG.

A lid lock device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 12. FIG. For convenience of explanation, the arrows FR and UP shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 and 10 to 12 are defined as the forward direction and the upward direction of the lid lock device 10, respectively. In the following description, the directions relative to the lid lock device 10 are indicated simply using the front, rear, up, and down directions. These directions are irrelevant to the directions in which the lid lock device 10 is used. Also, in each drawing, some reference numerals may be omitted for the purpose of making the drawings easier to read.

(Constitution)
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, a lid lock device 10 according to this embodiment is a component of a fuel lid assembly 12. As shown in FIG. This fuel lid assembly 12 is attached to the vehicle body of a vehicle such as an automobile, and constitutes a part of the fuel supply section. Structurally, an opening housing 14 as a base, a fuel lid 16 as a lid pivotally supported on the opening housing 14 so as to be openable and closable, and arranged outside the fuel lid 16 to form a design surface of the fuel lid assembly 12. and a lid outer panel 18 . 4 and 5, illustration of the lid outer panel 18 is omitted for convenience of explanation.

The opening housing 14 is made of, for example, resin in the shape of an elongated box, and has an opening 14A on one side in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. A fuel supply port 15 is formed in the bottom wall 14B of the opening housing 14 . A fuel supply pipe (not shown) is connected to the fuel supply port 15 .

The fuel lid 16 is made of, for example, resin in the form of an elongated plate, and one longitudinal end thereof is pivotally supported by one longitudinal end of the opening housing 14 . The fuel lid 16 is positioned between an open position (position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) for opening the opening 14A and a closed position (position shown in FIGS. 3 to 5) for closing the opening 14A. It is rotatable with respect to the opening housing 14 . A lock hole 20 is formed at the other longitudinal end of the fuel lid 16 , and a lid lock device 10 is attached to the other longitudinal end of the opening housing 14 . The lid lock device 10 is arranged at a position facing the lock hole 20 when the fuel lid 16 is in the closed position (closed state).

The lid outer panel 18 is made of, for example, an aluminum alloy and has a long plate shape. Thereby, the lid outer panel 18 constitutes a design surface of the fuel lid assembly 12 . In this state, the fuel lid 16 and the lid outer panel 18 form a closed cross section. Note that the lid outer panel 18 may be made of other metals, such as a steel plate.

As shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, the lid lock device 10 includes a case 30, a lock mechanism 40, and a push lifter 60. As shown in FIGS. The case 30 is composed of an upper case 32 and a lower case 34 which are vertically divided and joined together. The upper case 32 and the lower case 34 are coupled by claw fitting, for example. 7 and 8, illustration of the upper case 32 is omitted for convenience of explanation. Also, in FIG. 9, the illustration of the belt 36 and the wire 38 is omitted for convenience of explanation.

The front portion of the upper case 32 is formed with a tubular portion 32A having a short axial step. The cylindrical portion 32A is formed with the vertical direction of the lid lock device 10 as its axial direction.

A fixing portion 34A is formed at the front end portion of the lower case 34, and a fixing portion 34B extending rearward is formed at the rear end portion of the lower case 34. As shown in FIG. These fixed portions 34A and 34B are fixed to the opening housing 14 by means of screws, for example. Thereby, the lid lock device 10 is configured to be attached to the opening housing 14 .

The lock mechanism 40 includes a drive portion 42 housed within the case 30 and a lock shaft 46 rotated by the drive portion 42 . The drive unit 42 includes a motor 48 as a drive source, a first spur gear 50 that rotates integrally with a rotating shaft (not shown) of the motor 48, and a fan-shaped second spur gear meshed with the first spur gear 50. 52. The first spur gear 50, the second spur gear 52 and the lock shaft 46 are made of resin, for example. The first spur gear 50 corresponds to the "spur gear" in the present invention, and the second spur gear 52 corresponds to the "sectoral spur gear" in the present invention.

The motor 48 is accommodated in the rear part of the case 30 in such a posture that the axial direction of the rotating shaft (not shown) is along the vertical direction of the lid lock device 10 . The motor 48 is configured to rotate forward and backward by operating a central door lock button (not shown) provided, for example, around the driver's seat of the vehicle.

The first spur gear 50 is housed in the rear portion of the case 30 and is coaxially fixed to the rotating shaft of the motor 48 .

The second spur gear 52 is housed in the front portion of the case 30 and meshes with the first spur gear 50 in a posture in which the vertical direction of the lid lock device 10 is the axial direction. The second spur gear 52 is arranged below the tubular portion 32A of the upper case 32 coaxially with the tubular portion 32A. Further, the second spur gear 52 is rotatably supported from below by a fan-shaped pedestal portion 34</b>C having an outer peripheral portion formed at the upper end portion of the lower case 34 . The second spur gear 52 is configured to rotate forward and reverse within a rotation range of 90° by forward and reverse rotation of the motor 48 .

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the second spur gear (sector gear) 52 has a portion opposite to the portion meshed with the first spur gear 50 in the radial direction of the second spur gear 52 . A columnar rotation operation portion 52A extending outward is integrally provided. The rotation operating portion 52A protrudes to the outside of the case 30 through a notch portion 34D formed along the circumferential direction of the second spur gear 52 in the peripheral portion of the base portion 34C. Further, one end of a belt 36 formed in a long belt shape is engaged with the rotation operation portion 52A. Specifically, a long hole 37A is formed in the belt 36 from one end to the other end, and a circular hole 37B is formed in the other end. A rotary operation part 52A is locked to one end of the elongated hole 37A, and a wire 38 is locked to the circular hole 37B. Most of the belt 36 is arranged along the circumferential direction of the second spur gear 52 inside the outer peripheral edge of the case 30 (here, the notch 34D), and the end connected to the wire 38 only protrudes outside the case 30 . When the wire 38 is pulled in the direction of the arrow B shown in FIG. 7, the belt 36 is pulled out of the case 30 and the rotary operation portion 52A is rotated around the axis of the second spur gear 52. As shown in FIG. The rotary operation portion 52A is rotatable from the belt retracted position shown in FIG. 7 to the belt pulled out position shown in FIG. 8 by this rotary operation.

The lock shaft 46 is formed in a cylindrical shape so as to pass through the tubular portion 32A of the upper case 32 with an axial direction parallel to the axial direction of the motor 48 (the axial direction of the lid lock device 10). are placed in Thereby, the lock shaft 46 is erected upward from the case 30 . A lower end portion of the lock shaft 46 is coaxially fixed to the second spur gear 52 . In other words, the lock shaft 46 is supported by the case 30 via the second spur gear 52 . As a result, the lock shaft 46 is rotated integrally with the second spur gear 52, and the second spur gear 52 is rotated forward and backward within a rotation range of 90°, thereby causing the rotation of the shaft shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, and the locked position shown in FIGS. 5, 7 and 12. The lock shaft 46 is rotatable from the locked position shown in FIG. 7 to the unlocked position shown in FIG. 8 by rotating the rotating operation portion 52A.

A pair of protrusions 46</b>A as lock portions are formed at the upper end (tip) of the lock shaft 46 so as to protrude to opposite sides in the radial direction of the lock shaft 46 . The pair of projections 46A has a substantially plate-like shape with a small dimension in the axial direction of the lock shaft 46. As shown in FIG. Thus, the upper end portion of the lock shaft 46 has a substantially elongated rectangular shape (substantially oval shape) similar to the lock hole 20 when viewed from the axial direction.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 9 to 12, a guide groove 54 is formed in the inner peripheral portion of the lock shaft 46. As shown in FIGS. The guide groove 54 is formed in a substantially L shape, and includes a first groove portion 54A extending in the axial direction of the lock shaft 46 and a second groove portion 54B extending in the circumferential direction of the lock shaft 46 from the lower end of the first groove portion 54A. and consists of A guide protrusion 64B of a push rod 64, which will be described later, is fitted in the guide groove.

The push lifter 60 includes an outer tubular portion 62 , a push rod (inner tubular portion) 64 , a rotor 66 , and a compression coil spring (biasing member) 68 . The outer cylindrical portion 62, the push rod 64, and the rotor 66 are made of resin, for example.

The outer cylindrical portion 62 is formed in a cylindrical shape whose axial direction is the vertical direction of the lid lock device 10 , and is housed in the front portion of the case 30 . The lower portion of the outer cylindrical portion 62 is fitted inside the front portion of the lower case 34 . The outer cylindrical portion 62 is thereby supported by the case 30 .

The push rod 64 is formed in a long columnar shape whose axial direction is the vertical direction of the lid lock device 10 , and the upper side thereof is coaxially inserted inside the lock shaft 46 . The lock shaft 46 and the push rod 64 are arranged concentrically when viewed from the axial direction of the push rod 64 (see FIG. 4). In other words, there is almost no clearance between the outer peripheral surface of the push rod 64 and the lock shaft 46 . Further, an O-ring 70 is attached to the middle portion of the push rod 64 in the vertical direction, and the space between the outer peripheral surface of the push rod 64 and the lock shaft 46 is sealed by the O-ring 70 . On the other hand, the lower side of the push rod 64 is inserted (fitted) inside the outer cylindrical portion 62 , and the push rod 64 is axially slidable with respect to the outer cylindrical portion 62 .

A plurality of (here, four) protrusions 64</b>A projecting radially outward from the push rod 64 are formed on the outer periphery of the lower end of the push rod 64 . The plurality of projecting portions 64A are fitted in a plurality (here, four) of slide grooves (not shown) formed in the inner peripheral portion of the outer cylindrical portion 62 . The plurality of slide grooves extend in the axial direction of the outer cylinder portion 62 , and the push rod 64 is restricted from rotating relative to the outer cylinder portion 62 . The plurality of guide grooves are not formed up to the upper end of the outer cylindrical portion 62, and the axial sliding range of the push rod 64 with respect to the outer cylindrical portion 62 is shown in FIGS. 10 and the retracted position shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 7, 11 and 12. FIG.

A rotor 66 is disposed within the outer cylinder portion 62 below the push rod 64 . The rotor 66 is ring-shaped and arranged coaxially with the push rod 64 . A compression coil spring 68 is arranged below the rotor 66 . The compression coil spring 68 is compressed between the bottom wall of the lower case 34 and the rotor 66 and urges the rotor 66 upward. As a result, the upper surface of the rotor 66 is pressed against the lower surface of the push rod 64 . A plurality of (here, four) protrusions 66</b>A are formed on the outer periphery of the rotor 66 so as to protrude radially outward of the rotor 66 . The plurality of protrusions 66A are fitted in a plurality of (here, four) cam grooves (not shown) formed in the inner peripheral portion of the outer cylindrical portion 62 . A plurality of cam grooves extend in the axial direction of the outer cylinder portion 62 .

The push lifter 60 configured as described above functions as an opener for the fuel lid 16 and constitutes a known knock cam mechanism. In this push lifter 60, when the push rod 64 is pushed in the axial direction, the rotor 66 rotates while moving in the axial direction, and is alternately positioned between an axially raised position and a lowered position. It has become. As a result, each time the push rod 64 is pushed in the axial direction, it is alternately moved between the projecting position and the retracted position (repeating the projecting and retracting alternately). Since this knock cam mechanism is a known one that has been applied to many knock-type writing instruments and the like, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Further, the push rod 64 is formed with a guide protrusion 64B protruding radially outward from the push rod 64 below the O-ring 70 and above the protrusion 64A. The guide protrusion 64B is fitted in a guide groove 54 formed in the inner peripheral portion of the lock shaft 46. As shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 10 , when the push rod 64 is at the projecting position (protruding state), the guide protrusion 64B is fitted to the upper end of the first groove 54A forming the guide groove 54 . Thereby, the rotation of the lock shaft 46 is restricted. Further, when the push rod 64 is pushed down from this state, the guide protrusion 64B is slid downward (see arrow C shown in FIG. 10) along the first groove 54A.

As shown in FIG. 11 , when the push rod 64 is at the retracted position (retracted state), the guide protrusion 64B is fitted to the lower end of the first groove 54A forming the guide groove 54 . In this state, when the motor 48 is operated to rotate the lock shaft 46 from the unlocked position to the locked position, the guide protrusion 64B moves relatively from the lower end of the first groove 54A to the second groove 54B. Slide (see arrow D shown in FIG. 11). As a result, the guide protrusion 64B is fitted into the second groove 54B (see FIG. 12). In this state, the second groove portion 54B of the lock shaft 46 restricts movement of the push rod 64 in the vertical direction (the axial direction of the push rod 64).

In the lid lock device 10 configured as described above, the lock shaft 46 and the push rod 64 are attached to the other longitudinal end of the opening housing 14 while penetrating through the other longitudinal end of the opening housing 14 (Fig. 1 and Figure 2). The lid lock device 10 is arranged so that the axial direction of the lock shaft 46 and the push rod 64 coincides with the thickness direction of the fuel lid 16 when the fuel lid 16 is in the closed state (see FIGS. 3 to 5). When the fuel lid 16 is open (see FIGS. 1 and 2), the lock shaft 46 is normally at the unlocked position and the push rod 64 is at the projecting position.

The upper portion of the push rod 64 is inserted into the lock hole 20 of the fuel lid 16 when the fuel lid 16 is closed. Then, it is pushed by the other longitudinal end portion of the lid outer panel 18 arranged to face the lock hole 20 and is pushed.
This causes the push rod 64 to move from the protruded position to the retracted position.

The upper end of the lock shaft 46 is inserted through the lock hole 20 when the fuel lid 16 is closed (see FIGS. 3 to 5). In this state, when the motor 48 is actuated to rotate the lock shaft 46 from the unlocked position to the locked position, the pair of protrusions 46A are engaged with the edges of the lock hole 20 as shown in FIG. do. Thereby, the fuel lid 16 is configured to be locked at the closed position. On the other hand, when the fuel lid 16 is opened, the motor 48 is operated to rotate the lock shaft 46 from the locked position to the unlocked position. Next, the push rod 64 is pushed by pressing the other longitudinal end of the lid outer panel 18 toward the opening housing 14 . As a result, the push rod 64 projects from the retracted position to the projecting position. This protrusion pushes open the lid outer panel 18 and partially opens the fuel lid 16 . After that, the fuel lid 16 is fully opened by putting a finger or the like in the gap between the half-opened fuel lid 16 and the opening housing 14 .

(Action and effect)
Next, the operation and effects of this embodiment will be described.

In the lid lock device 10 configured as described above, the case 30 is attached to the opening housing 14 in which the fuel lid 16 is pivotally supported so that the fuel lid 16 can be opened and closed. The case 30 accommodates the motor 48 of the lock mechanism 40 and supports the push rod 64 of the push lifter 60 . The lock mechanism 40 rotates the lock shaft 46 forward and backward by the driving force of the motor 48 , and locks and unlocks the fuel lid 16 by a pair of protrusions 46 A formed at the tip of the lock shaft 46 . The push rod 64 is inserted inside the lock shaft 46 formed in a cylindrical shape, and alternately repeats projection and retraction every time it is pushed in the axial direction. The fuel lid 16 is pushed open by the protrusion of the push rod 64 .

In this embodiment, the lock shaft 46 is rotated by the driving force of the motor 48 regardless of the push operation of the push rod 64 . Therefore, even if the push rod 64 is accidentally pushed to the retracted position while the fuel lid 16 is open, the lock shaft 46 will not be rotated to the locked position. Therefore, the fuel lid 16 can be closed without pushing the push rod 64 back to the projecting position. Further, since the lock shaft 46 is rotated independently of the pushing operation of the push rod 64 as described above, the fuel lid 16 can be opened even if the push lifter 60 fails while the fuel lid 16 is closed. Moreover, since the lock mechanism 40 and the push lifter 60 are not separately attached to the base, the attachment structure to the opening housing 14 is simplified.

Further, in this embodiment, the lock shaft 46 formed in a cylindrical shape and the push rod 64 inserted inside the lock shaft 46 are arranged coaxially. As a result, the space for arranging the lock shaft 46 and the push rod 64 can be saved, and the design of the lock shaft 46 and the push rod 64 can be facilitated.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the lock shaft 46 formed in a cylindrical shape and the push rod 64 inserted inside the lock shaft 46 are arranged concentrically, so that there is no force between the lock shaft 46 and the push rod 64 . Almost no clearance occurs. As a result, the space for arranging the lock shaft 46 and the push rod 64 can be further reduced. In addition, since water is suppressed from entering between the lock shaft 46 and the push rod 64, it is possible to prevent the water from freezing inside the lock shaft 46 and the push lifter 60 not to operate.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the first spur gear 50 is rotated by the motor 48 , the fan-shaped second spur gear 52 meshed with the first spur gear 50 is rotated integrally with the lock shaft 46 . By using the first spur gear 50 and the second spur gear 52 in this manner, the lock mechanism 40 can be configured simply and compactly. Moreover, compared to the case where the locking mechanism 40 is composed of a worm rotated by a drive source and a wheel meshed with the worm, the mold cost can be reduced and the parts cost can be reduced.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, when the push rod 64 is in a projecting state, that is, when the fuel lid 16 is open, the guide projection 64B formed on the push rod 64 enters the first groove 54A formed on the inner peripheral portion of the lock shaft 46. This restricts the rotation of the lock shaft 46 (see FIG. 10). As a result, even if the motor 48 is erroneously operated while the push rod 64 is protruding, it is possible to prevent the lock shaft 46 from being inadvertently rotated.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, when the fuel lid 16 is closed and the lock shaft 46 is positioned at the locked position (see FIGS. 7 and 12), the guide protrusion 64B formed on the push rod 64 is positioned to move the lock shaft 46. By entering the second groove portion 54B formed in the inner peripheral portion, the push rod 64 cannot be pushed. As a result, it is possible to prevent the push lifter from being erroneously operated while the lock shaft 46 is positioned at the locking position.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the axial direction of the motor 48 is arranged parallel to the axial directions of the lock shaft 46 and the push rod 64 . As a result, the installation space for the lock mechanism 40, the push lifter 60, and the motor 48 can be saved.

Further, in the present embodiment, the lock mechanism 40 has a rotation operation portion 52A projecting to the outside of the case 30, and the lock shaft 46 can be rotated to the unlocked position by rotating the rotation operation portion 52A. ing. As a result, even if the motor 48 of the lock mechanism 40 stops working due to trouble in the electrical system when the fuel lid 16 is closed and locked by the lock shaft 46, the fuel lid 16 can be unlocked. can be done.

<Supplementary description of the embodiment>
In the above-described embodiment, the lock shaft 46 and the push rod 64 are arranged coaxially, but this is not restrictive, and the axis of the lock shaft 46 and the push rod 64 are arranged out of alignment (parallel to each other). ) may be configured.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the lock shaft 46 is configured to have a cylindrical shape, but the configuration is not limited to this, and the lock shaft 46 may be cylindrical or substantially cylindrical, and its cross-sectional shape can be changed as appropriate. be. That is, the cross-sectional shape of the lock shaft 46 may be rectangular, hexagonal, C-shaped, or U-shaped, for example.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the push lifter 60 is configured to be of the knock cam type.

Further, in the above embodiment, the motor 48 is used as a driving source, but the present invention is not limited to this. The drive source may be, for example, a solenoid (electromagnetic valve). A motor as a drive source includes a servomotor.

In addition, in the above-described configuration, the second spur gear 52 is provided with the rotation operation portion 52A. In this case, the fuel lid 16 cannot be unlocked even if the motor 48 of the lock mechanism 40 does not operate due to an electrical system trouble or the like. However, the problem of the present invention is that the fuel lid 16 can be closed without pushing back the push rod 64 that has been accidentally pushed in, and that the fuel lid 16 can be opened even if the push lifter 60 fails in the closed state of the fuel lid 16. can be resolved. Moreover, the problem of the present invention that the mounting structure of the lid lock device 10 to the opening housing 14 is simplified can also be solved.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the lid lock device 10 is a component of the fuel lid assembly 12 has been described, but it is not limited to this. The lid lock device according to the present invention can also be applied as a lock device for locking a lid (lid body) provided in an electrical appliance such as a washing machine.

In addition, the present invention can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, it goes without saying that the scope of rights of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.

10 lid lock device 14 opening housing (substrate)
16 fuel lid (lid)
30 case 40 lock mechanism 46 lock shaft 46A pair of protrusions (lock parts)
48 motor (driving source)
50 first spur gear (spur gear)
52 Second spur gear (sector spur gear)
54A First groove portion 54B Second groove portion 60 Push lifter 64 Push rod 64B Guide convex portion 64B (convex portion)

Claims (8)

a case in which a lid is attached to a base pivotally supported so as to be openable and closable;
A lock shaft formed in a cylindrical shape is supported by the case and has a lock shaft in which a push rod is inserted. a lock mechanism that locks and unlocks the lid by a lock portion formed at the tip of the shaft;
Each time the push rod is pushed in the axial direction, it moves axially inside the lock shaft and alternately repeats projection and retraction. a push lifter that pushes the lid open;
lid locking device with 2. The lid lock device according to claim 1, wherein said lock shaft and said push rod are arranged coaxially. 3. The lid lock device according to claim 1, wherein the lock shaft and the push rod are arranged concentrically. 4. The lock mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a spur gear rotated by the drive source, and a fan-shaped spur gear meshed with the spur gear and rotated integrally with the lock shaft. 1. The lid lock device according to claim 1. In the projecting state of the push rod, a protrusion formed on the push rod enters a first groove formed inside the lock shaft, thereby restricting rotation of the lock shaft. 5. The lid lock device according to any one of 4. In a state where the lid is closed and locked by the lock shaft, the protrusion formed on the push rod enters the second groove formed inside the lock shaft, so that the push rod is pushed. The lid lock device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the lid lock device becomes inoperable. 7. The drive source is composed of a motor, and the motor is arranged such that the axial direction of the motor is parallel to the axial directions of the lock shaft and the push rod. The lid locking device described in . 8. The lock mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the lock mechanism has a rotation operation portion projecting outside the case, and the lock shaft can be rotated to the unlocked position by a rotation operation of the rotation operation portion. 1. The lid lock device according to claim 1.

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