JPS581844B2 - Vehicle antenna device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a vehicle antenna device of the type that is mounted on the roof of a vehicle, such as an automobile, and particularly to an improvement in means for changing the mounting state of the antenna between when it is in use and when it is not in use.

Generally, an antenna mounted on the roof of a car is a rondo antenna element made of a single conductive tube, which is mounted on the wall of the car body so that it can rise and fall freely.

In other words, when not in use, the antenna element is kept lying down on the car body wall in order to minimize the hindrance to the vehicle while the car is running, and only when in use, the antenna element is erected on the car body wall to ensure good transmission and reception. I have to.

Conventional vehicle antennas with the above configuration simply raise and lower the antenna element made of a single conductive tube, so the length of the antenna element is limited by the vehicle type or body structure, and the antenna element's raise and lower operation is limited by the vehicle type or body structure. When performing this at the base end of the element, there is a problem in that a large driving force is required.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to reduce the size of the antenna element to the wall of the car body when not in use, regardless of the type of car or the structure of the car body, so that the vehicle can run without any problem. When in use, the length of the antenna element can be made long enough to provide sufficiently good transmitting and receiving functions even when the car is driving in a weak electric field area. An object of the present invention is to provide an antenna device for a vehicle that can stably and reliably perform raising and lowering operations with a relatively small driving force and a relatively short turning radius when standing up, although the operation is performed at the base end of the element. .

Hereinafter, details of the present invention will be clarified by examples shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the outline of this embodiment, and as is clear from this diagram, the antenna 1 is attached to the roof 2 of the vehicle at the center of the front portion of the vehicle body wall.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing how the antenna 1 is attached.

In Fig. 2, symbol 3 indicates multiple lines (two in this example).
This is a telescopic antenna element in which conductive tubes 31 and 32 of different diameters are slidably connected to each other.

This telescopic antenna element 3 is held by an antenna holding portion 4 fixed to the vehicle body wall 2 at the roof portion of the automobile so as to be able to rise and fall freely as shown by the broken line in the figure.

An antenna drive section 5 is provided below the holding section 4 .

This drive unit 5 has a telescopic operation mechanism for automatically extending and contracting the antenna element 3, and a raising and lowering operation mechanism for raising and lowering the antenna element 3 in a certain temporal relationship with the above-mentioned telescopic operation. .

These mechanisms are driven by a motor 6.

The motor 6 and drive section 5 are installed in a space between the vehicle body wall 2 and the ceiling 7 of the automobile, supported from below by a support plate 8.

In FIG. 2, symbol 9 is a feeder line whose one end is electrically connected to the antenna element 3 and the other end is electrically connected to a transmitter or receiver (not shown), and symbol 10 3 is a drain tube for draining rainwater etc. that has entered the drive unit 5 to the outside, and symbol 11 is a power cord for the motor. It is an exploded view.

As is clear from FIG. 3, the holding portion 4 is constructed by placing a cover 42 over a mounting base 41 formed by pressing or molding a metal material.

This cover 42 is, for example, a synthetic resin molded product whose surface is plated with aluminum foil or the like, and has a window 42a provided only in the portion through which the antenna element 3 is inserted.

A cushioning rubber 43 is attached to the bottom surface of the base body 41 that comes into contact with the top surface of the vehicle body wall.

Further, a fixing plate 44 made of a conductive material and serving as a ground plate is brought into contact with the back side of the vehicle body wall 2 so as to be opposite to the bottom surface of the base body 41.

The fixing plate 44 has a hole 45 in the center thereof through which the drive unit 5 etc. passes, and a plurality of mountain-shaped protrusions on the L-shaped peripheral edge to be inserted into the back surface of the vehicle body wall 2. 46 are provided.

Further, a connector 47 for electrically connecting one end of the feeder line 9 and the base end of the antenna element 3 is provided at the lower end of the fixing plate 44 .

Further, near the periphery of the fixing plate 44, a mounting hole Q is provided which communicates with the mounting hole P provided in the base body 41, the rubber 43, and the vehicle body wall 2.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are a side view and a front view, respectively, showing the holding part 4 and the driving part 5 in section.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, symbol 33 is a support shaft installed in the mounting base 41, and the antenna element 3Kg that is introduced into the mounting base 41 by this support shaft 33 is the base of the large-diameter conductive tube 31. The end is pivoted.

The portion of the antenna element 3 introduced into the base 41 is as follows:
A bellows-shaped covering made of a flexible material, one open end of which is fluid-tightly joined to the introduction hole provided in the base body 41, and the other open end of which is fluid-tightly joined to the outer peripheral surface of the large-diameter conductive tube 31. Covered by 34.

The base end of a drive lever 35 is fixed at a predetermined angle to the axial direction of the antenna element 3 to the base end of the large-diameter conductive tube 31 which is supported by the support shaft 33 .

An oval-shaped elongated hole 36 is located near the tip of the drive lever 35.
is provided.

A pin 58, which will be described later, is loosely fitted into this elongated hole 36.

The rotation range of the drive lever 35 is limited to 60 degrees, for example, by stoppers 37 and 38 provided in the mounting base 41.
It is regulated to a certain extent.

On the other hand, in FIGS. 4 and 5, the symbol 51 is the case of the drive section 50. In FIG.

The upper edge of the case 51 is bent into an L shape and integrally joined to the flanges 41a and 4lb of the mounting base 41.

A worm wheel 52 is provided in the center of the interior of the case 1 so as to be rotatable about a rotation shaft 53.

This worm wheel 52 meshes with a worm gear 54 provided below this worm wheel.

One end of the worm gear 54 is guided out of the case while being supported by a bearing 55 provided on the side wall of the case 51, and connected to the shaft of the motor 6.

The other end of the worm gear 54 is supported by a pivot bearing 56 installed on the inner surface of the side wall of the case 5-1.

A driving disk 5T is rotatably mounted on a rotating shaft 53 protruding toward the surface of the worm wheel 520 (right side in FIG. 5).

Although not shown, the drive disk 5T is connected to the surface of a worm wheel 52 via a first clutch mechanism, and is provided with rotational force from the worm wheel 52.

A drive pin 58 is implanted at a predetermined location on the periphery of the drive disk 57 .

This drive bin 58 is connected to the elongated hole 36 of the drive lever 35 described above.
It is loosely fitted.

Here, the drive disk 57, drive pin 58, drive lever 3
5 and the like constitute the undulating operation mechanism of the present invention.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, the symbol 59 indicates a space formed by the case 51 and the mounting base 41, which roughly divides the space into two.
This is a partition plate provided.

A hole is provided in the center of this partition plate 59.

The rotating shaft 53 of the worm wheel 52, which passes through this hole and protrudes to the back side of the partition plate 59 (on the left side in FIG. 5), is connected to the rotating drum 60 for storing wires. They are rotatably fitted together.

The rotating drum 60 has a substantially cylindrical shape with a bottom, and a wire storage section 61 is provided on the circumferential surface thereof.

A wire 62 made of a flexible material such as synthetic resin is wound into the wire storage portion 61 and is rewound.

The end of the wire 62 that is led out to the outside of the drum is introduced into the interior of the antenna element 3 from the base end of the antenna element 3 through a guide path (not shown), as shown by the broken line arrow in FIG. Its end portion is connected to the base end of the small diameter conductive tube 32.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 63 indicates a clutch plate as a second clutch mechanism that is fitted to the rotating shaft 53 in a non-rotating state.

This clutch plate 63 is always pressed against the inner bottom surface of the drum 60 by a coil spring 65 held in a compressed state by a presser plate 64 fixed to an extension of the rotating shaft 53.

Here, the rotating drum 60, wire 62, etc. constitute the antenna element expansion/contraction operation mechanism of the present invention.

Although not shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the base end of the antenna element 30 is led to the connector 4γ by a lead wire, and is electrically connected to the feeder line 9.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a circuit for controlling the motor 6.

In FIG. 6, 71 is a vehicle-mounted DC power supply.

The negative pole of this power supply 71 is grounded, and the positive pole is connected to one end of the excitation coil 73 of the reed switch 72.
On the other hand, it is connected to a common terminal 76c of a switching contact T6 of a relay T5 via a fuse T4.

The other end of the excitation coil 73 of the reed switch 72 is connected to the
It is connected to the power supply terminal 78a.

The O power terminal 78b of the transmitter/receiver set 78 is connected.

One end of the coil of the relay 75 is grounded, and the other end is connected to the common terminal 76c of the switching contact 76 via the reed switch 72.

Normally open side terminal of switching contact 76 (hereinafter referred to as meter side terminal)
76a is connected to one end of the forward rotation field coil 80 of the motor 6 via an upper limit switch γ9 that responds to the rotation speed and rotation direction of the motor 6 or the rotating drum 60.

Further, a normally closed side terminal (hereinafter referred to as a break side terminal) 76b of the switching contact 76 is connected to a lower limit switch 81 that responds to the rotation speed and rotation direction of the motor 6 or rotating drum 60.
It is connected to one end of the field coil 82 for reverse rotation via.

The other ends of the field coils 80 and 82 for forward and reverse rotation are connected to each other, and the connection point X is connected to one end of the armature coil 83 of the motor 6.

The other end of armature coil 83 is grounded.

Next, the operation of the vehicle antenna device configured as described above will be explained.

First, when performing a transmission/reception operation, the antenna element 3 which is lying down on the vehicle body wall 2 is brought upright and extended, as follows.

When the transmitter/receiver set power switch 77 is closed, the power supply 71
Direct current is supplied to the transmitter/receiver set 78 from the transmitter/receiver set 78 .

At this time, the excitation coil 73 of the reed switch 72 is energized at the same time, so the reed switch 72 is turned on.

Therefore, relay 75 is energized and switching contact 76 is switched.

As a result, the positive electrode of the power supply 71 - the fuse 74 - the switching contact T
6 common terminal 76c to make side terminal 76a of same contact γ6
~Upper limit switch 79~Forward rotation field coil 80
A current flows through the closed loop of the armature coil 83 and the negative electrode of the power source 11.

Therefore, the motor 6 starts rotating forward.

When the motor 6 rotates forward, the worm gear 54
rotates in the forward direction, so the worm wheel 52 rotates in the direction of arrow A in FIG.

Therefore, both the driving disk 57 and the rotating drum 60 rotate in the eight directions of the arrows.

Since the pin 58 rotates due to the rotation of the drive disk 57 in the direction of arrow A, the drive lever 35 rotates about the support shaft 33 accordingly.

Therefore, the entire antenna element 3 rotates in the direction of arrow M.

When the drive lever 35 rotates by a predetermined angle, for example 60 degrees, the drive lever 35 collides with the stopper 38 and stops rotating.

Therefore, the antenna element 3 is stopped and held at the angle of the antenna element 3.

Note that at this time, the worm wheel 52 continues to rotate further.

That is, at this time, the clutch mechanism interposed between the worm wheel 52 and the drive disk 5T is disengaged.

On the other hand, as the rotating drum 60 rotates, the wire 6
2 is rewound from the storage section 61.

Therefore, the small-diameter conductive tube 32 of the antenna element 3 is pushed out from the large-diameter conductive tube 31 and extends in the direction shown by arrow E in FIGS. 1 and 6.

This operation continues even after the antenna element 3 has been rotated through 60 degrees as described above and maintained in that state.

When the drum 60 rotates approximately three times in the forward direction, the small-diameter conductive tube 32 is completely extended.

In this state, the rotating drum 60 can no longer rotate.

Therefore, the clutch plate 63 and the rotating drum 60 are disengaged, and only the worm wheel 52 rotates idly.

At the same time as this state is reached, the upper limit switch 9 is turned off with a slight delay.

Therefore, the motor 6 stops rotating forward.

Note that in this state, the antenna element 3
The force to rotate in the N direction in FIG. 4 due to the load is applied to the worm wheel 52 as a reverse rotation force via the clutch mechanism, and the second
The force of sliding in the direction of arrow F in FIGS. 6 and 6 is also applied to the worm wheel 52 via the clutch plate 63 as a reverse rotating force.

However, since the worm wheel 52 meshes with the worm gear 54, the worm gear 54 prevents the worm wheel 52 from rotating in the opposite direction, as is well known.

In this way, the antenna element 3 is in an upright state at a predetermined angle (approximately 60 degrees), and the small diameter conductive tube 32 is connected to the large diameter conductive tube 3.
It is stably held in a state where it is sufficiently pushed out from 1.

Therefore, even if severe vibration is applied while the car is running, the above-mentioned state can be maintained stably.
8 can perform transmission/reception operations satisfactorily.

Next, upon completion of the transmission/reception operation, the antenna element 3 is attached to the vehicle body wall 2.
The operation when the robot is made to lie upward and into a contracted state will be explained.

When the transmitter/receiver set power switch 77 is opened, the power supply to the transmitter/receiver set 78 is cut off.

Therefore, the reed switch 72 is turned off, and the relay 7
Cut off the bias of 5.

Therefore, the switching contact 76 returns to its original state.

Therefore, this time, the positive terminal of the power supply 71, the fuse 74, the common terminal power 76c of the switching contact 76, the break side terminal 76b of the same contact 76, the lower limit switch 81 (this lower limit switch 81 is activated immediately after the antenna element 3 starts to extend) Current flows in a closed loop consisting of the reverse rotation field coil 82, the armature coil 83, and the negative pole of the power source 71 (which is turned on).

Therefore, the motor 6 starts rotating in reverse.

Therefore, the worm wheel 52 rotates in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 4, contrary to the case described above.

Therefore, the antenna element 3 first rotates in the N direction and stops rotating at the position where the drive lever 35 collides with the stopper 37.

In this state, the clutch mechanism between the drive disk 57 and the worm wheel 52 is disengaged, as in the case described above.

On the other hand, due to the reverse rotation of the rotating drum 60, the wire 62 is wound into the storage section 61.

Therefore, the small diameter conductive tube 32 slides in the direction of arrow F in FIGS. 2 and 6 and is drawn into the large diameter conductive tube 31.

When the small diameter conductive tube 32 is completely retracted into the large diameter conductive tube 31, the clutch mechanism between the clutch plate 63 and the bottom of the drum is disengaged.

At the same time or with a slight delay, the lower limit switch 81 is turned off, and the motor 6 stops rotating in reverse.

In this way, the antenna element 3 is in a collapsed state as shown by the broken line in FIGS. 2 and 4, and the small diameter conductive tube 32 is completely retracted into the large diameter conductive tube 31.

In this state, even if some external force due to vibration or other causes is applied to the antenna element 3, the worm wheel will not rotate for the same reason as described above.

Therefore, the above state is safely maintained.

In this manner, in the present device, when the transmitting/receiving operation is not performed, the antenna element 3 lies down on the car body wall soil in the roof area of the car and is in a reduced state.

Therefore, even if the length of the antenna element when lying down is restricted due to the type of vehicle or the size of the vehicle body structure, the antenna can be installed without any problem.

At the start of the transmission/reception operation, in the initial stage when the antenna element 3 is hardly extended,
The antenna element 3 is first erected, and then the antenna element 3 is extended relatively slowly.

Therefore, the operation of raising antenna element 3 is
Although this is performed at the zero base end, the driving force may be relatively small.

Moreover, since the rotation radius of the antenna element 3 is small, even if there are obstacles around, the antenna element 3 can be made to stand up relatively easily.

The length of the antenna element 3 that has completed its extension operation is the length necessary and sufficient for transmitting and receiving operations, regardless of the type of vehicle or the size of the vehicle body structure. Even if there is, the transmission and reception can be performed satisfactorily.

Further, in this device, the automatic control device shown in FIG. 6 automatically performs the raising/lowering operation and expansion/contraction operation of the antenna element 3 in conjunction with the turning-off operation of the power supply of the transmitting/receiving set 78. Compared to those that have a dedicated switch for driving the antenna element that is operated independently,
Easy to operate.

Therefore, there is an advantage that it can be operated easily and safely even while the car is running.

Furthermore, at the end of use of the antenna, the antenna element is lowered in an initial state where the contraction operation of the antenna element has hardly started yet, and then the antenna element is lowered relatively slowly.

Therefore, the load of the antenna element assists the lodging operation, and the driving force required for lodging can be extremely small.

Note that this invention is not limited to the embodiments described above.

For example, in the embodiment described above, the drive lever 3 attached to the base end of the antenna element 3 serves as a mechanism for raising and lowering the antenna element 3.
5 is shown to be rotated by a predetermined angle by the pin 58 of the drive plate 57, but a stepping gear is attached to the base end of the antenna element 30 to rotate by a predetermined angle and maintain the angle. , this gear is connected to pin 5 of drive plate 57.
8, the drive plate 5T may advance and drive one step each time it rotates, or a gear may be attached to the base end of the antenna element 30, and this gear and the drive disk 570 may be replaced. The antenna element 3 may be rotated by meshing with a gear attached to the shaft 53.

Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the antenna element 3 is extended or contracted by winding a flexible wire into a rotating drum and unwinding the wire as an extension/retraction operation mechanism for the antenna element 3. The present invention is not limited to this, and the antenna element 3 may be expanded and contracted using the elasticity of a spring, the attraction or repulsion of a magnet, or the like.

As explained above, the present invention provides the following effects.

■ When the antenna is not in use, the antenna element is collapsed onto the vehicle wall, so it can be installed without any problem even if there are restrictions on the length of the antenna element when it is laid down, depending on the type of vehicle or the size of the vehicle body structure.

■ When the antenna is first used, the antenna element is raised up in the initial stage when the antenna element has hardly been extended, and then the antenna element is extended relatively slowly. Although the operation of raising the element is performed at the base end of the antenna element, the driving force required for raising the element may be relatively small.

Moreover, since the rotation radius of the antenna element is small, it can be raised relatively easily even if there are obstacles around it.

■ The length of the antenna element that has completed its extension operation is necessary and sufficient for transmitting and receiving operations, regardless of the vehicle type or the size of the vehicle body structure, so even if the vehicle is driving in a weak electric field area, can also perform sufficiently good transmission and reception.

■ At the end of antenna use, the antenna element is lowered in the initial stage when the antenna element has hardly started to shrink, and then the antenna element is lowered relatively slowly. The load acts to assist the lodging operation, and the driving force required for lodging may be significantly small.

■ Since the antenna element's up-and-down operation mechanism and telescoping operation mechanism operate independently via the first and second clutch mechanisms, the operating time relationship between the above mechanisms can be changed and set as desired. , at a specific upright angle, the degree of extension of the antenna element can be set independently of the above angle.

For example, in a state where the antenna element has completed its standing up, it is possible to perform an operation such that the antenna element, which continues to extend thereafter, is stopped midway and can be used in a so-called semi-extended state.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the mounting state of the antenna device of the same embodiment, and FIG.
The figure shows the mounting part, drive part, and
Figures 4 and 5 are side and front views of the same embodiment with the mounting part and drive part cut away, and Figure 6 is an exploded view of the motor. FIG. 2 is a circuit configuration diagram of a device that controls a motor. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Extendable antenna, 2... Vehicle body wall of part 1 of the roof of an automobile, 3... Antenna element, 4... Holding part,
5... Drive unit, 6... Motor, 7... Ceiling, 8...
... Support plate, 9... Power supply line, 10... Drain tube, 11... Power cord, 31... Large diameter conductive tube, 32... Small diameter conductive tube, 33... Support Axis, 34...
- Covering body, 35... Drive lever, 36... Long hole, 3
7.38... Stopper, 41... Mounting base, 42...
...Cover, 42a...Window, 43...Rubber for cushion, 44...Fixing plate, 45...Hole, 46...
Projection, 47... Connector, 51... Case, 52...
- Worm wheel, 53... Rotating shaft, 54... Worm gear, 55... Bearing, 56... Pivot bearing, 57... Drive disk, 58... Drive pin, 59...
- Partition plate, 60... Rotating drum, 61... Wire storage section, 62... Flexible wire, 63... Clutch plate, 64... Holding plate, 65... Coil spring, 1
1...DC power supply, 72...Reed switch, 73.
...Exciting coil, 74...Fuse, 75...Relay, 76...Switching contact, 77...Power switch, 7
8... Transmission/reception set, 79... Upper limit switch, 81... Lower limit switch, 80... Field coil for forward rotation, 82... Field coil for reverse rotation, 83
...armature coil.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A telescoping antenna element in which a plurality of electrical tubes of different diameters are slidably connected to each other, and means for pivotally supporting the base end of the telescoping antenna element and holding the element on the vehicle body wall in a freely undulating manner;
and a driving means for automatically raising/extending or collapsing/reducing the telescopic antenna element, which is held by the means so as to be freely raised and lowered, by operating an operating switch, and the driving means is configured to automatically raise/extend or collapse/shrink the telescopic antenna element, which is held movably by the operating switch. A motor that rotates forward or backward, a worm gear provided on the rotating shaft of the motor, a worm wheel that rotates in mesh with the worm gear, and a worm wheel coupled to the worm wheel via a first clutch mechanism. a luffing operation mechanism that applies rotational force to the base of the antenna element to raise and lower the element; and a luffing mechanism coupled to the worm wheel via a second clutch mechanism to apply the rotational force of the worm wheel to the antenna element. a telescoping operation mechanism that extends and retracts the element by applying a sliding force to a telescoping drive end of the antenna element, and the raising and lowering operation of the antenna element by the raising and lowering operation mechanism is faster than the extending and retracting operation of the antenna element by the telescoping manipulation mechanism. A vehicle antenna device characterized in that the vehicle antenna device is configured to perform the following operations.