JPS6345041B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a vehicle height detection device, and particularly to a vehicle height detection device used for attitude control such as leveling control or rolling control in a vehicle such as a two-wheeled vehicle or a four-wheeled vehicle. The present invention relates to a vehicle height detection device that is suitable for detection and has excellent dust resistance.

[Prior art and its problems]

To improve the riding comfort and handling stability of vehicles such as two-wheeled vehicles and four-wheeled vehicles, attitude control such as leveling control and rolling control is necessary. needs to be detected accurately.

For this reason, various vehicle height detection devices that automatically detect vehicle height changes have been proposed in the past. It is often placed between the sides.

Incidentally, the area between the body side and the axle side of the vehicle as described above, that is, the area around the suspension area is also a place where there is an extremely large amount of so-called dust such as fine sand and metal powder, or muddy water.

Therefore, if the vehicle height detection device is installed between the vehicle body side and the axle side as described above, it is easily expected that a large amount of dust, muddy water, etc. will adhere to the vehicle height detection device. .

Furthermore, the space between the vehicle body side and the axle side is extremely narrow in terms of so-called space, and is likely to be subject to restrictions on installation.

However, the vehicle height detection devices that have been proposed so far do not have sufficient sealing functions to deal with the dust, muddy water, etc. mentioned above, and it is difficult to miniaturize while maintaining high detection accuracy. It had some drawbacks, such as being difficult and difficult.

Therefore, in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, the present invention aims to provide a new vehicle height detection device that can simultaneously achieve improved sealing function and miniaturization while ensuring high detection accuracy. purpose.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the vehicle height detection device according to the present invention has a configuration including a phototransistor serving as a sensor and a light emitting diode facing the phototransistor located approximately in the center of a cylindrical body. Vehicle height detection comprising a light shielding plate disposed between the two rods, the light shielding plate being connected to the end of the rod body which is inserted into the cylinder so as to be retractable. In the device, the cylindrical body is closed with a bearing at one end and a bracket at the other end to form a sealed structure.
The rod body is formed of a cylindrical body and is inserted into the shaft core of the bearing and is in airtight sliding contact with a seal interposed in the bearing part, and the light shielding plate is a flat plate having an opening window approximately in the center thereof. and has both flat surfaces facing a phototransistor and a light emitting diode, respectively, and the phototransistor and the light emitting diode are formed in the sealed structure so as to face each other adjacent to each other with the light shielding plate interposed therebetween. It is characterized in that it is held in a holder disposed approximately in the center of a cylindrical body, and two holders are disposed in the vertical direction.

[Effect]

When the rod body is moved in and out of the cylinder, the light shielding plate moves between the phototransistor as a sensor and the light emitting diode, and the movement of the light shielding plate blocks the light emitted from the light emitting diode from entering the phototransistor. Changes in vehicle height, such as changes in the position of the rod body protruding and retracting into the cylindrical body, i.e. changes in the distance between, for example, the vehicle body side to which the rod body is connected and, for example, the axle side to which the cylinder body is connected, are permitted. Detected.

At this time, a phototransistor and a light emitting diode facing each other, which are sensors, are held in a holder in a cylinder so that their facing distances are close to each other, and a light shielding plate disposed between them is formed of a flat plate, and both flat sides thereof are used as a phototransistor. Since the transistor and the light-emitting diode are placed close to each other, the light emitted from the light-emitting diode toward the light-shielding plate is not deflected or diffused by the light-shielding plate, which prevents errors in detection results. Therefore, the accuracy of the entire device can be improved and its size can be reduced.

In addition, since the rod body that is retracted into the cylindrical body formed in the sealed structure is made of a cylindrical body, an O-ring or the like is used for the sliding contact portion of the rod body with the end of the cylindrical body formed in the sealed structure. By simply arranging a seal with a simple structure, it becomes possible to exhibit a predetermined sealing function.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail based on the illustrated embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle height detection device 1 according to the present invention is used as a leveling sensor.
For example, it is installed in a two-wheeled vehicle together with an air suspension unit 2 serving as a damper to form a vehicle height adjustment device for the two-wheeled vehicle.

These vehicle height detection device 1 and air suspension unit 2 are pivoted to brackets 5, 6, 7, and 8 as appropriate between the body frame 3 on the rear wheel 9 side of the two-wheeled vehicle and the lower swing arm 4. will be constructed and erected.

In this case, air suspension unit 2
In order to obtain a sufficient stroke of It is preferable to arrange it on the rear side.

In addition, the above air suspension unit 2
Generally, two of them are disposed so as to sandwich the rear wheel 9 from both the left and right sides, but it is sufficient that the vehicle height detection device 1, which is the leveling sensor, is disposed only on one of the left and right sides.

Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the present device 1 is arranged in a so-called erect state, but it goes without saying that the present device 1 may be arranged in a so-called inverted state instead of this.

As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle height detection device 1 according to the present invention includes a bearing 11 fixed to the upper end head portion of a hollow cylindrical body 10 such as a cylinder body or other cylindrical body by roll caulking or the like. This bearing 1
A rod body 13 made of a cylindrical body is slidably penetrated through the central axis of the bearing 11.
A seal 12 made of an O-ring is interposed on the inner periphery, and the seal 12 comes into sliding contact with the outer periphery of the rod body 13.

A bracket 1 is attached to the bottom portion of the lower end of the cylindrical body 10.
In the illustrated example, the bracket 14 is pivotally connected to the bracket 6 on the swing arm 4 side, which is the wheel side of the two-wheeled vehicle.

Therefore, as is clear from the above configuration, the cylinder 10 has a bearing 1 serving as a closing member at one end.
1 and a seal 12 to form a closed structure, and the bracket 1 also serves as a closing member at the other end.
4 is formed into a sealed structure, the intrusion of light, muddy water, dust, etc. from the outside into the cylindrical body 10 is prevented in advance, resulting in a light-shielding, water-proof and dust-proof structure.

Further, the rod body 13, which slidably passes through the shaft core of the bearing 11 fixed to the upper end head portion of the cylinder body 10 by roll caulking or the like, has a circular cross section with no corners. Therefore, even if the seal 12 corresponding to the sliding movement of the rod body 13 is constructed with a simple means such as an O-ring, no unnatural external force is applied to the seal 12 due to sliding contact at the corner, and the seal It becomes possible to reliably perform so-called rod sealing while maintaining the durability of No. 12, that is, a predetermined sealing performance.

A bracket 15 that is pivotally connected to the bracket 5 on the body frame 3 side is integrally connected to the upper end of the rod body 13. In this embodiment, the structure is as follows.

That is, the upper end of the rod body 13 has a spiral portion 13a.
is formed, a lock nut 15a is screwed into the threaded part 13a, an insertion part 15b of the bracket 15 is inserted, and a window part 15c formed in the bracket 15 is fitted with a lock nut 15a. The adjusting nut 15d is screwed on.

Note that the adjustment nut 15d is connected to the window portion 15c.
Of course, it can be freely rotated by so-called external operation via the .

On the other hand, a guide hole 13b is bored in the upper end of the rod body 13 where the threaded portion 13a is formed along its axis (left and right in the figure). Pin 15e is guided.

The guide pin 15e is connected and held by the insertion portion 15b of the bracket 15, and when the connection position of the bracket 15 to the rod body 13 is changed, the relative rotational direction between the bracket 15 and the rod body 13 is maintained. Care has been taken to ensure that no physical displacement occurs.

Therefore, if the device 1 is disposed between the vehicle body frame 3 and the swing arm 4 by pivoting the brackets 5 and 15 and 6 and 14, the cylinder body 10 and the rod body 13 in the device 1 are Under this condition, when the lock nut 15a is loosened and the adjustment nut 15d is screwed on, the guide pin 15e of the bracket 15 is guided into the guide hole 13b. With the rod body 13 prevented from rotating, the adjusting nut 15d is relatively moved on the threaded portion 13a of the rod body 13 by an amount equivalent to the thread pitch of the threaded portion 13a.

As a result, the position of the light shielding plate 23, which will be described later, which is connected to the tip of the rod body 13 is adjusted, and the neutral position of the device 1 as a leveling sensor is adjusted, that is, the zero point is adjusted. becomes possible.

After the above adjustment, when the lock nut 15a is tightened, the rod body 13 and the bracket 15 are fixedly connected to each other in cooperation with the opposing adjustment nut 15d.

Note that rotation between the bracket 15 and the rod body 13 is prevented by the engagement of the guide pin 15e with the guide hole 13b. Board 2
3 is not rotated within the cylindrical body 10.

Then, the guide hole 13b and the guide pin 15
Regarding e, instead of the above embodiment, the guide hole may be bored on the insertion portion 15b side of the bracket 15, and the guide pin may be implanted on the rod body 13 side.

The cylindrical body 10 has a pair of holders 16 and 17 formed approximately in the center thereof and each having a U-shaped cross section or another cross-sectional shape, and whose main body portions face each other.

As shown in FIG. 3, the pair of holders 16 and 17 have a cover 18 adjacent to the outer periphery of the cylindrical body 10 at the rear end of each of the holders 16 and 17.
When inserting the main body portions 16a, 17a of the holders 16, 17 into the cylindrical body 10, the respective covers 18 act as so-called stoppers, allowing the holders 16, 17 to be disposed in the cylindrical body 10.

The body portion 16a of one of the holders 16 holds two phototransistors 19 and 20 in the vertical (left and right in FIG. 2) direction, and the body portion 17a of the other holder 17 holds two phototransistors 19 and 20. Light emitting diodes 21 and 22 are arranged and held adjacent to and facing the two phototransistors 19 and 20, respectively.

The facing distance between the phototransistors 19, 20 and the light emitting diodes 21, 22 facing each other is
In order to eliminate measurement errors caused by the two as much as possible, care has been taken to ensure that they are located very close to each other, but even in that case, it is necessary to ensure that the light shielding plate 23, which will be described later, is placed between the two so as not to interfere with this. Of course, consideration has been given to

Note that it goes without saying that two phototransistors and light emitting diodes may be formed in advance so as to form a pair.

In this embodiment, there are two phototransistors and two light emitting diodes each, but this only detects whether the vehicle height is higher or lower than the reference height. Not, but
For example, this is a result of consideration given to making it possible to detect how high (or low) the height (or low) is.

Therefore, between the phototransistors 19 and 20 arranged above and below and between the light emitting diodes 21 and 2,
By appropriately setting the adjacent distance between the two, it becomes possible to detect the vehicle height in a desired setting width.

A light-shielding plate 23 made of a flat plate is connected to the lower end of the rod body 13, that is, the end facing inside the cylindrical body 10.

The light-shielding plate 23 has an opening window 24 of an arbitrary shape and appropriate size bored in its substantially central portion, and the lower part of the light-shielding plate 23, that is, the remaining main body portion 23a is formed with a phototransistor. When the light shielding plate 23 is lowered and the opening window 24 is interposed between the phototransistor and the light emitting diode, it blocks the light emitted from the light emitting diode. The phototransistor is formed so that the irradiation light from the phototransistor is incident on the phototransistor.

That is, the phototransistors 19 and 20 are turned on and off by vertical movement of the light shielding plate 23, which is movement in the left and right directions in FIG.

In this case, in this embodiment, there are two phototransistors 19 and 20 (and light emitting diodes 21 and 22), and the main body portion 23a of the light shielding plate 23 has two phototransistors 19 and 20 (and light emitting diodes 21 and 22).
20 (and the light emitting diodes 21 and 22), so from the beginning as shown in FIG. When only the irradiation light is blocked, the light blocking plate 23
When the irradiation light from the two light emitting diodes 21 and 22 is both blocked as the light emitted from the light emitting diode 21 and 22 moves from the left to the right in the figure, and The above-described embodiments may be implemented in a plurality of modes, such as when only the irradiation light is incident on the phototransistor 19 facing each other, and when the irradiation light from the light emitting diodes 21 and 22 facing each other is further incident on the two phototransistors 19 and 20. The phototransistors 19 and 20 are turned on and off.

Therefore, for example, from the beginning as shown in FIG. 2, the case where only the emitted light from the light emitting diode 21 on the left side in the figure is blocked is the 1G state in a motorcycle, that is, the standard when a driver is on board. If it is set to maintain a certain vehicle height, the height of the two-wheeled vehicle can be adjusted by adjusting the expansion and contraction of the air suspension unit 2, which will be described later.

Therefore, in this embodiment, a light shielding plate 23 made of a flat plate is arranged between the phototransistors 19 and 20 and the light emitting diodes 21 and 22.
Since the so-called tip of the rod body 13 inserted into the cylindrical body 10 in a retractable manner is not extended as it is as in the conventional case, the phototransistor 1
There is no longer a need for a large spacing between the light emitting diodes 9 and 20 and the light emitting diodes 21 and 22, and the entire device 1 can be easily miniaturized.

Further, the phototransistors 19 and 20 and the light emitting diodes 21 and 22 are connected to the holders 16 and 1.
The light emitting diodes 2 are held by the phototransistors 19 and 20 and are opposed to each other in close proximity to each other.
There is no longer any inconvenience such as the polarization phenomenon caused by the curved surface of the light shielding member caused by the irradiated light from 1 or 22, which eliminates the occurrence of detection errors, and the detection accuracy of the device 1 can be greatly improved. .

Next, the configuration of a vehicle height detection device in a two-wheeled vehicle equipped with the vehicle height detection device 1 according to the present invention as a leveling sensor will be briefly described.

As shown in Fig. 4, an air suspension unit 2 that constitutes a vehicle height adjustment device in a two-wheeled vehicle
As is well known, a piston 26 is placed in a cylinder 25.
A piston rod 27 is slidably inserted through the cylinder 25, and the piston 26 divides the cylinder 25 into two upper and lower oil chambers, an air chamber 28 is formed in the upper oil chamber, and an air chamber 28 is formed in the lower oil chamber. A spring 29 is interposed.

The cylinder 25 and the piston rod 27 are provided with eyes 30 and 31, respectively, and these eyes 3
0 and 31, the air suspension unit 2 is connected to a vehicle body frame 3 on the vehicle body side and a swing arm 4 on the wheel side.

On the other hand, a control valve 32 is attached to an arbitrary position on the vehicle body, pipes 33 and 34 are connected to the control valve 32, and an air source 35 such as a pump or an accumulator is connected to the pipe 33. The conduit 34 is connected to the air chamber 28 of the air suspension unit 2 to supply air from the air source 35 to the air chamber 28 via the control valve 32, or to connect the control valve 32 and the conduit. It is adapted to be discharged to the atmosphere via a passage 36.

Furthermore, in the control valve 32, there are 3
Two check valves 37, 38 are arranged between the air source 35 and the pipe line 34, and one check valve 39 is arranged between the air source 35 and the pipe line 34. and the conduit 36.

In addition, two solenoids SOL1 and SOL2 are attached to the control valve 32,
One solenoid SOL1 is connected to one phototransistor 19 by a circuit 40, and the other solenoid SOL2 is connected to the other phototransistor 2.
0 and a circuit 41.

When one solenoid SOL1 is energized, the check valves 37 and 38 on the air source 35 side in the control valve 32 are opened, and when the other solenoid SOL2 is energized,
A check valve 39 on the atmospheric side within the control valve 32 is configured to open.

Therefore, in the air suspension unit 2 in this embodiment, when the check valves 37 and 38 are opened by energizing one solenoid SOL1, air from the air source 35 is supplied into the air chamber 28 and the air suspension unit 2 is expanded. In this case, the vehicle height of the motorcycle will be raised.

Furthermore, when the check valve 39 is opened by energizing the other solenoid SOL2, the air in the air chamber 28 is discharged into the atmosphere through the pipe 36, thereby increasing the vehicle height of the two-wheeled vehicle. becomes lower.

Next, vehicle height detection while the two-wheeled vehicle is running and vehicle height adjustment based on this detection will be described.

For example, when a two-wheeled vehicle suddenly accelerates while driving and causes a squat phenomenon, that is, when the vehicle height on the rear wheel side becomes lower than the reference height (the zero point adjustment device), the vehicle height detection device 1 , rod 1
3 descends inside the cylindrical body 10, and the main body portion 23a of the light shielding plate 23 blocks the irradiated light from the light emitting diode 22 below (right side in FIG. 2). The opening window 24 allows the irradiated light from the light emitting diode 21 located above (left side in FIG. 2) to be incident on the phototransistor 19 facing thereto.

As a result, one solenoid SOL1 is energized and the check valves 37 and 38 are opened.
At this time, air from the air source 35 is transferred to the pipe 3.
3 and 34 into the air chamber 28 of the air suspension unit 2, the air suspension unit 2 is extended, and the vehicle height on the rear wheel side is raised to the reference position.

Conversely, when a two-wheeled vehicle suddenly decelerates while driving and a nose dive phenomenon occurs, that is, when the air suspension unit 2 is extended due to load transfer and the vehicle height on the rear wheel side becomes higher than the reference position. As the light shielding plate 23 rises within the cylinder body 10 of the vehicle height detection device 1, the lower light emitting diode 22
The irradiated light from the upper light emitting diode 21 is incident on the phototransistor 20 opposite thereto, whereas the irradiated light from the upper light emitting diode 21 is incident on the main body portion 2 of the light shielding plate 23.
It will be cut off at 3a.

As a result, the other solenoid SOL2 is energized and the check valve 39 is opened.
The air in the air suspension unit 8 is released into the atmosphere through the pipe 36, and the supporting thrust of the air suspension unit 2 is reduced and contracted, and the vehicle height is lowered by that amount to the reference position, that is, the zero point adjustment position. It will be adjusted downward.

Therefore, according to the vehicle height detection device according to the present embodiment, the vehicle height can be automatically and accurately detected in response to changes in the live load and the weight of the driver even when the vehicle is under a stationary load. Even when driving, it is not affected by muddy water or dust, and automatically and accurately adjusts to road conditions, sudden braking, sudden starts, or sudden accelerations, and changes in vehicle height such as when cornering. It is possible to accurately adjust the vehicle height of a motorcycle, etc. based on the results of this accurate displacement detection without errors, thereby reducing changes in the vehicle's posture, thereby improving riding comfort. This makes it possible to drive safely and stably.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the rod body that slidably passes through the shaft core of the bearing disposed at the end of the cylindrical body formed in a sealed structure is composed of a cylindrical body with a circular cross section. It is possible to use a simple structure such as an O-ring for the seal disposed on the sliding part, and it also improves the durability of the seal member when a rod body having corners is slidably contacted. There is an advantage in that a vehicle height detection device with improved rod sealing properties such as resistance to muddy water and dust can be obtained without worrying about problems.

Further, according to the present invention, a phototransistor serving as a sensor and a light emitting diode disposed in a cylinder formed in a sealed structure are held by holders disposed facing each other in the cylinder and are placed adjacent to each other. Since the light-shielding plate made of a flat plate is disposed between the phototransistor and the light-emitting diode, which face each other and are adjacent to each other, the light irradiated toward the light-shielding plate is deflected by the light-shielding plate. There is an advantage that a vehicle height detection device can be obtained that does not cause the vehicle height to be diffused or diffused, and can easily improve its detection accuracy and can also be easily miniaturized.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

Since the cylindrical body and the rod body are each provided with a bracket, it is easy to attach the vehicle height detection device to a vehicle such as a two-wheeled vehicle.

It is durable, waterproof, dustproof, has good detection accuracy, and is small, so it is possible to install this vehicle height detection device near the undercarriage of a vehicle where there is a lot of muddy water or dust. The control state of the vehicle height adjustment system using the detection device can also be accurately controlled, and highly accurate control results can be obtained, thereby guaranteeing stable running of the vehicle.

Since the casings facing each other are disposed inside the cylindrical body and each of the casings holds a phototransistor and a light emitting diode, the casing, the phototransistor, and the light emitting diode can be formed separately from the cylindrical body, and, Since the casing only needs to be attached to the cylindrical body during assembly, ease of assembly is improved.

Furthermore, since the facing distance between the phototransistor and the light emitting diode can be managed by precision control of the casing, the precision as a so-called sensor is good and the assemblability thereof can be improved.

The casing, phototransistor, and light emitting diode are placed inside a sealed cylinder, and light, water, and dust from the outside do not enter the cylinder, preventing malfunctions or malfunctions. Not invited.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing the vehicle height detection device according to the present invention installed on a two-wheeled vehicle together with an air suspension unit, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the vehicle height detection device according to the present invention, and FIG. - in Figure 2
The cross-sectional plan view shown by lines in FIG. 4 is a system diagram showing the entire vehicle height adjustment device using the vehicle height detection device according to the present invention. [Explanation of symbols], 1...Vehicle height detection device, 10...
... cylinder body, 11 ... bearing, 12 ... seal,
13...rod font, 14,15...bracket,
15a... Lock nut, 15b... Adjustment nut, 15c... Guide pin, 16, 17... Holder, 19, 20... Photo transistor, 2
1, 22... Light emitting diode, 23... Light shielding plate,
24...Opening window.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A phototransistor serving as a sensor and a light emitting diode facing the phototransistor are provided approximately in the center of the cylinder, and a light shielding plate is provided between the phototransistor and the light emitting diode.
In the vehicle height detection device, the light shielding plate is connected to an end of a rod body which is retractably inserted into the cylinder, and the cylinder has a bearing at one end and a bearing at the other end. Each of the rods is closed with a bracket to form a sealed structure, and the rod body is formed of a cylindrical body and is inserted into the shaft core of the bearing, and is in airtight sliding contact with a seal interposed in the bearing part. The light shielding plate is composed of a flat plate having an opening window approximately in the center thereof, and both flat sides of the plate face the phototransistor and the light emitting diode, respectively. A vehicle characterized by being held in a holder disposed substantially in the center of the cylindrical body formed in the sealed structure so as to face each other in the closed structure, and two holders are respectively disposed in the vertical direction. High detection device.