JPH0158761B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a dial lock mechanism, for example, a dial for mechanically operating a dial for rotating an adjustment member that advances and retreats by rotation to control fluid in a fluid control valve or the like. This invention relates to a dial lock mechanism.

[Prior art]

Various types of the above-mentioned dial lock mechanisms have been proposed in the past, but conventional dial lock mechanisms either require both hands to lock and release the lock, resulting in poor operability, or have good operability but lack a reliable locking force. It was something that could not be obtained.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to enable locking and unlocking operations to be performed with one hand without rotating a dial, and to obtain a large and reliable locking force with a small operating force. The object of the present invention is to provide a simple dial lock mechanism that can be used for locking.

[Structure of the invention]

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, the dial lock mechanism is provided with an adjustment member that is screwed to a body or a retainer fixed to the body so as to be movable in a forward and backward manner, and a dial lock mechanism that is attached to the body or the retainer coaxially with the adjustment member. A fixed cylinder part provided on the fixed cylinder part, and a strip-shaped strip that is rotatably and slidably fitted onto the fixed cylinder part, has an annular connecting part at one end, and extends in the axial direction from the annular connecting part to the other end. a leaf spring having a section, a dial fitted onto the leaf spring and connected to the leaf spring and the adjusting member in a manner that is non-rotatable relative to the leaf spring, and having a marking part such as a scale on the outer periphery of one end; and the other end of the dial. A pusher such as a ball is fitted into a radial hole provided in the dial so as to be movable in the radial direction and abuts against the outer peripheral surface of the tip of the strip-shaped portion of the leaf spring, and the pusher is fitted onto the dial. A cylindrical knob is connected to the dial so as to be relatively non-rotatable and movable in the axial direction, and has a recess whose inner diameter portion is capable of accommodating the outer peripheral portion of the pusher and whose depth varies in the axial direction; When the cylindrical knob is in a fixed position with respect to the dial, the pusher is positioned radially outward, allowing rotation between the fixed cylinder part and the leaf spring, and the cylindrical knob is in the fixed position. When the pusher is moved in the axial direction with respect to the dial, the pusher is pushed radially inward by the cylindrical knob and the strip-shaped portion of the leaf spring is bent inward. The base of the strip-shaped portion is pressed against the outer circumferential surface of the fixed cylindrical portion, and rotation between the fixed cylindrical portion and the leaf spring is regulated by a frictional engagement force generated between the fixed cylindrical portion and the leaf spring.

[Action/effect of the invention]

In the dial lock mechanism having the above configuration, when the cylindrical knob is in a fixed position relative to the dial, the pusher is positioned radially outward and rotation is allowed between the fixed cylindrical part and the leaf spring, so that the cylindrical knob When the cylindrical knob is rotated, the cylindrical knob rotates integrally with the dial, leaf spring, adjusting member, etc. relative to the fixed cylindrical portion, and the adjusting member moves forward and backward relative to the fixed cylindrical portion. In the dial lock mechanism in such an unlocked state,
When the cylindrical knob is moved from its home position in the axial direction relative to the dial, the pusher is pushed radially inward by the cylindrical knob, and the pusher bends the strip-shaped portion of the leaf spring inward. The base of the strip-shaped portion comes into pressure contact with the outer circumferential surface of the fixed cylinder part, and the rotation between the fixed cylinder part and the leaf spring is restricted by the frictional engagement force generated between the fixed cylinder part and the leaf spring. Therefore, rotation of the cylindrical knob, dial, leaf spring, adjusting member, etc. relative to the fixed cylindrical portion is restricted, and the cylindrical knob, dial, leaf spring, adjusting member, etc. are locked relative to the fixed cylindrical portion. In addition, when the dial lock mechanism is in the locked state, when the cylindrical knob is moved axially relative to the dial and returned to its home position, the pusher moves radially outward due to the restoring action of the strip-shaped portion of the leaf spring. As a result, the pressure contact between a part of the leaf spring and the outer circumferential surface of the fixed cylindrical part is released, and rotation is again allowed between the fixed cylindrical part and the leaf spring.

By the way, the locking and unlocking operations described above can be performed by a one-touch operation such as holding the cylindrical knob with one hand and simply moving it from the home position to the moving position or vice versa in the axial direction. Of course, it is extremely simple,
Since no rotational force is applied to the dial or adjustment member during operation, there is no need to rotate the dial or adjustment member during operation, especially lock operation, which prevents the position of the dial or adjustment member from being changed inadvertently. There isn't.

Furthermore, in the dial lock mechanism according to the present invention, the lever principle is utilized in the strip-shaped portion of the leaf spring, and the pusher is pushed radially inward with a small force using the cylindrical knob. It is possible to generate a large frictional engagement force between the base of the strip-shaped part and the outer peripheral surface of the fixed cylindrical part, and a large and reliable force that regulates the rotation of the adjustment member and dial with a small operating force applied to the cylindrical knob. You can get locking power.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a dial lock mechanism according to the present invention, which is implemented in a fluid control valve, including a retainer 10, an adjusting member 20, a leaf spring 30, a dial 40, and a ball 5.
0, a cylindrical knob 60, etc.

The retainer 10 has a stepped cylindrical shape, and includes a cylindrical portion 10a having a tapered outer circumferential surface 10a1 that extends leftward in the drawing and becomes thinner toward the left;
It is provided with an annular flange portion 10b extending radially outward from the right-hand portion of FIG. Also,
A marking plate 12 having markings such as a scale is fixed to the left end surface of the annular flange portion 10b. The adjustment member 20 is rod-shaped and has a mounting shaft portion 20a and a male threaded portion 20b at the left end in the drawing.
It is screwed into a female threaded portion 10a2 provided in an inner hole at the left end of the cylinder portion 10a in the drawing so that it can move forward and backward in the left and right directions in the drawing, and the right portion (not shown) controls the fluid.

As clearly shown in FIG. 4, the leaf spring 30 has an annular connecting portion 30a at the right end in the figure, and four strip-shaped portions extending axially leftward from the annular connecting portion 30a. 30b, and the annular coupling portion 30a is an annular recess 10c provided in the retainer 10.
It is rotatably fitted onto the cylindrical portion 10a so as to fit inside the tubular portion 10a, and each strip-shaped portion 30b is not bent in the state shown in FIG. It is in sliding contact with the outer circumferential surface 10a1 of the cylindrical portion 10a so as to be able to rotate freely at the base thereof.

The dial 40 is connected to the annular recess 10 of the retainer 10.
a mounting portion 40a that is rotatably fitted into the interior of c; a marking portion 40b formed in a tapered shape with markings such as scales on the surface; and a support cylinder portion 40c extending leftward from the marking portion 40b. has a leaf spring 3
0 and is prevented from coming off together with the leaf spring 30 by a clip 41. The dial 40 and the adjustment member 20 are connected by a boss member 70. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the boss member 70 includes a mounting hole 70a provided in the axial center, a screw hole 70b provided perpendicularly to the mounting hole 70a, and a pair of engagement protrusions extending in the axial direction. 70c, and the engagement protrusion 70c is fitted into the engagement recess 40d provided in the dial 40 shown in FIG. (not shown, but a notch is provided), and the mounting hole
It is fitted onto the mounting shaft portion 20a of the adjustment member 20 at 0a, and is fixed onto the mounting shaft portion 20a by a set screw 71 screwed into a screw hole 70b.

The ball 50 is attached to the support cylinder portion 40c of the dial 40.
A radial hole 40c is provided symmetrically with respect to the axis.
1 so as to be movable in the radial direction, and abut against the outer circumferential surface of the tip end of each strip-shaped portion 30b of the leaf spring 30. The cylindrical knob 60 is fitted onto the dial 40 and the boss member 70, and is connected to the dial 40 by a pin 61 so as to be non-rotatable and movable in the axial direction. Two annular recesses 60a and 60b that can be accommodated and have different depths and are separated by a predetermined amount in the axial direction.
A tapered hole 60c is formed to connect these annular recesses 60a and 60b. Pin 61 is
It is driven into the cylindrical knob 60 in the radial direction,
An axial notch 40c2 provided at the tip of the support cylinder portion 40c of the dial 40 and a strip-shaped portion 30 of the leaf spring 30
The cylindrical knob 60 and the dial 40 are connected to each other so as to be movable in the axial direction without being able to rotate relative to each other. are connected so that they cannot rotate relative to each other.

In the dial lock mechanism configured as described above, as shown in FIG. Since rotation is allowed, if the cylindrical knob 60 is rotated,
The cylindrical knob 60 rotates integrally with the dial 40, the leaf spring 30, the adjusting member 20, etc. relative to the cylindrical portion 10a, and the adjusting member 20 moves forward and backward relative to the cylindrical portion 10a. The amount of advance and retreat can be read from the markings provided on the marking plate 12 and the markings provided on the marking portion 40b of the dial 40. In the dial lock mechanism in such an unlocked state, the cylindrical knob 6
0 in the axial direction to the right in the figure so that the ball 50 is accommodated in the shallow recess 60b of the cylindrical knob 60, the ball 50 is moved into the cylindrical knob 60 as shown in FIG. The strip-shaped portion 30b of the leaf spring 30 is bent inward by the ball 50, and the base of the strip-shaped portion 30b comes into pressure contact with the outer circumferential surface 10a1 of the cylindrical portion 10a. Rotation between the cylindrical portion 10a and the leaf spring 30 is regulated by the frictional engagement force generated between the cylindrical portion 10a and the leaf spring 30.
Therefore, rotation of the cylindrical knob 60, dial 40, leaf spring 30, adjustment member 20, etc. relative to the cylindrical portion 10a is restricted, and the cylindrical knob 60, dial 4
0, the leaf spring 30, the adjusting member 20, etc. are locked to the cylindrical portion 10a. Further, in the dial lock mechanism in the locked state, when the cylindrical knob 60 is moved axially to the left in the figure so that the ball 50 is accommodated in the deep recess 60a of the cylindrical knob 60, the ball 50 is Strip-shaped portion 30 of leaf spring 30
b is pushed radially outward by the restoring action of
The pressure contact a1 is released, and rotation is again allowed between the cylindrical portion 10a and the leaf spring 30.

By the way, the locking and unlocking operations described above can be performed by a one-touch operation such as holding the cylindrical knob 60 with one hand and simply moving it in the axial direction, and it goes without saying that the operation is extremely simple. In particular, since no rotational force is applied to the dial 40 or adjustment member 20 during operation,
There is no need to rotate the dial 40 or adjustment member 20 during operation, especially lock operation.
0 or the position of the adjustment member 20 will not be changed carelessly.

Further, the principle of leverage is utilized in the strip-shaped portion 30b of the leaf spring 30, and by pushing the ball 50 inward in the radial direction with a small force using the cylindrical knob 60, the base of the strip-shaped portion 30b is and fixed cylinder part 10
It is possible to generate a large frictional engagement force with the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical knob 60, and it is possible to obtain a large and reliable locking force that restricts the rotation of the adjustment member 20 and the dial 40 with a small operating force applied to the cylindrical knob 60. can.

[Modified example]

In the above embodiments, the present invention was implemented using the retainer 10, but it is also possible to implement the present invention by providing a portion corresponding to the retainer integrally with the body. Further, when implementing the present invention, the outer peripheral shape (taper) of the cylindrical portion 10a provided in the retainer 10, the shape of the leaf spring 30, the shape of the ball 50 (pushing element), the annular recess 6 provided in the cylindrical knob 60, etc.
Not only the shape of 0a and 60b but also the adjustment member 2
0 and the dial 40, the connection configuration between the leaf spring 30 and the dial 40, the connection configuration between the cylindrical knob 60 and the dial 40, etc. can be changed as appropriate without departing from the scope of the claims.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a sectional view taken along the - line in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view showing the locked state, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the leaf spring, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line - in FIG. FIG. 6 is a side view of the boss member connecting the adjustment member and the dial, and FIG. 6 is a rear view of the boss member. Explanation of symbols, 10...Retainer, 10a...
(Fixed) Cylinder part, 11... Body, 20... Adjustment member, 30... Leaf spring, 30a... Annular connecting part, 3
0b...Rectangular portion, 40...Dial, 40b
... Indication part, 40c1 ... Radial hole, 50...
... Ball (push element), 60 ... Cylindrical knob, 60
a, 60b...(annular) recess.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An adjustment member screwed to a body or a retainer fixed to the body so as to be reciprocatable; a fixed cylindrical part provided on the body or the retainer coaxially with the adjustment member; and a rotating sliding member on the fixed cylindrical part a leaf spring having a strip-shaped portion that is removably fitted and has an annular coupling portion at one end and extends axially from the annular coupling portion toward the other end; and a dial that is connected to the adjustment member in a relatively non-rotatable manner and has a marking section such as a scale on the outer periphery of one end, and is fitted in a radial hole provided at the other end of the dial so as to be movable in the radial direction. a pusher such as a ball that contacts the outer circumferential surface of the tip of the strip-shaped portion of the leaf spring; and an inner diameter portion that is fitted onto the dial and is connected to the dial so as to be non-rotatable and movable in the axial direction. a cylindrical knob capable of accommodating the outer circumferential portion of the pusher and having recesses having different depths in the axial direction; when the cylindrical knob is in a fixed position with respect to the dial, the pusher is located radially outward to allow rotation between the fixed cylindrical portion and the leaf spring, and when the cylindrical knob is moved from the home position in the axial direction with respect to the dial, the cylindrical knob Therefore, the pusher is pushed radially inward and positioned, and the strip-shaped portion of the leaf spring is bent inward, and the base of the strip-shaped portion comes into pressure contact with the outer peripheral surface of the fixed cylindrical portion, thereby fixing the spring. A dial lock mechanism in which rotation between the fixed cylindrical portion and the leaf spring is regulated by a frictional engagement force generated between the cylindrical portion and the leaf spring.