JPH0574730B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a spring coupler device that transmits rotation from a driving side to a driven side, but restricts transmission of rotation from the driven side to the driving side.

[Prior Art] In general, this type of spring coupler device is rotatably fitted into a cylindrical case fixed to a fixed member, as shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-117922 as a conventional example. a cylindrical driving member, a driven member rotatably fitted in the case, and a driven member having protrusions located in circumferential notches of the driving member at a predetermined interval on both sides in the circumferential direction; A coil spring is fitted to the outer periphery of the member and has both ends thereof locked to both side edges of the notch of the drive member. In the spring coupler device having such a configuration, the coil spring frictionally engages with the inner periphery of the case when expanded to generate a braking force, and when the expansion is released, the braking force disappears. When the driving member rotates, the coil spring is contracted, and when the driven member is rotated, the coil spring is expanded. As a result, it is always possible to rotate from the driving member side, and the driven member can be rotated by the rotation of the driving member, and when the driven member rotates, a braking force is generated and the driven member and the driving member are rotated. Rotation is regulated.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

By the way, in such a spring coupler device, it is necessary to sufficiently contract the coil spring by rotating the driving member and sufficiently expand the coil spring by rotating the driven member, so that the edges of both sides of the notch of the driving member and the driven member are A predetermined distance must be maintained between both side edges of the protrusion of the member.
For this reason, the driven member swings in response to both of these gaps, and when such a coupler device is used in a seat lifter, the seat may wobble in the vertical direction.
Furthermore, if it is used in a window regulator, the window glass will wobble in the vertical direction.

In order to solve this problem, the above-mentioned publication adopts two coil springs, large and small, and attempts to prevent backlash by changing the expansion and contraction of both coil springs depending on the rotational direction of each member. A Katsupura device has been proposed. However, such a coupler device has a configuration in which a small diameter coil spring fits radially around the outer periphery of a thick-walled driving member, and a large-diameter coil spring also fits radially around an outer periphery of a thick-walled driven member. As a result, the entire device inevitably becomes larger in the radial direction, and since the winding diameters of both coil springs are significantly different, there is a problem in that the braking force applied to the driven member is significantly different.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to solve this problem, the present invention provides a spring coupler device that includes a cylindrical case that is fixedly assembled to a fixed member, and a cylindrical case that is rotatably assembled to the fixed member and that is mounted on the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion of the case. a bottomed cylindrical driving member that is fitted while maintaining a circumferential gap; and a driven member that is rotatably assembled to the fixed member and fitted to the inner periphery of the cylindrical portion of the case while maintaining a predetermined circumferential gap. , a plate-shaped connecting member located between the bottom of the driving member and the inner end of the driven member, and connected to the driven member so as to be integrally rotatable, and to the driving member so as to be relatively rotatable by a predetermined amount; a large diameter coil fitted around the outer periphery of the case, one end of which is locked to the connecting member, and the other end of which is located at a portion that engages with the driving member in a direction in which it expands when the driving member rotates in one direction; a spring fitted into the inner periphery of the case, one end of which is locked to the driven member, and the other end of which is located at a portion that engages with the driving member in a contracting direction when the driving member rotates in the other direction; It is composed of a small diameter coil spring.

[Action/effect of the invention]

With this configuration, when the drive member rotates in one direction, the large-diameter coil spring that fits around the outer periphery of the case expands, and the drive member rotates in one direction without frictionally engaging the spring with the outer periphery of the case.
During this rotation, the driving member connects with the connecting member and rotates the connecting member and the driven member integral therewith.
In this case, since the driven member rotates in a direction that reduces the small diameter coil spring that fits on the inner periphery of the case, the spring does not frictionally engage with the inner periphery of the case to generate a braking force. Further, when the drive member rotates in the other direction, the small diameter coil spring contracts, and the spring does not come into frictional engagement with the inner periphery of the case, and the drive member rotates in the other direction. During this rotation, the driving member connects with the connecting member and rotates the connecting member and the driven member integral therewith. In this case, since the driven member rotates in the direction of expanding the large diameter coil spring via the connecting member, the spring does not frictionally engage with the outer periphery of the case and no braking force is generated.

Conversely, when the driven member rotates in one direction, the driven member immediately contracts the large-diameter coil spring via the connecting member to frictionally engage the spring with the outer periphery of the case. Therefore, the rotation of the driven member is restricted by the braking force caused by such frictional engagement. Further, when the driven member rotates in the other direction, the driven member immediately expands the small diameter coil spring and brings the spring into frictional engagement with the inner periphery of the case. Therefore, the rotation of the driven member is restricted by the braking force caused by such frictional engagement.

As described above, in the coupler device of the present invention, when the driven member attempts to rotate, a braking force is immediately generated to restrict the rotation of the driven member. Therefore, the driven member does not swing.
There is no backlash caused by this.

By the way, in such a coupler device, a small-diameter coil spring and a large-diameter coil spring are fitted to the inner and outer circumferences of a cylindrical portion of a case that is formed with a thin wall on the inner circumference of a drive member that is thick in the radial direction. Therefore, the overall size of the device does not increase significantly in the radial direction. Further, it is possible to use coil springs with shapes that do not have a large difference in winding diameter, and it is possible to make the braking forces generated in both rotational directions substantially the same.

〔Example〕

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 to 3 show a spring coupler device (hereinafter referred to as a coupler device) according to the present invention. This Katsupura device is case 11,
Driving member 12, driven member 13, plate-like connecting member 14, large diameter and small diameter coil springs 1
5 and 16.

The case 11 includes a cylindrical portion 11a and an outward flange portion 11b integrally provided at the outer end thereof, and is fixedly assembled to the fixing member 21 at the outward flange portion 11b. The coupling device is employed in a seat lifter that moves a vehicle seat cushion up and down, and in this case, the fixing member 21 corresponds to a lower arm that is erected on the seat track. The drive member 12 includes a bottomed cylindrical portion 12a, a mounting shaft 12b protruding outward from its outer surface, and a support shaft 12c protruding inward from its bottom.
It is fitted onto the outer periphery of the case 11 with a predetermined circumferential gap, and is rotatably supported by the fixed member 21 by its support shaft 12c. Further, a rotation operation knob is spline-fitted onto the mounting shaft 12b.

The driven member 13 consists of a circular plate 13a, a pinion 13b provided on its outer surface, and a large arc portion 13c and a small arc portion 13d protruding from its inner surface, and is rotatably assembled on the support shaft 12c of the drive member 12. It is attached and fitted into the cylindrical portion 11a of the case 11. In such a driven member 13, the outer periphery of each arcuate portion 13c, 13d and the case 11
A predetermined circumferential gap is maintained at the inner periphery of the cylindrical portion 11a, and the tip leg portion 13 of each arcuate portion 13c, 13d
e, 13f, and 13g are fitted into respective fitting holes 14a, 14b, and 14c of the connecting member 14 arranged at the bottom of the cylindrical portion 12a of the drive member 12. The connecting member 14 is rotatably assembled on the support shaft 12c of the driving member 12, and has an engaging protrusion 1 having a predetermined arc length at the center of the upper circumference of the arc.
4d is provided. The engagement protrusion 14d is located at the center of an engagement recess 12d provided in the bulging portion of the cylindrical portion 12a of the drive member 12, and the engagement protrusion 14d and the engagement recess 12d face each other. A predetermined gap is maintained between the side edges. Thereby, the connecting member 14 is connected to the driven member 13 so as to be integrally rotatable, and connected to the driving member 12 so as to be relatively rotatable by a predetermined amount.

A large-diameter coil spring 15 is fitted around the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 11a of the case 11, and one end 15a of the coil spring 15 has a large diameter.
is fitted into the fixing hole 14e provided in the connecting member 14, and the other end 15b is an engagement recess 12 provided in the other bulge in the cylindrical member 12a of the drive member 12.
I am facing e. The other end 1 of the coil spring 15
5b is offset to one side within the engagement recess 12e, and when the drive member 12 rotates in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2, it first engages with the other end 15b of the coil spring 15 and expands it. Then, it is configured to engage with the engagement protrusion 14d of the connecting member 14. Further, when the driving member 12 rotates in the direction of arrow B in FIG.
4d. The coil spring 15 frictionally engages with the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 11a of the case 11 to generate a braking force when it is contracted, and is released from the frictional engagement and does not generate a braking force when it is expanded.

A small-diameter coil spring 16 is fitted to the inner periphery of the cylinder brake 11a of the case 11, and one end 16a of the coil spring 16 is fitted into a narrow groove 13h between the large arc portion 13c and the small arc portion 13d of the driven member 13. The other end 16b is locked to a protrusion 12f protruding from the bottom of the cylindrical portion 12a of the drive section 12. This protrusion 12f has a large circular arc portion 13c of the driven member 13.
When the drive member 12 rotates in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 2, the coil spring 16 is contracted. after that,
The driving member 12 is connected to the engaging protrusion 14d of the connecting member 14.
It is configured to engage with.

In the coupler device configured in this manner, when the drive member 12 is rotated in the direction of arrow A in FIG. The coil spring 15 is engaged with the other end 15b of the diameter coil spring 15 to expand the spring 15. For this reason, the same spring 1
5 allows rotation of the drive member 12 in the direction of arrow A without frictionally engaging the outer periphery of the cylindrical member 11a of the case 11. As a result, the drive member 12 engages the engagement protrusion 14d of the coupling member 14 in its engagement recess 12d.
The coupling member 14 and the driven member 13 integrated therewith are rotated in the direction of arrow A. In this case, the small-diameter coil spring 16 is rotated in the contraction direction by the driven member 13, so the small-diameter coil spring 16 is
6 does not frictionally engage with the inner periphery of the cylindrical portion 11a of the case 11 and generate a braking force, and both brakes 12 and 13 rotate smoothly and the pinion 13
Move the rack 22 etc. that mesh with b.

Furthermore, when the drive member 12 is rotated in the direction of arrow B in FIG.
The other end 16b of the small diameter coil spring 16 at f
The spring 16 is contracted by engaging with the spring 16. Therefore, the spring 16 is attached to the cylindrical portion 11a of the case 11.
Rotation of the drive member 12 in the direction of arrow B is allowed without frictionally engaging the inner periphery. As a result, the driving member 12 engages with the engagement protrusion 14d of the coupling member 14 at its engagement recess 12d, and rotates the coupling member 14 and the driven member 13 integrated therewith in the direction of arrow B. In this case, the large diameter coil spring 15
is rotated in the expanding direction by the connecting member 14, so that the spring 15 is rotated by the connecting member 14 so that the spring 15
There is no frictional engagement with the outer periphery and generation of braking force, and both members 12 and 13 rotate smoothly.

On the other hand, when a rotational force in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2 is applied to the driven member 13, the driven member 13 transmits the rotational force in the same direction to the connecting member 14 that is integral with the driven member 13. Therefore, the large-diameter coil spring 15 immediately contracts and frictionally engages with the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 11a of the case 11, generating a braking force and regulating the rotation of the driven member 13. Furthermore, when a rotational force in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 2 is applied to the driven member 13, the driven member 13 immediately expands the small diameter coil spring 16. For this reason, the same coil spring 16
frictionally engages with the inner periphery of the cylindrical portion 11a of the case 11 to generate a braking force and restrict the rotation of the driven member 13.

In this manner, in the coupler device, when a rotational force acts on the driven member 13, one of the coil springs immediately expands or contracts to generate a braking force and restrict the rotation of the driven member 13. Therefore, the driven member 16 does not swing, and the occurrence of backlash due to this is prevented. Therefore, in the coupler device, the case 11 fits inside the drive member 12 which is thick in the radial direction.
Since large and small coil springs 15 and 16 are fitted to the outer and inner peripheries of the cylindrical portion 11a, the coupling device is constructed by fitting these coil springs to the outer periphery of the driving member and the outer periphery of the driven member, respectively. However, the radial size becomes smaller. In addition, in the coupler device, since the cylindrical portion 11a of the case 11 can be made thin due to its function, the coil springs 15 and 16 fitted on the inner and outer peripheries of the cylindrical portion 11a have a winding diameter of It is possible to adopt a shape that does not significantly differ in the number of windings, and it is possible to make the braking force generated in both directions substantially the same.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a coupler device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional front view taken in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the device. Explanation of symbols, 11...Case, 11a...Cylinder part, 1
2... Drive member, 12a... Cylinder part, 12d, 12e...
Engagement recess, 13...driven member, 13e, 13f, 1
3g... Leg portion, 14... Connection member, 14d... Engagement protrusion, 15, 16... Coil spring.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A cylindrical case that is fixedly assembled to a fixed member, and a cylindrical drive with a bottom that is rotatably assembled to the fixed member and fits onto the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion of the case while maintaining a predetermined circumferential gap. a member, a driven member that is rotatably assembled to the fixed member and fits onto the inner periphery of the cylindrical portion of the case while maintaining a predetermined circumferential gap, and between the bottom of the driving member and the inner end of the driven member. a plate-shaped connecting member located at the driven member so as to be integrally rotatable and connected to the drive member so as to be relatively rotatable by a predetermined amount; a large-diameter coil spring that is stopped and whose other end engages with the drive member in a direction in which the drive member expands when the drive member rotates in one direction; A spring coupler device comprising a small-diameter coil spring that is locked to the driven member and whose other end is located at a portion that engages with the driving member in a direction that contracts when the driving member rotates in the other direction.