Control cable

Abstract

This control cable is provided with: a tubular housing (1a); a cylindrical body (1b) which is covered by the housing (1a) and transmits an operating force; and an inner cable (1c) disposed in the inner space of the cylindrical body (1b), the cylindrical body (1b) and the inner cable (1c) being capable of independently sliding in the axial direction. With such a configuration, it is possible to provide a control cable that can appropriately transmit operating force while reducing installation space.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a control cable for transmitting operating force. Background Art

[0002] For example, a latch device is provided on a door of a vehicle such as an automobile, and the latch device includes a latch mechanism for fixing the door to the vehicle body and a locking mechanism for locking the operation of the latch mechanism. In this case, a latch operating part and a locking operating part operable by a passenger are provided on the vehicle compartment side of the door of the vehicle. Furthermore, the passenger can open the door by operating the latch operating part connected to the latch mechanism using a latch cable. In addition, the passenger can switch the operation of the latch mechanism between a locking execution state and a locking release state by operating the locking operating part connected to the locking mechanism using a locking cable.

[0003] In this way, when two operating parts, a latch operating part and a lock operating part, which can be operated by the occupant, are provided, two cables, a latch cable and a lock cable, are required to transmit the operating force. Therefore, in order to ensure space for arranging the two cables inside the door, there is a problem that the internal structure of the door, the design of the door, etc., are restricted.

[0004] Patent document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-269203) describes a control cable having an inner cable inside an outer tube. In the control cable, the inner cable is freely movable in the axial direction, and connects the opening lever operated by the passenger with the latch mechanism, and is used to transmit the operating force of the passenger to open the door. The outer tube can rotate around the inner cable, and connects the handle for the door lock with the locking mechanism, and is used to transmit the operating force of the passenger to operate and release the door lock. In this way, the latching and locking cables of the control cable described in Patent document 1 are composed of a single component, and therefore have the advantage of reducing the restrictions on the internal structure of the door, the design of the door, etc.

[0005] Prior art literature Patent Literature Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-269203 Summary of the invention

[0006] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0007] The control cable described in Patent Document 1 is structured to transmit the rotation of the outer tube to the locking mechanism. In order to facilitate the wiring of the control cable, the outer tube needs to be made soft, but when the outer tube of the control cable described in Patent Document 1 is made soft, its rotation is difficult to transmit to the locking mechanism. In addition, when the outer tube contacts other components, its rotation is also difficult to transmit to the locking mechanism. In other words, it is conceivable that the transmission of the operating force of the occupant is not performed properly.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a control cable that can reduce the installation space and appropriately transmit the operating force.

[0009] Means for solving problems

[0010] The control cable of the present invention for achieving the above-mentioned purpose has a characteristic structure that it comprises: a tubular outer shell; a cylindrical body covered by the outer shell and transmitting an operating force; and an inner cable arranged in an inner space of the cylindrical body, wherein the cylindrical body and the inner cable can slide independently in the axial direction.

[0011] According to the above-described characteristic configuration, the control cable is constituted by a single member having a structure in which the inner cable is inserted into the space inside the cylindrical body, and therefore there is an advantage that a small installation space is required.

[0012] In addition, the inner cable is inserted into the space inside the cylindrical body in a coaxial structure instead of a structure in which two cables are bundled in parallel, so it can be easily bent in any direction. As a result, the control cable can be set in a bent state in a narrow place, for example.

[0013] Furthermore, the inner cable and the cylindrical body are covered by the tubular outer shell, so even if the outer shell is made soft, it will not be difficult to transmit the operating force. In addition, even if the outer shell contacts other components, it will not hinder the axial sliding of the inner cable and the cylindrical body. As a result, the control cable can appropriately transmit the operating force applied to the inner cable and the cylindrical body.

[0014] Therefore, it is possible to provide a control cable that reduces the installation space and can appropriately transmit the operating force.

[0015] Another characteristic structure of the control cable of the present invention is that the cylindrical body is formed of a spring cable which is formed by winding a wire into a spiral shape with a space left inside.

[0016] According to the above-mentioned characteristic configuration, the cylindrical body can be formed with a simple structure.

[0017] Another characteristic structure of the control cable of the present invention is that the inner cable is composed of a metal wire.

[0018] According to the above-described characteristic structure, by forming the inner cable from a single metal wire, the rigidity of the inner cable can be increased. As a result, the operation applied to the inner cable can be transmitted more reliably.

[0019] Another characteristic structure of the control cable of the present invention is that the inner cable is composed of a stranded wire having a plurality of metal wires.

[0020] According to the above-described characteristic configuration, since the inner cable is formed of a stranded wire having a plurality of metal wires, the wire is less likely to break even if it is bent, for example.

[0021] Another characteristic structure of the control cable of the present invention is that one end of the cylindrical body is connected to the latch mechanism, and the other end of the cylindrical body is connected to the first operating part that can be operated by the operator, the latch mechanism is used to fix the vehicle door to the vehicle body, one end of the inner cable is connected to the locking mechanism, and the other end of the inner cable is connected to the second operating part that can be operated by the operator, and the locking mechanism is used to lock the action of the latch mechanism.

[0022] According to the above-mentioned characteristic structure, the operator can open the vehicle door by pushing the cylindrical body with the first operating part, for example. In addition, the operator can switch the action of the latch mechanism between the locked execution state and the locked release state by pushing and pulling the inner cable with the second operating part, for example. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1 This is a diagram showing a state where a control cable is installed in a vehicle door. Figure 2 It is a diagram showing the structure of a control cable. Figure 3 It is a diagram showing a specific example of the cable operating device. Figure 4 It is a diagram showing a specific example of the cable operating device. Figure 5 It is a figure which shows the component parts of a cable operation device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Figure 1 This is a diagram showing a state where the control cable 1 is installed in the vehicle door 25 .

[0025] As shown in the figure, a latch device 30 is provided on the vehicle door 25, and the latch device 30 includes a latch mechanism 31 for fixing the vehicle door 25 to the vehicle body (not shown) and a locking mechanism 32 for locking the operation of the latch mechanism 31. In this case, a cable operating device D that can be operated by an operator such as an occupant is provided on the vehicle compartment side of the vehicle door 25. The latch device 30 and the cable operating device D are connected by a control cable 1, so the operation performed by the operator on the cable operating device D is transmitted to the latch device 30 via the control cable 1. For example, the operator can operate the latch mechanism 31 to open the vehicle door 25. In addition, the operator can switch the operation of the latch mechanism 31 between the lock execution state and the lock release state by operating the cable operating device D.

[0026] Figure 2 1 is a diagram showing the structure of the control cable 1. As shown in the figure, the control cable 1 includes a tubular outer shell 1a, a spring cable 1b as an example of a cylindrical body covered by the outer shell 1a and transmitting the operating force, and an inner cable 1c arranged in the inner space of the spring cable 1b. That is, the inner cable 1c is surrounded by the spring cable 1b. The spring cable 1b and the inner cable 1c can slide independently in the axial direction.

[0027] The inner cable 1c of this embodiment is composed of a single metal wire and is used as a push-pull cable for transmitting the push-pull operation force. By forming the inner cable 1c from a single metal wire, the rigidity of the inner cable 1c can be increased. As a result, the operation applied to the inner cable 1c can be transmitted more reliably.

[0028] In addition, the inner cable 1c may be formed of a twisted wire having a plurality of metal wires. By forming the inner cable 1c of a twisted wire having a plurality of metal wires, the inner cable 1c is less likely to be broken even if it is bent, for example.

[0029] In this embodiment, the cylindrical body surrounding the inner cable 1c is composed of a spring cable 1b, which is formed by winding a wire into a spiral shape with a space inside. The wire constituting the spring cable 1b is a linear body made of metal or resin, etc., and the wire is wound into a spiral shape. The spring cable 1b is used as a pushing cable for transmitting a pushing operation force.

[0030] In this way, the control cable 1 is composed of a single member having a structure in which the inner cable 1c is inserted into the space inside the spring cable 1b, and thus has an advantage that a small installation space is required. In addition, the inner cable 1c is inserted into the space inside the spring cable 1b in a coaxial structure, rather than a structure in which two cables are bundled in parallel, so that the control cable 1 can be easily bent in any direction. As a result, for example, the control cable 1 can be installed in a bent state even in a narrow place.

[0031] Furthermore, the inner cable 1c and the spring cable 1b are covered by the tubular outer shell 1a, so even if the outer shell 1a contacts other components, the axial sliding of the inner cable 1c and the spring cable 1b is not hindered. As a result, the control cable 1 can appropriately transmit the operating force applied to the inner cable 1c and the spring cable 1b.

[0032] For example, as described later, one end of the spring cable 1b is connected to the latch mechanism 31, and the other end of the spring cable 1b is connected to the movable member 5, which has a first operating portion (front side member 6) that can be operated by an operator. And, by operating the spring cable 1b using the movable member 5, the operator can open the vehicle door 25.

[0033] In addition, one end of the inner cable 1c is connected to the lock mechanism 32 for locking the operation of the latch mechanism 31, and the other end of the inner cable 1c is connected to the second operating portion 20 that can be operated by the operator. And, the operator can switch the operation of the latch mechanism 31 between the lock execution state and the lock release state by operating the inner cable 1c through the second operating portion 20.

[0034] When the spring cable 1b is connected to the latch mechanism 31 and the inner cable 1c is connected to the lock mechanism 32, the inner cable 1c is coaxially inserted into the space inside the spring cable 1b. In this case, the inner cable 1c cannot be cut unless the spring cable 1b is cut, and it is impossible to cut only the inner cable 1c connected to the lock mechanism 32, so that the theft of the vehicle by cutting the control cable 1 of the vehicle door 25 can be prevented.

[0035] Figure 3 and Figure 4 1 is a diagram showing a specific example of a control cable 1 and a cable operating device D for applying an operating force to the control cable 1 . Figure 3 This is a diagram of the cable operating device D as viewed from the front side, that is, from the cabin side where the operator can operate. Figure 4 This is a diagram in which the cable operating device D is viewed from the rear side, that is, from the inner side of the vehicle door 25 which cannot be operated by the operator.

[0036] In the figure, three mutually orthogonal directions, namely, the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction are recorded. With respect to the X direction, one side is set as the X1 direction, and the other side is set as the X2 direction. With respect to the Y direction, one side is set as the Y1 direction, and the other side is set as the Y2 direction. For example, the X direction is a direction along the front-rear direction of the vehicle, the Y direction is a direction along the vertical direction, and the Z direction is a direction along the thickness direction of the vehicle door 25. The XY plane is a plane along the panel plane on the vehicle compartment side of the vehicle door 25.

[0037] The cable operating device D includes a main body member 2 having a fixing portion 3 to which the housing 1 a is fixed, and a movable member 5 that is displaced relative to the main body member 2 in accordance with an operating force of an operator. Figure 5 The structure of the movable member 5 is shown.

[0038] The main body member 2 includes a plate-shaped member 4 having an arc-shaped through groove 8 centered on an axis 40 .

[0039] The movable member 5 is assembled with respect to the main body member 2 in a state where the movable member 5 can be displaced in one direction and the other direction. In the present embodiment, the movable member 5 is displaceable along the arc-shaped through-slot 8 of the main body member 2 in one direction and the other direction.

[0040] The movable member 5 includes: a front member 6 disposed on one surface of the plate-shaped member 4, namely the front side surface; a back member 7 disposed on the other surface of the plate-shaped member 4, namely the back side surface; and a connecting member 18 connecting the front member 6 and the back member 7 via a through groove 8.

[0041] The front side member 6 is located on the vehicle compartment side where the operator can operate, and the first operation portion operated by the operator is provided on the front side member 6. The back side member 7 is located on the inner side of the vehicle door 25 where the operator cannot operate, and the slit portion 7a and the edge portion 7b are provided on the back side member 7.

[0042] The spring cable 1b and the inner cable 1c protrude linearly in the X2 direction in the figure from the portion fixed by the fixing portion 3 or the vicinity of the outer shell 1a. The movable member 5 has a slit portion 7a through which the inner cable 1c protruding linearly from the outer shell 1a is inserted, and an edge portion 7b formed around the slit portion 7a on the front surface of the movable member 5. The edge portion 7b is formed in a ring shape surrounding the opening of the slit portion 7a.

[0043] The movable member 5 can be displaced in one direction and the other direction relative to the main member 2 along a predetermined displacement plane (XY plane in the figure), and the predetermined displacement plane includes the direction in which the slit portion 7a extends and the direction in which the inner cable 1c protrudes from the outer shell 1a. Figure 3 as well as Figure 4 As shown, the movable member 5 is displaced to one side and the other side in a manner of rotating and moving relative to the main body member 2 around a predetermined axis 40 along a displacement plane (XY plane in the figure). Specifically, the front side member 6, which is the first operating part operated by the operator, can be displaced in the X1 direction and the X2 direction with the axis 40 as the center, and the back side member 7 formed integrally with the front side member 6 can also be displaced in the X1 direction and the X2 direction with the axis 40 as the center.

[0044] When the operator moves the positive side member 6 in the X1 direction, that is, when the movable member 5 is displaced in one direction (the X1 direction in the figure), the edge 7b of the movable member 5 abuts against the end 9 of the spring cable 1b with the inner cable 1c inserted through the slit portion 7a, and the end 9 is pressed into the outer shell 1a.

[0045] In the present embodiment, the shape of the edge 7b when viewed in the direction of the axis 40 is curved in an arc. Assuming that the edge 7b of the movable member 5 when viewed in the direction of the axis 40 is a straight line, if the straight line portion abuts against the end 9 of the spring cable 1b while rotating around the axis 40, the direction in which the straight line portion contacts the end 9 of the spring cable 1b changes greatly. For example, as the straight line edge 7b rotates, the straight line portion may not only abut against the end 9 of the spring cable 1b in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the spring cable 1b (the X direction in the figure), but may also abut against the end 9 of the spring cable 1b from the oblique lower side, or from the oblique upper side, etc. That is, not only the straight line portion may press the end 9 of the spring cable 1b in the axial direction (the X direction in the figure), but may also push up the end 9 of the spring cable 1b from the oblique lower side intersecting the axial direction, or may press down the end 9 of the spring cable 1b from the oblique upper side intersecting the axial direction, etc. However, in this embodiment, the shape of the edge 7b of the movable member 5 when viewed from the direction of the axis 40 is curved so as to describe an arc, so when the curved portion contacts the end 9 of the spring cable 1b while rotating around the axis 40, the direction in which the curved portion contacts the end 9 of the spring cable 1b does not change significantly. In other words, there is an advantage that the direction in which the movable member 5 is pressed into the end 9 of the spring cable 1b is stable.

[0046] In addition, while the edge 7b of the movable member 5 is in contact with the end 9 of the spring cable 1b, the amount of the end 9 of the spring cable 1b pressed into the housing 1a changes according to the displacement of the movable member 5. For example, as the displacement of the movable member 5 in the X1 direction around the axis 40 increases, the amount of the end 9 of the spring cable 1b pressed into the housing 1a increases. In addition, although not shown in the figure, in the latch device 30, the spring cable 1b is urged toward the cable operating device D by, for example, a spring, so when the operator stops moving the front side member 6 in the X1 direction, the spring cable 1b is pushed back to the original position by the urging force of the spring. In addition, when the spring cable 1b is pushed back to the original position, the edge 7b of the movable member 5 is pushed back in the X2 direction by the end 9 of the spring cable 1b, that is, the movable member 5 is displaced in the X2 direction as a whole.

[0047] Thus, one end of the spring cable 1b is connected to the latch mechanism 31 of the latch device 30, and the other end of the spring cable 1b is connected to the movable member 5 having the first operating portion (front side member 6). Therefore, the operator performs an operation of pressing the spring cable 1b into the housing 1a by using the front side member 6, and the pressing operation is transmitted to the latch mechanism 31 via the control cable 1, and as a result, the vehicle door 25 can be opened.

[0048] The cable operating device D includes a second operating portion 20 connected to the inner cable 1c and operated by the operator in a direction (X1 direction) to push the inner cable 1c toward the fixing portion 3 and in a direction (X2 direction) to pull the inner cable 1c out of the fixing portion 3. The inner cable 1c is connected to a connecting portion 20a of the second operating portion 20.

[0049] Thus, one end of the inner cable 1c is connected to the locking mechanism 32 for locking the operation of the latch mechanism 31 of the latch device 30, and the other end of the inner cable 1c is connected to the connecting portion 20a of the second operating portion 20 that can be operated by the operator. Therefore, the operator performs, for example, a pushing operation and a pulling operation on the inner cable 1c through the second operating portion 20, and the pushing operation and the pulling operation are transmitted to the locking mechanism 32 via the control cable 1, and as a result, the operation of the latch mechanism 31 can be switched between the locking execution state and the locking release state.

[0050] As described above, the movable member 5 can be displaced in one direction and the other direction relative to the main body member 2 along a predetermined displacement plane (XY plane) including the direction in which the slit portion 7a extends and the direction in which the inner cable 1c protrudes from the outer shell 1a. In addition, when the movable member 5 is displaced in one direction according to the operating force of the operator, in a state in which the inner cable 1c is inserted into the slit portion 7a, the edge 7b of the movable member 5 abuts against the end 9 of the spring cable 1b and is in an abutting state in which the end 9 is pressed into the outer shell 1a. That is, even if the movable member 5 is displaced according to the operating force of the operator and the movable member 5 abuts against the spring cable 1b, interference between the movable member 5 and the inner cable 1c can be suppressed. In this way, even if the movable member 5 is displaced according to the operating force of the operator, the operating force does not act on the inner cable 1c, and the operating force is appropriately applied to the spring cable 1b.

[0051] In addition, the first operating portion (front side member 6) that the operator needs to operate in a rotational manner around the axis 40 can be arranged on the front side so that the operator can easily operate it, and the slit portion 7a and the edge portion 7b that the operator does not need to operate can be arranged on the back side so that the operator cannot operate it. In addition, when the first operating portion (front side member 6) is rotated, its rotation surface is a surface along the panel plane on the vehicle compartment side that constitutes the vehicle door 25. Therefore, there is an advantage that the operator can easily operate it.

[0052] <Other Implementation Methods>

[0053] In the above-mentioned embodiment, the structure of the cable operating device was described by taking a specific example, but the structure can be changed appropriately.

[0054] In the above-described embodiment, a specific example of the shape of the edge portion 7 b that comes into contact with the end portion 9 of the spring cable 1 b on the front surface of the movable member 5 is shown in the figure, but the shape can be changed as appropriate.

[0055] Specifically, in the above-mentioned embodiment, an example is described in which the edge 7b of the movable component 5 is a shape that is curved in the manner of describing an arc when viewed in the direction of the axis 40 (viewed in the direction along the Z direction), but its curved shape can also be any circle or ellipse different from that shown in the figure, or it can be a shape formed by combining arcs of multiple curvatures, etc.

[0056] In the above embodiment, the spring cable 1b is used as the cylindrical body, but as long as the structure is a structure that transmits the operating force and is inserted into the inside of the housing 1a and the inner cable 1c can slide inside, the structure can be appropriately changed. For example, it can also be a cylindrical body with an inner lining, a plurality of wires twisted in a spiral shape around the inner lining, and a coating layer formed on the outside of the wire, or a cylindrical body with a resin coating layer on the outer periphery of the spring cable 1b formed by spirally winding the wire. In addition, in the above embodiment, an example is shown in which the cylindrical body is used as a pushing cable for transmitting the pushing operating force, but it can also be used as a pulling cable for transmitting the pulling operating force.

[0057] The structure disclosed in the above-mentioned embodiment (including other embodiments, the same below) can be combined with the structure disclosed in other embodiments and applied as long as no contradiction occurs. In addition, the embodiments disclosed in this specification are examples, and the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to these and can be appropriately changed within the scope of the purpose of the present invention.

[0058] Possibility of industrial application

[0059] The present invention can be used for a control cable that can reduce the installation space and appropriately transmit the operating force.

[0060] Description of symbols 1: Control cable 1a: Shell 1b: Spring cable (cylindrical body) 1c: Inner cable 6: Front side member (first operating part) 20: Second operating unit 25: Vehicle doors 31: Latch mechanism 32: Locking mechanism.

Claims

1. A control cable comprising: a tubular outer shell; a cylindrical body covered by the outer shell and transmitting an operating force; and an inner cable arranged in an inner space of the cylindrical body, The cylindrical body and the inner cable are capable of sliding in the axial direction independently.

2. The control cable according to claim 1, wherein: The cylindrical body is formed of a spring cable obtained by winding a wire into a spiral shape with a space left inside.

3. The control cable according to claim 1, wherein: The inner cable is composed of a metal wire.

4. The control cable according to claim 1, wherein: The inner cable is formed of a stranded wire having a plurality of metal wires.

5. The control cable according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: One end of the cylindrical body is connected to a latch mechanism, and the other end of the cylindrical body is connected to a first operating portion operable by an operator, wherein the latch mechanism is used to fix the vehicle door to the vehicle body. One end of the inner cable is connected to a locking mechanism, and the other end of the inner cable is connected to a second operating portion operable by the operator. The locking mechanism is used to lock the action of the latch mechanism.

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