Steering column switch for a motor vehicle

Abstract

A steering column switch for a motor vehicle with a switch housing (1) and a gearshift lever (2) which is mounted therein pivotably by means of a cardan joint about two mutually perpendicular axes, comprising an operating arm (3) with a handle (4) arranged at the end and a shifting arm (5), in which a spring-loaded locking bolt (6) guided in a control cam is received at the end, is characterized according to the invention in that the cardan joint comprises a shifting piece (9) mounted rotatably about a first axis (A1) in the housing (1) and a frame piece (10) mounted rotatably about a second axis (A2) on this shifting piece (9), and in that the frame piece (10) is formed in one part with the gearshift lever (2).

Description

[0001] Steering column switch for a motor vehicle

[0002] The invention relates to a steering column switch for a motor vehicle with a switch housing and a switching lever pivotably mounted therein about two mutually perpendicular axes by means of a cardan joint, comprising an operating arm with a handle arranged at one end and a switching arm in which a spring-loaded locking bolt guided in a control cam is received at the end.

[0003] Such steering column switches are designed in motor vehicles to trigger or control various functions, such as the direction indicator, wiper and washer operations, headlight switching, etc.

[0004] In so-called steering column modules, several different steering column switches are usually combined into a structural unit with additional components such as a clock spring cassette for power supply and signal transmission to the steering wheel or a steering angle sensor for detecting the steering angle.

[0005] DE 199 43490 A1 discloses a steering column switch according to the preamble of the main claim. In this steering column switch, a shift lever is pivotably mounted about two mutually perpendicular axes by means of a universal joint in a switch housing composed of two housing parts, allowing it to be moved crosswise in four switching directions.

[0006] Such a switch is typically assembled by first inserting the switching lever into a universal joint, within which it can pivot about a first axis. The universal joint with the switching lever is then mounted in the switch housing. Two bearing pins molded onto the universal joint are accommodated in corresponding bearing bushes in the switch housing, allowing rotation about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis.

[0007] Such installation is unproblematic as long as the operating arm and the shift lever's switch arm extend essentially in the same direction, or deviate only slightly. However, if the operating arm and the shift lever's switch arm are to form a smaller angle to each other, which may be necessary to create additional space near the steering column, this type of installation is practically impossible.

[0008] The steering column switch according to the present invention enables the design of a gearshift lever in which the operating arm and the gearshift arm form a small angle - of e.g. 90° - to each other, and which nevertheless allows easy assembly.

[0009] These properties result from the fact that the universal joint comprises a switching piece rotatably mounted about a first axis in the housing and a frame piece rotatably mounted on this switching piece about a second axis, and that the frame piece is formed in one piece with the switching lever.

[0010] Electronic detection of different switching positions of the gearshift lever is preferably carried out by a sensor device comprising a permanent magnet and a Hall sensor.

[0011] An advantageous embodiment of this sensor device provides that the permanent magnet is rigidly attached to the switching arm of the gear lever by means of a magnet holder, and that the Hall sensor is arranged on a circuit carrier that is fastened in the housing. Further, particularly advantageous embodiments of the subject matter according to the invention are specified in the subclaims and are explained in more detail with reference to the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawing.

[0012] They show:

[0013] Fig. 1 is an exploded view of a steering column switch according to the invention

[0014] Fig. 2 the steering column switch from Fig.1 in an assembly drawing

[0015] As can be seen in the drawing, the switch housing 1 of the steering column switch according to the invention comprises a lower housing part 1a and an upper housing part 1b, which are joined together to accommodate the shift lever 2 and the other components of the steering column switch. The shift lever 2 comprises an operating arm 3 with a handle 4 arranged at one end and a switching arm 5. The switching arm 5 forms a sleeve at the end in which a locking pin 6 is received. This locking pin 6 is preloaded by a compression spring 7 and thus guided in a control cam 8.

[0016] The shift lever 2 of the steering column switch is pivotally mounted about two mutually perpendicular axes by means of a universal joint and cooperates with locking and / or return means for the mechanical implementation of the switching functions, which are essentially formed by the control cam 8 and the locking pin 6 guided therein. A sensor device is provided for electronically detecting the various switching positions, which is described in more detail below.

[0017] The universal joint essentially consists of two parts, namely a switching piece 9 and a frame piece 10 surrounding it. The cylindrical switching piece 9 is mounted in the housing 1 by means of a cylindrical pin 11 for rotation about a first axis. The frame piece 10 of the universal joint is formed as one piece with the switching lever 2 and forms the connection between the operating arm 3 and the switching arm 5 of the same. The frame piece 10, and thus the entire switching lever 2, is mounted on the switching piece 9 by means of two short cylindrical pins 10' for rotation about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. The inner contour of the frame piece 10 is therefore not cylindrical in cross-section but rather designed like an elongated hole, which allows the frame piece 10 to be tilted relative to the switching piece 9 to the extent required for the switching functions.

[0018] The operating arm 3 and the switching arm 5 of the switching lever 2 are fixed to the frame piece 10 such that they form an angle of approximately 90° to one another. Pivoting the switching lever 2 about the first axis A1 causes the switching piece 9 to rotate about this axis of rotation defined by the longitudinal axis of the first cylindrical pin 11. The operating arm 3 and the switching arm 5 of the switching lever 2 move in the plane perpendicular to the first axis A1. Pivoting the switching lever 2 about the second axis A2 causes the frame piece 10 to rotate about this same axis. The longitudinal axes of the operating arm 3 and the switching arm 5 of the switching lever 2 each move on the outer surface of a cone, the tip of which is defined by the intersection point of the two axes A1 and A2. With small deflections of the operating arm 3, the deviation from a straight-line movement is barely noticeable.The movement of the switching arm 5 which deviates from the linear movement is taken into account by a corresponding shaping of the control cam 8.

[0019] The sensor device for electronically detecting the various switching positions comprises a permanent magnet 12 and a Hall sensor 13 as essential functional components. The permanent magnet 13 is rigidly attached to the switching arm 5 of the shift lever 2 by means of a magnet holder 11 and follows its movements. The Hall sensor 13 is arranged on a circuit carrier 14, which is fastened in the lower housing section 1a. The Hall sensor 13, or an electronic circuit device arranged downstream of it, detects the spatial position of the permanent magnet 12 and thus the respective position of the shift lever 2 and triggers the switching function associated with this position.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Steering column switch for a motor vehicle with a switch housing (1) and a gearshift lever (2) mounted therein by means of a cardan joint so as to be pivotable about two mutually perpendicular axes, comprising an operating arm (3) with a handle (4) arranged at one end and a gearshift arm (5) in which a spring-loaded locking pin (6) guided in a control cam (8) is received at the end, characterized in that the cardan joint comprises a switching piece (9) mounted in the housing (1) so as to be rotatable about a first axis (A1) and a frame piece (19) mounted on this switching piece (9) so as to be rotatable about a second axis (A2), and in that the frame piece (19) is formed in one piece with the gearshift lever (2).

2. Steering column switch according to claim 1, characterized in that the operating arm (3) and the switching arm (5) of the switching lever (2) are fixed to the frame piece (10) in such a way that they form an angle of approximately 90° to one another.

3. Steering column switch according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a sensor device comprising a permanent magnet (12) and a Hall sensor (13) is provided for electronically detecting different switching positions of the gearshift lever (2).

4. Steering column switch according to claim 3, characterized in that the permanent magnet (13) is rigidly fixed to the switching arm (5) of the switching lever (2) by means of a magnet holder (11) and that the Hall sensor (13) is arranged on a circuit carrier (14) which is fastened in the housing (1).

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