Shift device

Abstract

To suppress a driving mechanism from being damaged.SOLUTION: A shift device 10 is configured so that a driving mechanism 22 is driven and a blocker 34 is moved, so as to lock turning of a lever 16, where a lock bar 40 in the blocker 34 is supported to be displaceable with respect to a blocker main body 36. This enables the lock bar 40 to be displaced with respect to the blocker main body 36 when the lock bar 40 is inhibited from moving, which can suppress the driving mechanism 22 from being damaged.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a shift device that locks the movement of a shift body. [Background technology]

[0002] In the shift device described in Patent Document 1 below, when a rotary motor is driven, a connecting rod is moved and a lock pin of the connecting rod locks the rotation of the knob.

[0003] Here, in this shift device, the lock pin is integrally provided on the connecting rod. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] China Patent Application Publication No. 108413024 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In consideration of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a shift device capable of suppressing damage to a drive mechanism. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A shift device of a first aspect of the present invention includes a shift body that is moved to change a shift position, a movable body that is made movable, a locking member that is displaceably supported on the movable body, and a drive mechanism that is driven to move the movable body and the locking member and to lock the movement of the shift body with the locking member.

[0007] A shift device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the shift device according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the lock member is slidable relative to the moving body.

[0008] A shift device of a third aspect of the present invention is the shift device of the first or second aspect of the present invention, wherein the lock member is biased against the moving body.

[0009] A shift device of a fourth aspect of the present invention is the shift device of any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, wherein the drive mechanism moves the movable body and the locking member via a rack and a pinion that are meshed with each other.

[0010] A shift device of a fifth aspect of the present invention is the shift device of any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, further comprising a guide portion provided on the moving body for guiding displacement of the locking member. Effect of the Invention

[0011] In the shift device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the shift body is moved to change the shift position. Also, a locking member is supported on the moving body, and when the drive mechanism is driven, the moving body and the locking member are moved, and the locking member locks the movement of the shift body.

[0012] Here, the locking member is supported on the movable body so as to be displaceable, and therefore when movement of the locking member is impeded, the locking member can be displaced relative to the movable body, thereby suppressing damage to the drive mechanism.

[0013] In the shift device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the locking member is slidable relative to the movable body, which makes it possible to reduce the space required for the locking member to move.

[0014] In the shift device according to the third aspect of the present invention, the locking member is biased against the moving body, so that when the locking member is displaced relative to the moving body, the biasing force allows the locking member to return to the initial position relative to the moving body.

[0015] In the shift device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the drive mechanism moves the movable body and the locking member via a rack and a pinion that mesh with each other, which makes it possible to increase the moving speed of the movable body and the locking member.

[0016] In the shift device according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the guide portion of the movable body guides the displacement of the locking member, so that the locking member can be displaced smoothly relative to the movable body. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B are perspective views showing a shift device according to an embodiment of the present invention, where 1A is a view seen from the rear, and 1B is a view seen from diagonally rear left. [Diagram 2] 1A and 1B are perspective views of a shift device according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the left front. FIG. 1A shows the state when the rotation of the lever is locked, and FIG. 1B shows the state when the movement of the lock bar is inhibited. [Diagram 3] 1A to 1C are top plan views showing a shift device according to an embodiment of the present invention, where (A) shows when the lever rotation is locked, (B) shows when the lever rotation is unlocked, and (C) shows when the movement of the lock bar is inhibited. [Figure 4] 1A and 1B are perspective views showing a blocker and a drive gear when the rotation of the lever is locked in a shift device according to an embodiment of the present invention, where 1A is a view from the left front, 1B is a view from below, and 1C is a perspective view from the right front showing the blocker and drive gear when the movement of the lock bar is hindered in a shift device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] 1A and 1B are perspective views showing a blocker and a drive gear when the lock on the rotation of the lever is released in a shift device according to an embodiment of the present invention, where (A) is a view from above, (B) is a view from diagonally forward left, and (C) is a perspective view from above showing the drive gear of the shift device according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] Fig. 1(A) shows a perspective view of a shift device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention as seen from the rear, and Fig. 1(B) shows a perspective view of the shift device 10 as seen from diagonally rear left. In the drawings, the front of the shift device 10 is indicated by an arrow FR, the right of the shift device 10 is indicated by an arrow RH, and the upper side of the shift device 10 is indicated by an arrow UP.

[0019] The shift device 10 according to this embodiment is of a so-called column type and is installed on the steering column of the vehicle, with the front, right and upper sides of the shift device 10 facing respectively toward the front, right and upper sides of the vehicle.

[0020] 1(A) and 1(B), the shift device 10 is provided with a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box-shaped housing 12 serving as a fixed body, and the housing 12 is fixed to a steering column, so that the shift device 10 is installed on the steering column. The housing 12 is configured by assembling an upper housing 12A on the upper side and a lower housing 12B on the lower side, and the upper housing 12A constitutes the upper side of the lower wall of the housing 12, and the lower housing 12B constitutes the lower wall of the housing 12.

[0021] A substantially rectangular parallelepiped support 14 is provided on the right side inside the housing 12 , and the support 14 is fixed inside the housing 12 .

[0022] A lever 16 in the shape of a substantially L-shape rod is supported on the support 14 as a shift body. A base end portion of the lever 16 is a central axis 16A, which extends in the left-right direction. A right portion of the central axis 16A is rotatably supported on the support 14, and a left portion of the central axis 16A protrudes to the left side of the housing 12. A tip portion of the lever 16 extends rearward from the left end of the central axis 16A, and the lever 16 is rotatable (movable) within a predetermined range in the vertical direction around the central axis 16A. The tip portion of the lever 16 extends rotatably in the vertical direction into the vehicle interior, and the lever 16 is rotatable in the vertical direction by an occupant while holding the tip portion (rear end portion). In addition, by rotating the lever 16 from the top to the bottom, the shift position of the lever 16 is changed to the P position (park position), the R position (reverse position), the N position (neutral position), and the D position (drive position), in that order.

[0023] An upper portion of a plate-shaped detent plate 18 (see FIGS. 2A and 2B) serving as a locked member is fixed to the left portion of the central shaft 16A of the lever 16, and the detent plate 18 rotates integrally with the rotation of the lever 16 (rotation of the central shaft 16A). The detent plate 18 protrudes downward from the central shaft 16A and is disposed vertically in the left-right direction, so that when the lever 16 is rotated downward, the detent plate 18 rotates forward, and when the lever 16 is rotated upward, the detent plate 18 rotates rearward.

[0024] A locking device 20 (see Figs. 2A and 2B) is provided around the periphery of the central shaft 16A in the left-right direction, and a drive mechanism 22 is provided in the locking device 20. A motor 24 (see Fig. 3C) serving as a drive device is provided in the drive mechanism 22, and the motor 24 is fixed below the central shaft 16A within the housing 12. A worm 26 is coaxially fixed to the output shaft of the motor 24, and the worm 26 rotates integrally with the output shaft.

[0025] A drive gear 28 (see FIG. 5(C)) is disposed on the left side of the worm 26, and the drive gear 28 is rotatably supported in the housing 12 with its axial direction oriented in the vertical direction. A worm wheel 30 is provided coaxially on the upper part of the drive gear 28, and the worm 26 is meshed with the worm wheel 30. Therefore, when the motor 24 is driven and the worm 26 is rotated, the drive gear 28 is rotated in the locking direction A and the releasing direction B (see FIG. 3(C) and the like). A pinion 32 is provided as a meshing portion in the vertical middle part of the drive gear 28, and the pinion 32 is provided with a predetermined number of cylindrical pinion teeth 32A (three in this embodiment). The pinion teeth 32A are arranged parallel to the axial direction of the drive gear 28, and the predetermined number of pinion teeth 32A are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of the drive gear 28.

[0026] A blocker 34 (see FIGS. 3A to 3C) serving as a locking body is provided on the front side of the drive gear 28.

[0027] The blocker 34 is provided with a blocker body 36 as a movable body, and the blocker body 36 is supported within the housing 12 so as to be movable (slidable) in the left-right direction, thereby making the blocker 34 movable in the left-right direction.

[0028] A substantially rectangular plate-shaped rack 38 is provided as a meshed portion at the rear portion of the blocker body 36, and the rack 38 is disposed vertically in the up-down direction. Rack teeth 38A of a predetermined shape are formed at the rear portion of the rack 38, and the pinion teeth 32A of the drive gear 28 (pinion 32) mesh with the rack teeth 38A. As a result, the drive gear 28 rotates in the locking direction A and the releasing direction B, and the blocker body 36 (blocker 34) moves leftward and rightward, respectively.

[0029] A generally rectangular guide hole 36A serving as a guide portion (first guide portion) is formed in the front left portion of the blocker body 36. The guide hole 36A extends in the left-right direction. A rectangular guide groove 36B (see FIG. 4B) serving as a guide portion (second guide portion) is formed penetrating the blocker body 36 in the lower wall of the guide hole 36A. The guide groove 36B extends in the left-right direction.

[0030] A lock bar 40 having a generally rectangular columnar shape as a locking member is supported on the front and left side of the blocker body 36, and the lock bar 40 extends parallel to the left and right direction and also extends leftward from the blocker body 36. A generally rectangular parallelepiped guide post 40A (see FIG. 4(C)) is formed on the right end of the lock bar 40 as a guided part (first guided part), and the guide post 40A extends in the front-rear direction. A rectangular guide plate 40B (see FIG. 4(B)) as a guided part (second guided part) is integrally formed on the lower surface of the guide post 40A, and the guide plate 40B protrudes downward and extends in the left-right direction. The guide post 40A is fitted into the guide hole 36A of the blocker body 36 in the front-to-back and up-down directions, and the guide plate 40B is fitted into the guide groove 36B of the blocker body 36 in the front-to-back direction, so that the guide post 40A is guided into the guide hole 36A and the guide plate 40B is guided into the guide groove 36B, allowing the lock bar 40 to be displaced (slid) left-to-right within a predetermined range relative to the blocker body 36.

[0031] A spring 42 (compression coil spring) serving as a biasing member is stretched between the right end of the lock bar 40 and the blocker body 36, and the spring 42 biases the lock bar 40 leftward relative to the blocker body 36. The lock bar 40 is disposed at the leftmost position relative to the blocker body 36 by the biasing force of the spring 42, and the lock bar 40 is capable of being displaced rightward relative to the blocker body 36 against the biasing force of the spring 42.

[0032] Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

[0033] In the shift device 10 having the above-described configuration, in the drive mechanism 22, the motor 24 is driven to rotate the worm 26, thereby rotating the drive gear 28 in the locking direction A and the releasing direction B, and moving the blocker 34 to the left and right, respectively.

[0034] For example, when the lever 16 is disposed in the P position and the blocker 34 is moved to the left (see Figs. 4A and 4B), the lock bar 40 of the blocker 34 is disposed in front of the detent plate 18 of the lever 16 (see Figs. 2A and 3A). Therefore, the lock bar 40 locks the detent plate 18 from rotating forward, thereby locking the lever 16 from rotating downward, and thus locking the lever 16 from rotating from the P position to the R position.

[0035] On the other hand, when the lever 16 is disposed in the P position and the blocker 34 is moved to the right (see Figs. 5(A) and (B)), the lock bar 40 of the blocker 34 is disposed to the right of the detent plate 18 of the lever 16 (see Fig. 3(B)). Therefore, the lock of the detent plate 18 against rotation forward by the lock bar 40 is released, so that the lock of the lever 16 against rotation downward is released, and the lock of the lever 16 against rotation from the P position to the R position is released.

[0036] Incidentally, for example, when the lever 16 is positioned between the P position and the R position, when the blocker 34 is moved to the left, the lock bar 40 of the blocker 34 abuts against the detent plate 18 of the lever 16, preventing the lock bar 40 from moving to the left (see Figures 2(B) and 3(C)).

[0037] Here, in the blocker 34, the lock bar 40 is supported so as to be displaceable to the right relative to the blocker body 36. Therefore, when the movement of the lock bar 40 to the left is obstructed, the lock bar 40 can be displaced to the right relative to the blocker body 36 (see FIG. 4(C)), and input of an impact from the blocker 34 to the drive mechanism 22 (the motor 24, the worm 26, and the drive gear 28) can be suppressed, thereby suppressing damage to the drive mechanism 22.

[0038] Furthermore, in the blocker 34, the lock bar 40 is biased leftward with respect to the blocker body 36 by the spring 42. Therefore, when the lock bar 40 is displaced rightward with respect to the blocker body 36, the biasing force of the spring 42 allows the lock bar 40 to return to its initial position (leftmost position) with respect to the blocker body 36.

[0039] Furthermore, in the blocker 34, the lock bar 40 is made slidable relative to the blocker body 36. This makes it possible to reduce the displacement space of the lock bar 40, thereby enabling the blocker 34 to be made compact.

[0040] Furthermore, in the blocker 34, the guide posts 40A of the lock bar 40 are guided by the guide holes 36A of the blocker body 36, and the guide plates 40B of the lock bar 40 are guided by the guide grooves 36B of the blocker body 36, so that the lock bar 40 is displaced relative to the blocker body 36. Therefore, the lock bar 40 can be displaced favorably relative to the blocker body 36.

[0041] Also, the blocker 34 is moved via the pinion 32 of the drive gear 28 and the rack 38 of the blocker body 36, which are meshed with each other. Therefore, the movement speed of the blocker 34 can be increased, and the time required to lock the rotation of the lever 16 and the time required to unlock the rotation of the lever 16 can be shortened.

[0042] In this embodiment, the blocker 34 is moved by the driving force of the motor 24. However, the blocker 34 may be moved by the driving force of a solenoid.

[0043] In this embodiment, the lever 16 (shift body) is rotated. However, the shift body may be rotated (moved) or slid (moved) around the central axis.

[0044] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the shift device 10 is mounted on the steering column. However, the shift device 10 may also be mounted on the console or instrument panel. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 10 shift device, 16 lever (shift body), 22 drive mechanism, 32 pinion, 36 blocker body (moving body), 36A guide hole (guide portion), 36B guide groove (guide portion), 38 rack, 40 lock bar (locking member)

Claims

1. A shift body that is moved to change the shift position; A moving body that is made movable; a locking member supported on the movable body so as to be displaceable; a drive mechanism that is driven to move the movable body and the locking member, and the locking member locks the movement of the shift body; A shift device comprising:

2. 2. The shift device according to claim 1, wherein the locking member is slidable relative to the movable body.

3. 2. The shifting device of claim 1, wherein said locking member is biased against said movable body.

4. 2. The shift device according to claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism moves the movable body and the locking member via a rack and a pinion that are meshed with each other.

5. The shift device according to claim 1 , further comprising a guide portion provided on the movable body for guiding the displacement of the locking member.

Images