Coil spring application structure

Abstract

To provide a coil spring application structure capable of exhibiting a spring force stably even under an environment where composite forces based on a pressing force are applied, and capable of reducing the size of a spring itself.SOLUTION: A coil spring application structure has: a coil spring 20 having a coil part 22 formed by winding a spring material in a circular manner, and a pair of arm parts 24 extending from both ends of the coil part 22; and a pair of support parts 28 supporting the pair of arms 24. On an outer periphery of the coil part 22, a force point P1 is provided with which a slide guide 12, which acts as a pressing member that applies at least a pressing force, comes into contact. The force point P1 is a point where the coil part 22 intersects with a perpendicular line perpendicular to a center position between the pair of support parts 28.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the use of torsion coil springs, and particularly to an application structure of a coil spring to a portion where a biasing force and a frictional force are applied.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a torsion coil spring has been used in such a manner that a pressing force is applied to an arm portion extending from a coil portion. Therefore, when a frictional force is applied in addition to the pressing force, depending on the direction of application of the frictional force, there may be a difference in resistance, or a change in the amount of force due to the shape of the tip of the arm portion. In addition, in order to stably receive the pressing force and the frictional force, it is necessary to take measures such as increasing the length of the arm portion and optimizing the tip shape.

[0003] As a result, problems such as the torsion coil spring becoming larger in size and it becoming difficult to secure an installation space occur. Such problems are also problems that can occur even when the spring structure is a leaf spring.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an application structure of a coil spring that solves the above problems, can stably exhibit a spring force even in an environment where a composite force based on a pressing force is applied, and can also reduce the size of the spring itself.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The application structure of the coil spring according to the present invention for achieving the above object has a coil spring having a coil portion formed by winding a spring material in an annular shape and a pair of arm portions respectively extending from both ends of the coil portion, and a pair of support portions respectively supporting the pair of arm portions. At least a force point where a pressing material applying a pressing force contacts is provided on the outer periphery of the coil portion, and the force point is a portion where a perpendicular line orthogonal to the central position between the pair of support portions intersects the coil portion.

[0007] Further, in the application structure of the coil spring having the above characteristics, a shaft is provided at the central position of the pair of support portions and intervenes in the annular gap in the coil portion. The distance between the corresponding portion on the inner periphery of the coil portion and located on the back surface of the force point and the closer point of the outer periphery of the shaft and the vertical portion where the perpendicular line intersects the shaft, and the variation distance of the force point caused by the pressing force applied to the force point, preferably satisfy the relationship of separation distance > variation distance. According to having such characteristics, the arrangement state of the coil spring with respect to the support portion can be stabilized, and the shaft does not interfere with the operation of the coil portion.

[0008] Furthermore, in the application structure of the coil spring having the above characteristics, a sliding force may also be applied to the pressing material, and a frictional force acting in a direction intersecting the perpendicular line may be applied to the force point in addition to the pressing force. Even in such a case having such characteristics, since the force point of the coil portion is arc-shaped, the frictional force and the spring force with respect to sliding can be stably exhibited.

Effects of the Invention

[0009] According to the application structure of the coil spring having the above characteristics, the spring force can be stably exhibited even in an environment where a composite force based on the pressing force is applied. Also, it is possible to reduce the size of the spring itself.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the application structure of the coil spring of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, as an example of the application structure of the coil spring, the application to a slide lid will be described as an example. In the drawings, FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of the slide lid according to the embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged sectional view of the same. Also, FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the slide lid according to the embodiment.

[0012] [Configuration] The slide lid 10 according to the present embodiment is basically composed of a slide guide 12, a slider 14, and a lid 16. The slide guide 12 is arranged along the opening of a container (such as a storage) not shown in detail, and serves as an element that forms a track for sliding the lid 16 together with the slider 14, which will be described in detail later.

[0013] Slider 14 is an element that reciprocates within a defined range of the slide guide 12 by a power source (not shown), and is an actuator responsible for the opening and closing operation of the lid 16, which will be described in detail later. The slider 14 of the present embodiment is provided with an engagement protrusion 14a on its upper surface. By engaging the lid 16 with this engagement protrusion 14a, it becomes possible to move the lid 16 along. Although the specific shape of the engagement protrusion 14a is not limited, when a force from the operating direction of the slider 14 with respect to the engagement protrusion 14a (a force from the direction along arrow B shown in FIG. 2) is applied, it is desirable that the shape be such that this force can be released upward. In the examples shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the engagement protrusion 14a is a protrusion having a semi-circular cross-section.

[0014] The lid 16 is an element for opening or closing the opening. The lid 16 according to the present embodiment engages with the slider 14 described above, and thus performs the opening and closing operation of the opening in accordance with the reciprocating movement of the slider 14. For this reason, the lid 16 according to the present embodiment has an engagement groove 16a on the opposing surface with the slider 14, and an urging force generating portion 18 is provided on the opposing surface with the slide guide 12 on the upper surface side.

[0015] The engagement groove 16a is a groove that engages with the engagement protrusion 14a of the slider 14 described above. Its form is not specifically limited, and when it engages with the engagement protrusion 14a, it only needs to have a resistance to move along with the slider 14, and when the force from the sliding direction (the direction shown by arrow B) exceeds a predetermined value, it can release the force so that the engagement is released. The engagement groove 16a of the present embodiment has a trapezoidal shape that covers the semi-circle constituting the engagement protrusion 14a.

[0016] The biasing force generating portion 18 is a portion that plays a role of generating a force (biasing force) that presses the lid 16 against the slider 14 with the slide guide 12 as a reference point. By providing such an element, it is possible to prevent rattling of the lid 16 and avoid the engagement state with respect to the slider 14 being unexpectedly released due to, for example, the inclination of the container (not shown). The specific configuration of the biasing force generating portion 18 is based on a coil spring 20, a shaft 26, and a support portion 28. The coil spring 20 is made of a linear spring material and has a coil portion 22 wound in an annular shape and a pair of arm portions 24 extending from both ends of the coil portion 22, respectively. The shaft 26 is an element that intervenes in the annular gap in the coil portion 22, and in the present embodiment, it is configured to protrude from the side surface of the lid 16. Further, the diameter of the shaft 26 (when the shaft is polygonal, the length of the long side passing through the center of the cross section) is configured to be sufficiently smaller than the diameter of the annulus formed by the coil portion 22. Furthermore, gaps through which the coil portion 22 moves are provided on the outer periphery of the shaft 26 (the top and bottom of the shaft 26 in the examples shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) in the direction in which a pressing force is applied to the coil spring 20 (the direction indicated by arrow A).

[0017] Also, the support portion 28 is an element that plays a role of supporting the pair of arm portions 24 that make up the coil spring 20. The form and arrangement position of the support portion 28 are not particularly limited as long as the coil spring 20 can be stably supported. In the example shown in FIG. 2, inclined surfaces provided through gaps for the coil portion 22 to move are used as the support portion 28, symmetrically with respect to the shaft 26. The inclined surfaces are configured to have an inclination along the direction in which the arm portions 24 protrude from the coil portion 22. Further, the height position is adjusted so that a straight line L1 passing through the center of the pair of inclined surfaces (support portion 28) intersects the shaft 26.

[0018] When the shaft 26 and the support portion 28 are in such an arrangement relationship, by passing the shaft 26 through the coil portion 22 and arranging the arm portion 24 on the support portion 28, the arrangement state of the coil spring 20 can be stabilized. Further, when a pressing force is applied to the outer periphery of the coil portion 22, with the arm portion 24 supported by the support portion 28, the coil portion 22 moves along the direction in which the pressing force is applied (the direction indicated by arrow A), and a biasing force (the force in the direction indicated by arrow C) is generated in the member (the lid 16 in this embodiment) provided with the shaft 26 and the support portion 28 with the slide guide 12, which is the pressing member, as the reference point. Therefore, when the point P1 where the coil portion 22 receives the pressing force from the pressing member is taken as the "force point", the separation distance D1 between the corresponding portion P2 located on the back surface of the force point and the nearer point (point P3) among the vertical portions that intersect at a point on the outer periphery of the shaft 26 and on the perpendicular line L2 passing through the center between the pair of support portions 28 is set to be larger than the variation distance D2 of the coil spring 20 due to the biasing force (separation distance D1 > variation distance D2). With such a configuration, there is no risk that the shaft 26 will interfere with the operation of the coil portion 22.

[0019] In the slide lid 10 having the biasing force generating portion 18 with such a configuration, a part (P1: force point) of the outer periphery of the coil portion 22 in the coil spring 20 arranged on the shaft 26 and the support portion 28 comes into contact with the slide guide 12. Therefore, a pressing force is applied to the force point (P1), and at the same time, a frictional force associated with the sliding of the lid 16 is also applied.

[0020] [Function and Effect] Next, with reference to FIG. 3, the operation of the slide lid 10 according to this embodiment and the action of the coil spring 20 accompanying this operation will be described. The slide lid 10 according to this embodiment is biased in the direction of pressing the lid 16 against the slider 14 (the direction indicated by arrow C in FIG. 2) with the slide guide 12 as the reference point by the action of the elastic force of the coil spring 20. Therefore, the lid 16 is stabilized in a state of being pressed against the slider 14, and rattling caused by vibrations or the like or the reciprocating movement of the slider 14 is suppressed. Further, even if the container is tilted, the engaging groove 16a of the lid 16 does not disengage from the engaging projection 14a of the slider 14, and it is possible to follow the movement of the slider 14 (see FIG. 3(A)).

[0021] On the other hand, if an object gets caught in the opening / closing part of the lid 16 and the opening / closing operation of the lid 16 is obstructed, a component force of the force generated in the engaging part due to the force acting in the moving direction of the slider 14 (the direction indicated by the arrow B in FIG. 2) (the force for the engaging groove 16a to overcome the engaging projection 14a) will exceed the biasing force by the coil spring 20, and the lid 16 will lift off from the slider 14 and the engaged state will be released. (See FIG. 3(B)).

[0022] Even after the engaged state between the lid 16 and the slider 14 is released, the slider 14 continues to move. Since the biasing force by the coil spring 20 acts on the lid 16, the lifting of the lid 16 will be eliminated when the lid 16 has overcome the engaging projection 14a. In such a state, the lid 16 cannot move along with the movement of the slider 14 (see FIG. 3(C)).

[0023] In the slide lid 10 that operates in this way, the lid 16 provided with the coil spring 20 moves along with the reciprocating movement of the slider 14. For this reason, the force point (P1) of the coil part 22 in the coil spring 20 will slide on the slide guide 12 in a state where a pressing force is applied (= a state where a biasing force is applied to the lid 16). Thus, in this embodiment, a composite force such as a pressing force and a frictional force acts on the force point (P1) which is a part of the outer peripheral surface of the coil part 22 of the coil spring 20. However, since the force point (P1) is a shape-stable part forming an arc shape, the biasing force and the slidability can be stably exhibited even in an environment where a frictional force is added in addition to the pressing force (biasing force). Also, since there is no need to extend the arm part 24 more than necessary, it is possible to reduce the size of the spring itself compared to conventional coil springs and leaf springs formed to achieve the same effect.

[0024] Also, the coil spring 20 applied as described above can be easily adjusted in force by changing the number of turns of the coil part 22, the wire diameter of the wire material, the deflection angle, etc. For this reason, it is possible to manufacture at low cost without requiring special molds or complicated bending processes.

[0025] In the application of the coil spring 20 as described above, if it is possible to stably support the coil spring 20, it is not necessarily required to provide the shaft 26. This is because if the coil portion 22 can move in the pressing direction and generate a biasing force or a reaction force via the support portion 28, the function of the coil spring 20 will be exerted.

[0026] [Modification Example] In the above-described embodiment, it is described that a composite force such as a pressing force and a frictional force acts on the force point of the coil spring 20. However, the method of applying the coil spring according to the present invention can also be applied to a structure in which the force acting on the coil portion 22 of the coil spring 20 is only a pressing force. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, even for a pressing member 30 that simply applies a pressing force in the direction along the arrow D, the application structure of the coil spring 20 according to the present invention can be adopted. Of course, the pressing member 30 may be a sphere, and a configuration may be adopted in which, in addition to pressing, a frictional force due to sliding (rolling) acts on the coil portion 22.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0027] 10……… Slide lid, 12……… Slide guide, 14……… Slider, 14a……… Engagement protrusion, 16……… Lid, 16a……… Engagement groove, 18……… Biasing force generation portion, 20……… Coil spring, 22……… Coil portion, 24……… Arm portion, 26……… Shaft, 28……… Support portion, 30……… Pressing member.

Claims

1. A coil spring having a coil portion formed by winding a spring material in an annular shape, and a pair of arm portions extending from both ends of the coil portion respectively, and having a pair of support portions for supporting the pair of arm portions respectively, wherein a force point where at least a pressing material for applying a pressing force contacts is provided on the outer circumference of the coil portion, and the force point is a portion where a perpendicular line orthogonal to the center position between the pair of support portions intersects the coil portion. An application structure of a coil spring characterized by this.

2. A shaft that intervenes in an annular gap in the coil portion is provided at the center position of the pair of support portions, the distance between the corresponding portion on the inner circumference of the coil portion that is located on the back surface of the force point and the nearer point among the outer circumference of the shaft where the perpendicular line intersects the shaft, and the variation distance of the force point due to the pressing force applied to the force point satisfy the relationship of separation distance > variation distance. The application structure of the coil spring according to Claim 1, characterized by this.

3. The pressing material is also given a sliding force, and the force point is given a frictional force acting in a direction intersecting the perpendicular line in addition to the pressing force. The application structure of the coil spring according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized by this.

Images