Parking Lock System

Abstract

To provide a parking lock system capable of simplifying the structure for restricting rotation of an axle. [Solution] A parking lock system (1) includes a lock unit (2) having a selector (23) that restricts rotation by moving relatively with respect to an inner wheel (21); a drive unit (3) that generates a driving force by rotating a rotating part (36) about a rotation axis (O2); a connection unit (4) that transmits the driving force transmitted from a coupling part (361) to a coupling part (232) of the selector (23); and a lock-side abutment part (352) that restricts rotation of the rotating part (36) in the restricting direction. The connection unit (4) has a compression spring (42) that is compressed as the gap between the coupling part (361) and the coupling part (232) narrows. When the rotating part (36) rotates in the restricting direction from the released position, the lock-side abutment part (352) restricts rotation of the rotating part (36) after the coupling part (361) approaches the coupling part (232) and crosses a straight line (L1) that passes through the rotation axis (O2) and the coupling part (232).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a parking lock system. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, parking lock systems are known in vehicles that prevent the wheels from rotating when the shift lever is operated to the parking range. In such parking lock systems, a part that rotates with the wheels engages with a locking part to restrict rotation. However, depending on the rotation angle at the time the shift lever is operated, these parts may not engage, so a mechanism that locks the wheels regardless of the rotation angle is required.

[0003] To address this issue, a parking lock device has been proposed that includes a spiral spring that applies a biasing force to a lock pole that engages with and disengages from the parking gear (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the parking lock device described in Patent Document 1, when the locking claw of the lock pole does not engage with the tooth groove of the parking gear, the biasing force of the spiral spring causes the locking claw to continue to press against the tooth surface, and when a rotational force is applied to the engine crankshaft and it rotates, the locking claw and the tooth groove engage with each other. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-106484 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, when the power spring does not directly bias the lock pole, but the biasing force is transmitted to the lock pole via another link, as in the parking lock device described in Patent Document 1, the structure tends to be complicated. For this reason, it has been desired to simplify the structure of the wheel locking mechanism while providing an elastic member in case engagement does not occur.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide a parking lock system that can simplify the structure for restricting rotation of the axle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problem, the parking lock system of the present invention comprises a lock unit having a rotating part connected to the axle and a locking part that restricts rotation by moving relative to the rotating part, a drive unit that generates a driving force for driving the locking part by rotating the rotating part around a predetermined rotation axis, a connection unit that transmits the driving force transmitted from the transmission part of the rotating part to the transmitted part of the locking part, and a rotation restricting part that restricts rotation of the rotating part in the restricted direction, wherein the connection unit is capable of changing the distance between the transmission part and the transmitted part and has an elastic member that is compressed as the distance narrows, and when the rotating part rotates in the restricted direction from the release position, the rotation restricting part restricts rotation of the rotating part after the transmission part approaches the transmitted part and crosses a straight line passing through the rotation axis and the transmitted part.

[0008] According to this aspect, when the rotating part rotates in the restricted direction from the release position, the elastic member is compressed in the range where the transmitting part of the rotating part approaches the transmitted part of the locking part, and the restoring force of the elastic member acts against the rotation of the rotating part. Then, when the transmitting part of the rotating part crosses a line passing through the rotation axis and the transmitted part of the locking part, the restoring force of the elastic member acts to rotate the rotating part in the restricted direction. Because the rotation of the rotating part is restricted by the rotation restricting part in this state, even if the external force rotating the rotating part in the restricted direction is stopped, the restoring force of the elastic member prevents the rotating part from rotating in the direction opposite to the restricted direction. Furthermore, the restoring force of the elastic member also acts to move the transmitted part of the locking part away from the transmitting part of the rotating part, thereby moving the locking part and restricting the rotation of the rotating part. In this way, the structure for restricting the rotation of the axle can be simplified.

[0009] The drive unit may include a gear that rotates together with the rotating part and a case that houses the gear, and the rotation restricting part may be provided in the case and restrict the rotation of the rotating part by abutting against the gear. According to this aspect, rotation can be restricted by appropriately setting the shapes of the gear and the case or by providing a protrusion or the like at an appropriate position on the case, thereby preventing an increase in the number of parts.

[0010] The rotation restricting portion may directly contact the rotating portion. According to this aspect, the rotation restricting portion may be disposed so as to contact an appropriate portion of the rotating portion, thereby improving design freedom. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the parking lock system of the present invention, the structure for restricting rotation of the axle can be simplified. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an unlocked state of a parking lock system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2]FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an intermediate state of a parking lock system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a locked state of a parking lock system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing an unlocked state of the parking lock system according to the first modified example of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing an intermediate state of the parking lock system according to the first modified example of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a locked state of the parking lock system according to the first modified example of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a parking lock system according to a second modified example of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing an unlocked state of a parking lock system according to a second modified example of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] 1 to 3, a parking lock system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a lock unit 2 having an inner wheel 21 as a rotating part connected to an axle and a selector 23 as a locking part that restricts rotation by moving relative to the inner wheel 21, a drive unit 3 that generates a driving force for driving the selector 23 by rotating a rotating part 36 about a predetermined rotation axis O2, a connection unit 4 that transmits the driving force transmitted from a connecting part 361 as a transmitting part of the rotating part 36 to a connecting part 232 as a receiving part of the selector 23, and a lock-side abutment part 352 as a rotation restricting part that restricts rotation of the rotating part 36 in the restricting direction. The connection unit 4 is capable of changing the distance between the connecting part 361 and the connecting part 232 and includes a compression spring 42 as an elastic member that is compressed as this distance narrows. When the rotating part 36 rotates in the restricting direction from the release position, the connecting part 361 approaches the connecting part 232 and crosses the straight line L1 passing through the rotating axis O2 and the connecting part 232, and then the locking side abutment part 352 restricts the rotation of the rotating part 36.

[0014] Here, Figure 1 is a plan view showing the unlocked state of the parking lock system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a plan view showing the intermediate state of the parking lock system 1, and Figure 3 is a plan view showing the locked state of the parking lock system 1.

[0015] The parking lock system 1 is mounted on a vehicle and prevents the wheels from rotating when the driver operates the shift lever to the parking range, and allows the wheels to rotate when the driver operates the shift lever to another range (for example, drive). The parking lock system 1 includes a lock unit 2, a drive unit 3, and a connection unit 4.

[0016] The lock unit 2 is a roller ratchet clutch, and includes an inner ring 21 , an outer ring 22 , a selector 23 , a plurality of rollers 24 , and a spring 25 .

[0017] The inner ring 21 is a rotating part that is connected to the wheel and rotates together with the wheel about the rotation axis O1, and has multiple recesses 211 formed on its outer periphery. The outer ring 22 is a component that is fixed to the vehicle and does not rotate, and rotatably supports the inner ring 21. The selector 23 is formed in an annular shape so as to surround the inner ring 21 from the outside, has multiple recesses 231 formed on its inner periphery, and has a connecting part 232 that protrudes from its outer periphery, and a lock-side connecting part 412 of a rod 41 of the connection unit 4, which will be described later, is connected to the connecting part 232. As a result, the connecting part 232 functions as a part to which driving force is transmitted from the connection unit 4.

[0018] The rollers 24 have dimensions that allow them to be placed in the recesses 211 of the inner ring 21 and the recesses 231 of the selector 23. The spring 25 is formed in an annular shape along the outer periphery of the inner ring 21, with multiple rollers 24 fixed to the outside thereof, and the rollers 24 are immovable in the circumferential direction. The spring 25 is configured to generate a restoring force toward the outer periphery when deformed from the outer periphery toward the inner periphery.

[0019] 1, when the lock unit 2 does not lock the rotation of the inner ring 21 (the parking lock system 1 is in the unlocked state), the roller 24 is disposed in the recess 231 of the selector 23, and the spring 25 has a diameter that fits along the outer periphery of the inner ring 21. In other words, the roller 24 does not interfere with the inner ring 21, and the rotation of the inner ring 21 is not restricted.

[0020] 3, when the lock unit 2 locks the rotation of the inner ring 21 (the locked state of the parking lock system 1), the roller 24 is disposed in the recess 211 of the inner ring 21, and the diameter of the spring 25 is smaller than the diameter of the inner ring 21. That is, the roller 24 engages with the recess 211 of the inner ring 21, thereby restricting the rotation of the inner ring 21.

[0021] One of the inner walls of recess 231 of selector 23 is tapered so as to gradually approach the bottom. When selector 23 rotates from the released state shown in Fig. 1 to the locked state shown in Fig. 3, at a rotation angle where recess 211 is positioned on the inner circumferential side of roller 24, roller 24 moves toward the inner circumferential side along the tapered portion of recess 231, thereby escaping recess 231 and entering and engaging recess 211. In this way, selector 23 functions as a locking part that restricts rotation by moving (rotating) relative to inner ring 21.

[0022] The drive unit 3 is an actuator having a motor (not shown), multiple gears 31 to 34 that rotate in conjunction with the rotation of the motor, a case 35 that houses the gears 31 to 34, and a rotating part 36, and generates a driving force for driving the selector 23.

[0023] The rotation of the motor is transmitted by a plurality of gears 31 to 34, and the sector-shaped gear 34 is fixed to the rotating part 36 so as to rotate integrally therewith.

[0024] The gear 34 and the rotating part 36 rotate about a rotation axis O2 that is parallel to the rotation axis O1 of the inner ring 21. The rotating part 36 has a connecting part 361 that is eccentric from the rotation axis O2, and a rotating-side connecting part 411 of a rod 41 (described later) of the connection unit 4 is connected to the connecting part 361. As a result, the connecting part 361 functions as a transmission part that transmits driving force to the connection unit 4.

[0025] The case 35 has, on its inner side, a release-side abutment portion 351 that can abut against one side 341 of a pair of sides (portions extending radially from the rotation axis O2) of the sector-shaped gear 34, and a lock-side abutment portion 352 that can abut against the other side 342. That is, in the released state shown in Fig. 1, one side 341 of the gear 34 abuts against the release-side abutment portion 351, and in the locked state shown in Fig. 3, the other side 342 of the gear 34 abuts against the lock-side abutment portion 352.

[0026] The connection unit 4 has a rod 41 and a compression spring 42 as an elastic member, and transmits the driving force of the drive unit 3 to the lock unit 2.

[0027] The rod 41 has a rotation side connection portion 411 connected to the connection portion 361 of the rotation portion 36 and a lock side connection portion 412 connected to the connection portion 232 of the selector 23 at both ends, and extends linearly.

[0028] The connecting portion 361 of the rotating portion 36 is a through-hole that penetrates in a direction parallel to the rotation axis O2, and the rotating-side connecting portion 411 extends parallel to the rotation axis O2 and is inserted into the connecting portion 361. As a result, the rod 41 is connected to the rotating portion 36 so as to be rotatable around a rotation axis that is parallel to the rotation axis O2.

[0029] The connecting portion 232 of the selector 23 has a through-hole that penetrates in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis O2 and through which the lock-side connecting portion 412 is inserted. This allows the rod 41 to move linearly relative to the selector 23 along the extension direction of the rod 41. Note that, in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis O2, the angle formed between the penetration direction of the through-hole of the connecting portion 232 and the extension direction of the rod 41 (the inclination angle of the rod 41 with respect to the connecting portion 232) is variable within a predetermined range. A protrusion 413 is provided at the end of the rod 41 to prevent it from coming off.

[0030] A protrusion 414 for restricting the compression spring 42 is provided on the rod 41 at a predetermined distance from a protrusion 413 on the end thereof, and the area between the protrusions 413, 414 forms the lock-side connection portion 412. The rod 41 is inserted into the compression spring 42, and the protrusion 413, connecting portion 232, compression spring 42, and protrusion 414 are arranged in this order. As a result, when the rod 41 moves so that the distance between the connecting portion 232 and the protrusion 414 narrows, the compression spring 42 arranged therebetween is compressed.

[0031] Here, detailed operations of each part of the parking lock system 1 when the inner wheel 21 is changed from a released state in which it is rotatable to a locked state in which its rotation is restricted will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0032] 1, one side 341 of the gear 34 abuts against the release-side abutment portion 351, the roller 24 is located in the recess 231 of the selector 23, and the rotating portion 36 is located in the released position. At this time, the connecting portion 361 of the rotating portion 36 is located at the upper left (i.e., counterclockwise side) in FIG. 1 with respect to a line L1 that passes through the rotation axis O2 and the connecting portion 232 of the selector 23. In other words, the connecting portion 232 of the selector 23 is located at the lower right (i.e., clockwise side) with respect to a line that passes through the rotation axis O2 and the connecting portion 361 of the rotating portion 36.

[0033] 1, the connecting portion 232 abuts against the protrusion 413 at the end, and the spring length of the compression spring 42 is at its longest. The roller 24 is spaced apart from the tapered portion of the recess 231 of the selector 23.

[0034] Rotating the rotating part 36 in the restricting direction (clockwise in FIG. 1) from the released state shown in FIG. 1 results in the intermediate state shown in FIG. 2. In the intermediate state, the other side 342 of the gear 34 abuts against the lock-side abutment part 352, and further rotation of the rotating part 36 in the restricting direction is restricted.

[0035] When moving from the released state to the intermediate state, first, the connecting portion 361 of the rotating portion 36 approaches the connecting portion 232 of the selector 23. That is, the connecting portion 361 of the rotating portion 36 approaches the straight line L1 that passes through the rotation axis O2 and the connecting portion 232 of the selector 23. Thereafter, the rotation axis O2, the connecting portion 361 of the rotating portion 36, and the connecting portion 232 of the selector 23 are aligned in this order on a straight line.

[0036] When the rotating part 36 is further rotated in the restriction direction, the connecting part 361 of the rotating part 36 crosses the straight line L1 that passes through the rotation axis O2 and the connecting part 232 of the selector 23, and therefore moves away from the connecting part 232 of the selector 23. At this time, the spring length of the compression spring 42 increases due to its restoring force.

[0037] In the intermediate state, the connecting portion 361 of the rotating portion 36 is located on the clockwise side of the line L1 that passes through the rotation axis O2 and the connecting portion 232 of the selector 23, i.e., on the restricting direction side. Therefore, the restoring force of the compression spring 42 acts to rotate the rotating portion 36 further in the restricting direction. At this time, the rotation of the rotating portion 36 in the restricting direction is restricted by the lock-side abutment portion 352, so the restoring force of the compression spring 42 does not cause the rotating portion 36 to rotate. In this intermediate state, the selector 23 is slightly rotated counterclockwise compared to the released state, and the connecting portion 232 is separated from the protrusion 413, compressing the compression spring 42.

[0038] The restoring force of the compression spring 42 acts not only on the rotating portion 36 but also on the selector 23. Because the rotation of the selector 23 is not restricted, this restoring force causes the selector 23 to try to rotate counterclockwise. However, if the recessed portion 211 of the inner ring 21 is not located on the inner circumferential side of the roller 24, the roller 24 cannot move inward, and the selector 23 does not rotate. If the recessed portion 211 of the inner ring 21 is located on the inner circumferential side of the roller 24, as shown in Figure 3, the restoring force of the compression spring 42 causes the roller 24, which is pressed inward by the selector 23, to enter and engage the recessed portion 211, thereby causing the selector 23 to rotate and enter a locked state in which the inner ring 21 is locked.

[0039] In parking lock system 1, to change from the locked state to the released state, rotating portion 36 is rotated in the direction opposite to the restricting direction (counterclockwise in FIGS. 1 to 3) so that one side 341 of gear 33 abuts against release-side abutment portion 351. As rotating portion 36 rotates, selector 23 rotates mainly clockwise, and when recessed portion 231 of selector 23 is positioned on the outer periphery of roller 24, roller 24 enters and engages with recessed portion 231 due to the restoring force of spring 25 toward the outer periphery, and inner ring 21 is unlocked.

[0040] Thus, according to the parking lock system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the lock-side abutment portion 352 restricts the rotation of the rotating portion 36 after the connecting portion 361 of the rotating portion 36 crosses the straight line L1 that passes through the rotation axis O2 and the connecting portion 232 of the selector 23. Therefore, even if the external force that rotates the rotating portion 36 in the restricted direction is stopped, the restoring force of the compression spring 42 prevents the rotating portion 36 from rotating in the direction opposite to the restricted direction, and the selector 23 can be rotated to lock the inner wheel 21. In this way, the structure for restricting the rotation of the axle can be simplified.

[0041] Furthermore, by simplifying the structure for restricting rotation of the axle in the parking lock system 1, the number of parts can be reduced, which in turn reduces costs and makes it possible to make the entire system smaller.

[0042] Furthermore, the locking side abutment portion 352 abuts against the gear 34 which rotates together with the rotating portion 36, thereby restricting the rotation of the rotating portion 36. By appropriately setting the shapes of the gear 34 and the case 35, rotation can be restricted, and an increase in the number of parts can be suppressed.

[0043] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and includes other configurations that can achieve the object of the present invention, including modifications such as those described below. For example, in the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the lock-side abutment portion 352 serving as a rotation restricting portion abuts against the gear 34 that rotates together with the rotating portion 36 to restrict the rotation of the rotating portion 36, but the rotation restricting portion may have a different structure to restrict the rotation of the rotating portion.

[0044] 4 to 6 show a first modified example in which a rotation restricting portion 37 is provided that restricts rotation by directly contacting the rotating portion 36. FIG. 4 shows the unlocked state as in FIG. 1, FIG. 5 shows the intermediate state as in FIG. 2, and FIG. 6 shows the locked state as in FIG. 3. The rotation restricting portion 37 is disposed on the surface of the case 35 on which the rotating portion 36 is provided, and abuts against a restricting side surface 362, which is the surface of the rotating portion 36 facing clockwise (the restricting direction side). In this way, the rotation restricting portion 37 abuts against the rotating portion 36 on the outside of the case 35.

[0045] According to this variant example 1, by restricting rotation by directly abutting the rotating portion 36, it is possible to simply position the rotation restricting portion so that it abuts against an appropriate part of the rotating portion 36 (in this variant example, the restricting side surface 362), thereby improving design freedom.

[0046] Furthermore, the rotation restricting portion is not limited to being provided in the drive unit 3. For example, a part of the rod 41 may be configured to abut against the rotating portion 36 and serve as the rotation restricting portion so that further relative rotation can be restricted when the rod 41 rotates a predetermined amount relative to the rotating portion 36.

[0047] In the above embodiment of the present invention, the rotation axis O1 of the lock unit 2 and the rotation axis O2 of the drive unit 3 are parallel to each other, but these axes do not have to be parallel. For example, as in Modification 2 shown in Figures 7 and 8, the rotation axis O3 of the rotating part 51 of the lock unit 5 may be configured to extend along a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis O2 of the drive unit 3.

[0048] In the second modification, the lock unit 5 includes a rotating portion 51 and a locking portion 52, and a recess 511 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating portion 51 engages with a protrusion 521 of the locking portion 52. When the rotating portion 36 rotates and the rod 41 moves along a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis O2, the tapered portion of the rod 41 comes into contact with the locking portion 52, causing the locking portion 52 to rotate around a rotation axis O4 parallel to the rotation axis O3 of the rotating portion 51, and the recess 511 of the rotating portion 51 and the protrusion 521 of the locking portion 52 engage or disengage.

[0049] Figure 8 shows the released state, similar to Figure 1. By providing the rotation restricting portion 38, similar to the above embodiment, after the connecting portion 361 of the rotating portion 36 approaches the transmitted force receiving portion 522 of the locking portion 52 and crosses the straight line passing through the rotation axis O2 and the transmitted force receiving portion 522, the rotation restricting portion 38 restricts the rotation of the rotating portion 36.

[0050] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the parking lock system according to the above embodiments, and includes all aspects encompassed within the concept and scope of the claims. Furthermore, the various components may be appropriately and selectively combined to achieve at least some of the above-described problems and advantages. For example, the shape, material, arrangement, size, etc. of each component in the above embodiments may be appropriately modified depending on the specific use of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 1...Parking lock system, 2...Lock unit, 21...Inner ring (rotating part), 23...Selector (lock part), 232...Connecting part (transmitted part), 3...Drive unit, 36...Rotating part, 352...Lock side abutment part (rotation restricting part), 361...Connecting part (transmitting part), 37, 38...Rotation restricting part, 4...Connection unit, 42...Compression spring (elastic member), O2...Rotating axis, L1...Straight line

Claims

1. a lock unit having a rotating part connected to the axle and a lock part that restricts rotation by moving relative to the rotating part; a drive unit that generates a drive force for driving the locking portion by rotating a rotation portion around a predetermined rotation axis; a connection unit that transmits the driving force transmitted from the transmission portion of the rotation portion to the transmission receiving portion of the lock portion; a rotation restriction portion that restricts rotation of the rotation portion in a restriction direction, the connection unit is capable of changing the distance between the transmitting part and the transmitted part, and has an elastic member that is compressed when the distance becomes narrower; When the rotating part rotates in the restricting direction from the release position, the rotation restricting part restricts the rotation of the rotating part after the transmitting part approaches the transmitted part and crosses a straight line passing through the rotating shaft and the transmitted part.

2. the drive unit includes a gear that rotates together with the rotating portion and a case that houses the gear, 2. The parking lock system according to claim 1, wherein the rotation restricting portion is provided in the case and restricts the rotation of the rotating portion by contacting the gear.

3. 2. The parking lock system according to claim 1, wherein the rotation restricting portion restricts rotation by directly contacting the rotating portion.

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