Electrical control device

Abstract

To provide an electric operation device which can hold grease in a sliding part of members.SOLUTION: The electric operation device outputs an electric signal according to an operation of an operation tool, and includes: a cam shaft extending in a horizontal direction; a cam having a pressing unit and being capable of rocking around the cam shaft, an operation tool being attached to the cam; a push rod located below the pressing unit and displaced downward by being pressed downward at the upper end part thereof; a base extending in a vertical direction below the pressing unit and having a guide hole for guiding the push rod in a vertical direction; and a grease cup forming a storage space for storing the grease with the upper end part of the push rod in the upper part of the guide hole. The grease cup is integrally formed with the base.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an electric operating device.

Background Art

[0007] According to this disclosure, it is possible to provide an electrical operating device that can retain grease at the sliding points between parts. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a part of an electrical control device according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a side cross-sectional view of the electrical control device in Figure 1 when it is not being operated. [Figure 3] This is a side cross-sectional view of the electrical control device in Figure 1 when it is fully operated. [Figure 4] This is a magnified perspective view showing the vicinity of the contact area between the cam and the pushrod. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0010] <Embodiment> Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional perspective view of an electrical control device 1 according to an embodiment. The electrical control device 1 outputs electrical signals corresponding to the operation of the control tool. The electrical control device 1 of this embodiment is, for example, a travel pedal device for construction machinery such as a hydraulic power shovel. The electrical control device 1 outputs electrical signals to drive the left and right crawlers of the construction machinery separately in the forward and reverse directions. The electrical control device 1 is fixed to the floor of the operator's cab of the construction machinery.

[0011] The electrical control device 1 comprises a left control device 2A and a right control device 2B. The left control device 2A is for operating the left crawler, and the right control device 2B is for operating the right crawler. Pedals are attached to each of the left control device 2A and the right control device 2B. The left control device 2A and the right control device 2B output electrical signals corresponding to the amount of operation performed by the operator on the attached pedals. The left control device 2A and the right control device 2B share a common casing 3.

[0012] The left control device 2A comprises a cam 4 to which a pedal is attached as an operating tool, and a camshaft 5 extending horizontally. The cam 4 is supported by the casing 3 so as to be pivotable around the camshaft 5 via the camshaft 5. When the pedal is not being operated by the operator, the cam 4 is in a predetermined neutral position within its range of motion. The neutral position may also be called the no-operation position. A potentiometer 6 for detecting the oscillation angle of the cam 4 is located at one end of the camshaft 5. The potentiometer 6 is located between the camshafts 5 of the left control device 2A and the right control device 2B. The potentiometer 6 detects the direction of oscillation and the oscillation angle from the neutral position of the cam 4, which oscillates integrally with the pedal, and outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the oscillation direction and oscillation angle to the outside via wiring 7 extending from the bottom of the casing 3.

[0013] For example, if the operator presses the pedal forward and swings the cam 4 in the first direction, the left control device 2A outputs a signal to drive the left crawler in the forward direction. For example, if the operator presses the pedal backward and swings the cam 4 in the second direction opposite to the first direction, the left control device 2A outputs a signal to drive the left crawler in the reverse direction.

[0014] The left control unit 2A and the right control unit 2B are equivalent to each other. The right control unit 2B, like the left control unit 2A, includes a cam 4 and a camshaft 5, which are supported by the casing 3. The left control unit 2A and the right control unit 2B are arranged side by side so that their respective camshafts 5 are coaxial. The left control unit 2A and the right control unit 2B are substantially symmetrical in structure with respect to a plane perpendicular to the camshaft 5 that passes between the left control unit 2A and the right control unit 2B. For this reason, in the following description, the left control unit 2A will be described, and the description of the right control unit 2B will be omitted.

[0015] Figures 2 and 3 are side cross-sectional views of the left control device 2A, cut in a plane perpendicular to the camshaft 5. Figure 2 shows the left control device 2A when not being operated by an operator. Figure 3 shows the left control device 2A when the pedal is fully operated by an operator. In this embodiment, as will be described later, the oscillation range of the cam 4 is restricted to a predetermined oscillation range, and the state in which the pedal is fully operated by an operator is the state in which the oscillation angle of the cam 4 from the neutral position is at its maximum. Also, for convenience in this specification, the horizontal direction in which the camshaft 5 extends may be referred to as the left-right direction, and the horizontal direction perpendicular to the direction in which the camshaft 5 extends may be referred to as the front-rear direction. The left control device 2A has a structure that is substantially symmetrical with respect to a plane perpendicular to the front-rear direction that passes through the camshaft 5.

[0016] The casing 3 includes a base 11 and a pair of cam supports 12. The base 11 is located below the cam 4. The base 11 is substantially plate-shaped and faces the cam 4 in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, the base 11 is the part that is attached to the construction machine. The base 11 has a plurality of bolt holes 11a through which bolts for attaching an electrical operating device 1 to, for example, the floor of the operator's cab of the construction machine are inserted. The pair of cam supports 12 are spaced apart in the left-right direction and protrude upward from the base 11. The cam 4 is positioned between the pair of cam supports 12 in the left-right direction. Both ends of the cam shaft 5 protrude from both sides of the cam 4 in the left-right direction. The pair of cam supports 12 each support both ends of the cam shaft 5 above the base 11. The pair of cam supports 12 are integrally molded with the base 11.

[0017] The cam 4 is roughly rectangular in shape and elongated in the front-to-back direction. The cam shaft 5 is fixed to the center of the cam 4 in the front-to-back direction. In the neutral position, the cam 4 has a shape symmetrical with respect to a plane perpendicular to the front-to-back direction that passes through the cam shaft 5. Stoppers 13, 13 are positioned directly below both ends of the cam 4 in the front-to-back direction. The stoppers 13, 13 protrude upward from the base 11. The stoppers 13 are integrally molded with the base 11. As shown in Figure 3, the stoppers 13 contact the ends of the cam 4 in the front-to-back direction by causing the cam 4 to swing by a predetermined angle, thereby restricting the range of swing of the cam 4.

[0018] (Return mechanism) The left operating device 2A is equipped with a return mechanism for returning the cam 4 to the neutral position. The return mechanism of the left operating device 2A comprises two push rods 31, 31 and two coil springs 32, 32. When one end of the cam 4 is displaced downward by the operator's operation, the coil springs 32 apply an upward biasing force to the cam 4 via the push rods 31 so that the cam 4 returns to the neutral position.

[0019] The base 11 of the casing 3 has two guide holes 3a. The two guide holes 3a extend vertically below the cam 4. The guide holes 3a guide the push rod 31 in the vertical direction. The guide holes 3a are substantially cylindrical spaces whose central axes extend in the vertical direction. The two guide holes 3a are arranged at intervals in the front-rear direction. One guide hole 3a is located in front of the cam shaft 5, and the other guide hole 3a is located behind the cam shaft 5.

[0020] The push rod 31 is slidably disposed in the guide hole 3a. The push rod 31 is displaced downward by being pressed downward by the cam 4. The upper ends of the two push rods 31 respectively abut against the two pressing portions 22, 22 of the cam 4. In the present embodiment, the pressing portion 22 is located between the central portion and the end portion of the cam 4 in the front-rear direction.

[0021] In the present embodiment, a nut 22a is fixed to the lower surface of the main body member 21 of the cam 4, and the pressing portion 22 is constituted by a set screw 22b screwed into the nut 22a. Note that the configuration of the pressing portion 22 is not particularly limited. For example, the pressing portion 22 may be a member fixed to the main body member 21 of the cam 4 with a flat head screw or the like. Further, the pressing portion 22 may not be separate from the main body member 21 of the cam 4, and may be, for example, a part of the main body member 21 of the cam 4.

[0022] The casing 3 has two accommodating chambers 3b respectively connected to the lower ends of the two guide holes 3a. The accommodating chamber 3b is a substantially cylindrical space whose central axis extends in the vertical direction. The substantially cylindrical guide hole 3a and the substantially cylindrical accommodating chamber 3b have coincident central axes. The diameter of the accommodating chamber 3b is larger than the diameter of the guide hole 3a.

[0023] Casing 3 has two spring cases 14 extending downward from the base 11 and a lid 15. The housing chamber 3b is composed of the base 11, the spring cases 14 and the lid 15. The base 11 forms the upper surface of the housing chamber 3b, the spring cases 14 form the cylindrical side surfaces of the housing chamber 3b, and the lid 15 forms the lower surface of the housing chamber 3b.

[0024] The upper ends of the two spring cases 14 are connected to the base 11. The two spring cases 14 are integrally molded with the base 11. Alternatively, instead of the two spring cases 14 being connected to the base 11, a single spring case comprising the two spring cases 14, in other words, having two cylindrical spaces, may be connected to the base 11.

[0025] The cover 15 is connected to the lower end of the spring case 14. The cover 15 is a separate body from the spring case 14. The cover 15 is a flat, plate-like body with a roughly rectangular shape. The cover 15 is fixed to the spring case 14 with fastening members such as bolts.

[0026] A coil spring 32 is placed in each housing chamber 3b. Above the coil spring 32 in each housing chamber 3b, an annular spring support piece 33 is placed. The annular spring support piece 33 is slidable vertically within the housing chamber 3b. The spring support piece 33 is sandwiched vertically between the push rod 31 and the coil spring 32. The lower end of the push rod 31 abuts against the upper surface of the spring support piece 33, and the upper end of the coil spring 32 abuts against the lower surface of the spring support piece 33.

[0027] Since the diameter of the spring retainer piece 33 is larger than the diameter of the guide hole 3a, the sliding range of the spring retainer piece 33 is limited to within the housing chamber 3b by contacting the upper surface of the housing chamber 3b. When the cam 4 is in the neutral position, the spring retainer piece 33 is in contact with the upper surface of the housing chamber 3b. Furthermore, as the cam 4 swings, the push rod 31 and the spring retainer piece 33 are pushed by the cam 4 and can be displaced downward against the biasing force of the coil spring 32.

[0028] An annular spring support piece 34 is positioned below the coil spring 32 in each storage chamber 3b. The lower end of the coil spring 32 is in contact with the upper surface of the spring support piece 34. The spring support piece 34 is pressed against the lower surface of the storage chamber 3b, i.e., the lid 15, by the biasing force of the coil spring 32. For this reason, the spring support piece 34 is fixedly positioned within the storage chamber 3b.

[0029] A damper assembly 40 is positioned below each push rod 31. The damper assembly 40 generates a resistance force when the cam 4 swings toward its return position.

[0030] The damper assembly 40 is positioned on the centerline of the coil spring 32, along the biasing direction of the coil spring 32. At least a portion of the damper assembly 40 is positioned in the housing chamber 3b.

[0031] The damper assembly 40 has external dimensions that allow the coil spring 32 to be inserted radially into it. More specifically, the dimensions of the damper assembly 40 perpendicular to the centerline of the coil spring 32 are smaller than the inner diameter of the coil spring 32. The damper assembly 40 is generally cylindrical. The diameter of the damper assembly 40 is smaller than the inner diameter of the coil spring 32. The damper assembly 40 and the coil spring 32 are arranged coaxially.

[0032] At least a portion of the damper assembly 40 is positioned radially inward of the coil spring 32. At least a portion of the damper assembly 40 overlaps the coil spring 32 when viewed perpendicular to the centerline of the coil spring 32 along the biasing direction, i.e., when viewed perpendicular to the vertical direction.

[0033] The damper assembly 40 comprises a fixed part that is fixedly positioned relative to the casing 3 and a movable part that is displaced together with the push rod 31 relative to the fixed part. The fixed part is a substantially cylindrical cylinder 41. The cylinder 41 is removable from the casing 3. The entire cylinder 41 is positioned in the housing chamber 3b. The diameter of the cylinder 41 is smaller than the inner diameter of the coil spring 32. The lower surface of the cylinder 41 is in contact with the lid 15.

[0034] Figure 2 schematically shows the configuration within the cylinder 41 of one of the two damper assemblies 40, shown on the left side of the page. The movable parts of the damper assembly 40 include a piston 42, a piston rod 43, and a rod head 44. The piston 42, piston rod 43, and rod head 44 are displaced integrally with respect to the cylinder 41.

[0035] The piston 42 is positioned within the cylinder 41 so as to be movable vertically within the cylinder 41. The piston rod 43 is connected to the piston 42 and passes vertically through the upper end of the cylinder 41. A substantially cylindrical rod head 44 is fixed to the end of the piston rod 43 that extends from the cylinder 41. The diameter of the rod head 44 is smaller than the inner diameter of the coil spring 32. The rod head 44 also has an outer dimension that allows it to pass through the guide hole 3a. The diameter of the rod head 44 is smaller than the diameter of the guide hole 3a.

[0036] The upper end of the rod head 44 abuts against the lower end of the push rod 31. Specifically, the lower end of the push rod 31 is a roughly bottomed cylindrical shape that opens downward and includes a circular bottom wall 31a and a cylindrical circumferential wall 31b positioned around the periphery of the bottom wall 31a. The rod head 44 is located radially inward of the circumferential wall 31b. The inner diameter of the circumferential wall 31b and the diameter of the rod head 44 are approximately the same. The upper surface of the rod head 44 abuts against the bottom wall 31a. The lower end of the circumferential wall 31b abuts against the annular spring retaining piece 33.

[0037] In this embodiment, the cylinder 41 is filled with oil, and the inside of the cylinder 41 is divided into an upper first chamber 41a and a lower second chamber 41b by a piston 42. The damper assembly 40 has a passage that allows oil to move between the first chamber 41a and the lower second chamber 41b.

[0038] Specifically, the piston 42 includes a first passage 46a and a second passage 46b that connect the first chamber 41a and the second chamber 41b. A first valve 47a is located in the first passage 46a. The first valve 47a allows fluid to flow from the first chamber 41a to the second chamber 41b through the first passage 46a and prohibits fluid flow from the second chamber 41b to the first chamber 41a through the first passage 46a. A second valve 47b is located in the second passage 46b. The second valve 47b allows fluid to flow from the second chamber 41b to the first chamber 41a through the second passage 46b and prohibits fluid flow from the first chamber 41a to the second chamber 41b through the second passage 46b. For example, the first valve 47a and the second valve 47b are disc-shaped shims located radially outward of the piston rod 43.

[0039] In this embodiment, the damper assembly 40 is configured to generate resistance only when the movable part is pushed downward. In other words, the configurations of the first flow path 46a and the second flow path 46b, and the first valve 47a and the second valve 47b are adjusted so that the fluid flow from the second chamber 41b to the first chamber 41a experiences more resistance than the fluid flow from the first chamber 41a to the second chamber 41b. For example, the cross-sectional area of ​​the second flow path 46b is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the first flow path 46a.

[0040] The damper assembly 40 includes a damper spring 45. The damper spring 45 is positioned between the cylinder 41 and the rod head 44 in the vertical direction and biases the push rod 31 upward. The damper spring 45 maintains contact between the pressing portion 22 of the cam 4 and the upper end of the push rod 31 when the cam 4 swings from its neutral position and the pressing portion 22 is displaced upward.

[0041] More specifically, as shown on the right side of Figure 3, when the cam 4 swings from its neutral position and the pressing portion 22 is displaced upward, the push rod 31 is pushed up so as to move away from the spring receiving piece 33 that is in contact with the upper surface of the housing chamber 3b. In this way, the contact state between the pressing portion 22 of the cam 4 and the upper end of the push rod 31 is maintained, so a resistive force can be applied to the movement of the cam 4 from the fully operated position towards the neutral position. Therefore, when the cam 4 returns to the neutral position, so-called overshoot, where it exceeds the neutral position, can be suppressed.

[0042] The annular spring support piece 34 abuts against the damper assembly 40 in a direction perpendicular to the centerline of the coil spring 32 and functions as a damper support that supports the damper assembly 40 in a direction perpendicular to the centerline of the coil spring 32. That is, the spring support piece 34 restricts the movement of the damper assembly 40 in the housing chamber 3b in a direction perpendicular to the centerline of the coil spring 32. Specifically, the spring support piece 34 includes a disc-shaped bottom wall 34a against which the lower end of the coil spring 32 abuts, a cylindrical outer wall 34b rising upward from the outer edge of the bottom wall 34a, and a cylindrical inner wall 34c rising upward from the inner edge of the bottom wall 34a.

[0043] The diameter of the radially outward-facing outer surface of the outer wall 34b is approximately the same as the diameter of the housing chamber 3b. Therefore, by positioning the spring support piece 34 in the housing chamber 3b, its movement in a direction perpendicular to the centerline of the coil spring 32 relative to the housing chamber 3b is restricted. Furthermore, the diameter of the radially inward-facing inner surface of the inner wall 34c is approximately the same as the diameter of the outer surface of the damper assembly 40, or more specifically, the outer surface of the lower end of the cylinder 41. Therefore, by positioning the damper assembly 40 radially inward of the spring support piece 34, its movement in a direction perpendicular to the centerline of the coil spring 32 relative to the spring support piece 34 is restricted.

[0044] (Grease cup) Figure 4 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the vicinity of the contact portion between the cam 4 and the push rod 31. The electrical operating device 1 includes a grease cup 50. The grease cup 50, together with the upper end of the push rod 31, forms a storage space S for storing grease above the guide hole 3a. The grease cup 50 is integrally molded with the base 11. More specifically, in this embodiment, the grease cup 50 is part of the casing 3, and the grease cup 50, base 11, a pair of cam supports 12, stopper 13, and spring case 14 are integrally molded.

[0045] The grease cup 50 has an annular bottom wall 51 and a cylindrical circumferential wall 52 that rises upward at the outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall 51. The bottom wall 51 faces upward below the cam 4 and is opposite to the cam 4 in the vertical direction. The inner peripheral edge of the bottom wall 51 is connected to the upper end of the guide hole 3a, and the guide hole 3a extends downward from the inner peripheral edge of the bottom wall 51. The inner peripheral edge of the bottom wall 51 defines the bottom wall 51 and the cylindrical surface that constitutes the guide hole 3a.

[0046] The contact portion between the pressing portion 22 of the cam 4 and the push rod 31 is positioned so as to be submerged in the grease in the grease cup 50. Specifically, the grease cup 50 is configured such that the pressing portion 22 is positioned below the upper end 52a of the peripheral wall 52 when the cam 4 is within at least a portion of its swing range. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, when the cam 4 is in the neutral position, the height of the contact portion between the pressing portion 22 of the cam 4 and the push rod 31 coincides with the height of the upper end 52a of the peripheral wall 52 of the grease cup 50. Therefore, when the cam 4 swings from the neutral position, one of the two pressing portions 22 is displaced below the upper end 52a of the peripheral wall 52 of the grease cup 50.

[0047] In this embodiment, when the stopper 13 is in contact with the cam 4, the height of the upper end of the push rod 31 is approximately the same as the height of the bottom wall 51. That is, when the cam 4 is in the neutral position, the storage space S is annular in shape because the upper end of the push rod 31 protrudes upward from the guide hole 3a, and when the upper end of the push rod 31 moves below the upper end 52a of the peripheral wall 52, at least a part of the storage space S becomes cylindrical.

[0048] Furthermore, when the cam 4 is in the neutral position, the height of the contact portion between the pressing portion 22 of the cam 4 and the push rod 31 does not have to be the same as the height of the upper end 52a of the peripheral wall 52 of the grease cup 50. For example, when the cam 4 is in the neutral position, the height of the contact portion between the pressing portion 22 of the cam 4 and the push rod 31 may be lower or higher than the height of the upper end 52a of the peripheral wall 52 of the grease cup 50. When the oscillation angle of the cam 4 from the neutral position is at its maximum, in other words, when the cam 4 is in contact with the stopper 13, the pressing portion 22 may be positioned below the upper end 52a of the peripheral wall 52. When the stopper 13 is in contact with the cam 4, the height of the upper end of the push rod 31 may be below the bottom wall 51, or it may be above the bottom wall 51.

[0049] The base 11 has a recessed portion 11b that is lowered between the two grease cups 50 in the front-rear direction. As a result, the portion of the upper surface of the base 11 that overlaps with the camshaft 5 in a top view is recessed lower than the upper end 52a of the peripheral wall 52. In this embodiment, the central portion of the cam 4 is recessed into the space surrounded by the recessed portion 11b. Although not particularly limited, the lower end of the cam 4 in the neutral position is located lower than the upper end 52a of the peripheral wall 52.

[0050] (Effects and Benefits) As described above, in this embodiment, a grease cup 50 is provided that, together with the upper end of the push rod 31, constitutes a storage space S for storing grease, thus allowing grease to be held around the upper end of the push rod 31. Furthermore, since the grease cup 50 is integrally molded with the base 11, the number of parts required to hold the grease can be reduced.

[0051] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the grease cup 50 is configured such that the pressing portion 22 is located below the upper end 52a of the peripheral wall 52 when the cam 4 is within at least a portion of its swing range. Therefore, the grease stored in the grease cup 50 can not only suppress wear at the sliding surface between the upper end of the push rod 31 and the base 11, but also suppress wear at the sliding surface between the upper end of the push rod 31 and the pressing portion 22 of the cam 4.

[0052] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the camshaft 5 can be positioned as low as possible while avoiding interference between the portion of the cam 4 near the camshaft 5 and the base 11. Therefore, it is easier to realize a configuration that reduces wear on the contact portion by bringing the height of the contact portion between the upper end of the push rod 31 and the pressing portion 22 of the cam 4 closer to the height of the rotation center of the cam 4.

[0053] <Other Embodiments> Although embodiments have been described above, the above configurations can be modified, deleted, and added within the scope of the spirit of the present invention.

[0054] For example, in the above embodiment, an example was described in which the electric operating device is used as a travel pedal device for construction machinery, but the electric operating device may be applied to pedals other than the travel pedal. The electric operating device may also be an electric lever device operated by the operator by hand, in which case the lever may be attached to the cam in place of or in addition to the pedal.

[0055] Electrical control devices can be suitably used in hydraulic circuits for driving construction machinery such as hydraulic excavators, hydraulic cranes, and wheel loaders. However, electric control devices can also be applied to vehicles and machinery other than construction machinery.

[0056] In the above embodiment, the electrical operating device included a left operating device and a right operating device, but the electrical operating device may also be configured to include only one of the left operating device and the right operating device.

[0057] In the above embodiment, the electric operating device had a structure that was substantially symmetrical with respect to a plane perpendicular to the front-rear direction passing through the cam shaft. However, the electric operating device may have a structure that is asymmetrical with respect to a plane perpendicular to the front-rear direction passing through the cam shaft. For example, in the above embodiment, the electric operating device comprised a pair of push rods 31, 31, a pair of coil springs 32, 32, and a pair of damper assemblies 40. However, the electric operating device may have the push rods, coil springs, and damper assemblies positioned only on either the front or rear side of the cam shaft. In this case, the electric operating device is configured such that the cam, which swings integrally with the operating tool, is operated only in a direction against the biasing force of the coil springs from the unoperated position.

[0058] The position of the potentiometer 6, which detects the oscillation angle of the cam 4, can be changed as appropriate. The electrical operating device only needs to output an electrical signal corresponding to the operation of the operating tool. Instead of a potentiometer, the electrical operating device may include another type of electronic device that detects the presence or absence of cam oscillation, the direction of cam oscillation, or the cam oscillation angle. For example, instead of a potentiometer, or in addition to a potentiometer, the electrical operating device may include a switch that detects oscillation of the cam from the unoperated position.

[0059] The structure and mechanism of the damper assembly described in the above embodiment are merely examples. The damper assembly does not have to be substantially cylindrical as a whole. Also, the diameter of the damper assembly may be greater than or equal to the inner diameter of the coil spring. At least a portion of the damper assembly does not have to overlap with the coil spring when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the centerline of the coil spring. The damper assembly and the coil spring may be arranged in separate housing chambers partitioned in the vertical direction. The fluid inside the cylinder does not have to be oil; it may be gas or the like.

[0060] The damper assembly was configured to generate resistance only when the movable part was pushed downward, but it may also be configured to generate resistance when the movable part is pushed upward. Furthermore, for example, the passage that allows oil to move between the first and second chambers may be located in the cylinder rather than the piston.

[0061] Instead of housing the damper assembly in a casing, the casing itself may have a damper chamber that serves the same purpose as a cylinder removable from the casing. In this case, the damper chamber may be filled with oil and divided by a piston 42 into an upper first chamber 41a and a lower second chamber 41b.

[0062] The casing configuration is not limited to those described in the above embodiments. For example, the base does not have bolt holes. In the above embodiments, the base 11, the pair of cam supports 12, the stopper 13, the spring case 14, and the grease cup 50 in the casing 3 were integrally molded, but the casing configuration is not limited to this. One or more elements of the base, the pair of cam supports, the stopper, the spring case, and the grease cup may be separate from the other elements. For example, one or both of the pair of cam supports and the stopper may be separate from the base. For example, the base and the spring case may be separate. Also, the cover may be integrally molded with the spring case, etc.

[0063] In the above embodiment, the portion of the upper surface of the base 11 that overlaps with the camshaft 5 in a top view was recessed downward compared to the upper end 52a of the peripheral wall 52, but the shape of the base is not limited to this.

[0064] The shape of the grease cup is not limited to those described in the above embodiments. The grease cup only needs to be concave when viewed from the side so that grease can be stored. For example, the outer edge of the bottom wall of the grease cup does not have to be circular, but may be square, for example. The peripheral wall of the grease cup does not have to be cylindrical, but may be an inverted frustum shape in which the cross section perpendicular to the vertical direction becomes smaller towards the bottom. The grease cup does not have a bottom wall perpendicular to the vertical direction, and the entire grease cup may be an inverted frustum shape in which the cross section perpendicular to the vertical direction becomes smaller towards the bottom.

[0065] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the contact portion between the pressing portion 22 of the cam 4 and the push rod 31 was positioned so as to be submerged in the grease in the grease cup 50. However, the contact portion between the pressing portion of the cam 4 and the push rod does not necessarily have to be positioned so as to be submerged in the grease in the grease cup. Even in this case, wear at the sliding portion between the upper end of the push rod and the base can be suppressed.

[0066] [Disclosure method] Each of the following embodiments is a disclosure of a preferred embodiment.

[0067] [Aspect 1] An electrical operating device that outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the operation of an operating tool, A camshaft extending horizontally, A cam having a pressing portion, to which the operating tool is attached, and which is pivotable around the cam shaft, A push rod located below the pressing portion, the upper end of which is displaced downward when pressed downward by the pressing portion, A base extending vertically below the pressing portion and having a guide hole for guiding the push rod vertically, A grease cup is provided above the guide hole, which together with the upper end of the push rod forms a storage space for storing grease. An electrically operated device in which the grease cup is integrally molded with the base.

[0068] According to the above configuration, a grease cup is provided that forms a storage space for grease together with the upper end of the push rod, thus allowing grease to be retained around the upper end of the push rod. Furthermore, since the grease cup is integrally molded with the base, the number of parts required to hold the grease can be reduced.

[0069] [Aspect 2] The grease cup is, Below the cam, facing the cam in the vertical direction, is an annular bottom wall whose inner periphery connects to the upper end of the guide hole, An electrical operating device according to embodiment 1, further comprising a peripheral wall rising upward at the outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall.

[0070] [Aspect 3] The cam is configured to swing within a predetermined range of motion. The electrical operating device according to embodiment 2, wherein the grease cup is configured such that the pressing portion is located below the upper end of the peripheral wall when the cam is in at least a portion of the range of oscillation.

[0071] With the above configuration, the grease stored in the grease cup can not only suppress wear at the sliding surface between the upper end of the push rod and the base, but also suppress wear at the sliding surface between the upper end of the push rod and the pressing part of the cam.

[0072] [Aspect 4] An electrical operating device according to any one of embodiments 1 to 3, wherein the portion of the upper surface of the base that overlaps with the cam shaft in a top view is recessed downward compared to the upper end of the peripheral wall.

[0073] With the above configuration, interference between the cam portion near the cam shaft and the base can be avoided, and the cam shaft can be positioned as low as possible. Therefore, it is easier to realize a configuration that reduces wear on the contact portion by bringing the height of the contact portion between the upper end of the push rod and the pressing portion of the cam closer to the height of the cam's center of rotation.

[0074] [Aspect 5] An electrical operating device according to any one of embodiments 1 to 4, comprising a second push rod positioned on the opposite side of the cam shaft from the side on which the first push rod, which is the push rod, is located, in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the cam shaft. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0075] 1: Electrical control device 3: Casing 3a: Guide hole 3b: Containment room 4: Cam 5: Camshaft 6: Potentiometer 11: Bass 15: Lid 22: Pressing part 31: Pushrod 32: Coil spring 33: Spring retainer 34: Spring retainer 40: Damper Assembly 41: Cylinder 42: Piston 43: Piston rod 44: Rod head 45: Damper spring 50: Grease Cup 51: Bottom wall 52: Peripheral wall

Claims

1. An electrical operating device that outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the operation of an operating tool, A camshaft extending horizontally, A cam having a pressing portion, to which the operating tool is attached, and which is pivotable around the cam shaft, A push rod located below the pressing portion, the upper end of which is displaced downward when pressed downward by the pressing portion, A base extending vertically below the pressing portion and having a guide hole for guiding the push rod vertically, A grease cup is provided above the guide hole, which together with the upper end of the push rod forms a storage space for storing grease. An electrically operated device in which the grease cup is integrally molded with the base.

2. The grease cup is, Below the cam, facing the cam in the vertical direction, is an annular bottom wall whose inner periphery connects to the upper end of the guide hole, The electrical operating device according to claim 1, further comprising a peripheral wall rising upward at the outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall.

3. The cam is configured to swing within a predetermined range of motion. The electrical operating device according to claim 2, wherein the grease cup is configured such that the pressing portion is located below the upper end of the peripheral wall when the cam is in at least a portion of the range of oscillation.

4. The electrical operating device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the portion of the upper surface of the base that overlaps with the cam shaft in a top view is recessed downward compared to the upper end of the peripheral wall.

5. The electrical operating device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a second push rod positioned on the opposite side of the cam shaft from the side on which the first push rod, which is the push rod, is located, in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the cam shaft.

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