Shift device

Abstract

To reduce quick stop sound of a shift body and reduce the number of components.SOLUTION: In a shift device 10, a lever 16 is rotatably supported by a support cylinder 18. The support cylinder 18 is softer than the lever 16 and the support cylinder 18 is supported in a rotation radial direction of a lever 16 and a rotation axial direction of the lever 16. Thus, quick stop sound of the lever 16 can be reduced. Further, the support cylinder 18 is integrally formed with the lever 16. Thus, the number of components can be reduced.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a shift device in which a shift body is rotatably supported at a supported portion.

Background Art

[0002] In the shift lever device described in the following Patent Document 1, a bearing bush is assembled to a support portion of a base, and the shift lever is rotatably supported on the support shaft by the support portion of the base and the bearing bush.

[0003] Here, in this shift lever device, the support shaft is supported by the bearing bush in the rotation radial direction of the shift lever, while the portion of the shift lever around the support shaft is supported by the support portion of the base in the rotation axial direction of the shift lever. Further, a bearing bush is interposed between the shift lever and the support portion of the base.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] An object of the present invention, in consideration of the above facts, is to provide a shift device that can reduce sudden stop noise of the shift body and reduce the number of components.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0006] A shift device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes: a shift body that is rotated to change a shift position; and a supported portion that is integrally molded with the shift body, is softer than the shift body, is supported in the rotation radial direction of the shift body and the rotation axial direction of the shift body, and rotatably supports the shift body.

[0007] A second aspect of the present invention is a shift device in the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the supported portion is supported in the radial direction of the rotation of the shift body in a portion of the rotation axis direction of the shift body.

[0008] A third aspect of the present invention is a shift device in the second aspect of the present invention, wherein the supported portion is supported in the radial direction of rotation of the shift body at both ends in the axis direction of rotation of the shift body.

[0009] A shift device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is a shift device according to any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, wherein the supported portion is supported in the radial direction of rotation of the shift body in a portion of the circumferential direction of rotation of the shift body.

[0010] A fifth aspect of the present invention is a shift device in which, in any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the supported portion is provided continuously between both ends of the shift body in the rotation axis direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] In the shift device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the shift body is rotated to change the shift position. The shift body is rotatably supported at the supported portion.

[0012] Here, the supported portion is made softer than the shift body, and the supported portion is supported in the radial direction of the shift body's rotation and in the axial direction of the shift body's rotation. As a result, the impact on the shift body when it is suddenly stopped can be appropriately absorbed by the supported portion, and the sudden stopping noise of the shift body can be reduced.

[0013] Furthermore, the supported portion is integrally molded with the shift body. This reduces the number of parts.

[0014] In the shift device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the supported portion is supported in the radial direction of the shift body rotation in a portion of the direction of the shift body rotation axis. Therefore, unlike when the dimensional accuracy of the supported portion is high throughout the entire direction of the shift body rotation axis, the dimensional accuracy of the supported portion can be easily increased in a portion of the direction of the shift body rotation axis, and the support accuracy of the shift body can be increased.

[0015] In the shift device according to the third aspect of the present invention, the supported portion is supported in the radial direction of the shift body rotation at both ends in the direction of the shift body rotation axis. Therefore, the dimensional accuracy of the supported portion can be easily increased at both ends in the direction of the shift body rotation axis, and the support accuracy of the shift body can be effectively increased.

[0016] In the shift device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the supported portion is supported in the radial direction of the shift body rotation in a portion of the circumferential direction of the shift body rotation. Therefore, unlike the case where the dimensional accuracy of the supported portion is high throughout the circumferential direction of the shift body rotation, the dimensional accuracy of the supported portion can be easily increased in a portion of the circumferential direction of the shift body rotation, and the support accuracy of the shift body can be increased.

[0017] In the shift device according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the supported portion is provided continuously between both ends of the shift body in the direction of the rotation axis. Therefore, the supported portion can be easily integrally molded with the shift body. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0018] [Figure 1] (A) is a perspective view taken from the right rear, showing a shift device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view from the right rear, showing the inside of a shift device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] Figures (A) and (B) show a shift device according to an embodiment of the present invention, where (A) is a side view seen from the right, and (B) is a cross-sectional view seen from the rear (cross-sectional view along line 3B-3B of (A)). [Figure 4](A) and (B) are diagrams showing a lever of a shift device according to an embodiment of the present invention, where (A) is a perspective view seen from diagonally rear right, and (B) is a perspective view seen from diagonally front left. [Figure 5] (A) is a perspective view seen from diagonally front right showing a lever of a shift device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and (B) is a perspective view seen from diagonally front right showing a portion of the lever excluding a support cylinder. MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0019] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a shift device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention seen from diagonally rear right, and FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the inside of the shift device 10 seen from diagonally rear right. Furthermore, FIG. 3(A) shows a side view of the shift device 10 seen from the right side. In the drawings, the front of the shift device 10 is indicated by arrow FR, the left of the shift device 10 is indicated by arrow LH, and the upper side of the shift device 10 is indicated by arrow UP.

[0020] The shift device 10 according to the present embodiment is installed on a console (not shown) of a vehicle (automobile), and the front, right, and upper sides of the shift device 10 are respectively oriented toward the front, right, and upper sides of the vehicle.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3(A), the shift device 10 is provided with a substantially rectangular box-shaped plate 12 serving as a support, and the plate 12 is fixed inside the console. The plate 12 is configured by assembling a left plate 12A on the left side and a right plate 12B on the right side in the left-right direction, and the material of the plate 12 is glass fiber reinforced nylon (PA-GF resin).

[0022] Within the plate 12, a roughly cylindrical central shaft 14 (see Figure 3(B)) is provided in the vertically intermediate rear portion, serving as a diameter support. The central shaft 14 is integrally formed with the left wall of the plate 12 (left plate 12A) and protrudes to the right. The left end of the central shaft 14 is designated as the left shaft portion 14A, and the area between the left shaft portion 14A and the right end of the central shaft 14 is designated as the right shaft portion 14B. The outer diameter of the left shaft portion 14A is larger than that of the right shaft portion 14B. The outer diameter of the right end of the central shaft 14 is smaller than that of the right shaft portion 14B. The left wall of the plate 12 serves as a support wall 12C around the central shaft 14, and the right surface (inner surface) of the support wall 12C is flat.

[0023] On the left side (inner surface) of the right wall of plate 12 (right plate 12B), a cylindrical support hole 12D (see Figure 3(B)) is formed in the middle of the vertical direction at the rear, and the support hole 12D is open to the left. The right end of the central shaft 14 is fitted into the support hole 12D, and the circumferential surface and right side (bottom surface) of the support hole 12D support the right end of the central shaft 14. On the left side of the right wall of plate 12, an annular support rib 12E is integrally formed around the support hole 12D, and the support rib 12E is arranged coaxially with the support hole 12D and protrudes to the left. The support rib 12E has a semicircular cross-section, and the left side surface of the support rib 12E is curved convexly to the left in the radial direction of the support rib 12E.

[0024] A roughly rectangular columnar lever 16 (see Figure 4(A)) is housed in the rear of the plate 12, and the lever 16 is elongated in the vertical direction. A roughly regular octagonal columnar through-hole 16A (see Figure 5(B)) is formed in the middle of the lever 16 in the vertical direction, and the through-hole 16A penetrates the lever 16 in the horizontal direction.

[0025] A roughly octagonal cylindrical support tube 18 (see Figures 3(B), 4(B), and 5(A)) is integrally molded around the through hole 16A of the lever 16 by insert molding. The material of the lever 16 is glass fiber reinforced nylon (PA-GF resin), and the material of the support tube 18 is polyoxymethylene (POM resin), and the support tube 18 is made softer than the lever 16 and plate 12.

[0026] The support cylinder 18 is provided with a regular octagonal cylindrical portion 20 as a diameter-supported portion. The cylindrical portion 20 covers the entire inner circumferential surface of the through hole 16A and protrudes to the left and right sides of the lever 16. The left and right ends of the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 20 are the left circumferential surface 20A and the right circumferential surface 20B, respectively. The diameter of the left circumferential surface 20A is larger than the diameter of the right circumferential surface 20B. The portion of the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 20 between the left circumferential surface 20A and the right circumferential surface 20B is the middle circumferential surface 20C. The diameter of the middle circumferential surface 20C is smaller than the diameter of the left circumferential surface 20A and larger than the diameter of the right circumferential surface 20B.

[0027] The central shaft 14 of the plate 12 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 20. The left and right circumferential surfaces 20A and 20B respectively have their left and right shaft portions 14A and 14B of the central shaft 14 inscribed within them, and the left and right shaft portions 14A and 14B are in contact with the center of the support cylinder 18 on each side of the left and right circumferential surfaces 20A and 20B, respectively. The central shaft 14 is not in contact with the middle circumferential surface 20C. Therefore, the left and right circumferential surfaces 20A and 20B are supported by the left and right shaft portions 14A and 14B respectively in the radial rotation direction of the lever 16, and the lever 16 is supported on the left and right circumferential surfaces 20A and 20B by the central shaft 14 so that it can rotate in the front-rear direction.

[0028] At the left and right ends of the support cylinder 18, ring-shaped left plate portion 22 and right plate portion 24 are provided coaxially, respectively, as axially supported portions. The left plate portion 22 and right plate portion 24 cover the area around the through hole 16A on the left and right sides of the lever 16, respectively. The inner circumferential surfaces of the left plate portion 22 and right plate portion 24 constitute the left circumferential surface 20A and the right circumferential surface 20B, respectively, and the outer circumferential surfaces of the left plate portion 22 and right plate portion 24 are circular surfaces. The left plate portion 22 and right plate portion 24 are in contact with the support wall 12C on the left wall of the plate 12 and the support rib 12E on the right wall of the plate 12, respectively, and the left plate portion 22 and right plate portion 24 are supported by the support wall 12C and the support rib 12E in the rotation axis direction (left-right direction) of the lever 16.

[0029] Lever 16 is rotatably inserted through the upper wall of plate 12 and the console within a predetermined range, and the upper part of lever 16 protrudes into the passenger compartment. The upper part of lever 16 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped knob 16B which serves as a gripping part, and lever 16 can be rotated by the vehicle occupant (especially the driver) by gripping the knob 16B. Lever 16 is positioned in the H position (home position) as a shift position, and when lever 16 is operated forward from the H position, lever 16 is positioned in the R position (reverse position) as a shift position, and when lever 16 is operated backward from the H position, lever 16 is positioned in the D position (drive position) as a shift position.

[0030] A roughly cylindrical biasing hole 16C (see Figure 4(A)) is formed at the lower part of the lever 16, and the biasing hole 16C is open diagonally downward and forward. A roughly cylindrical biasing pin 28 (nodal pin), which is a biasing member constituting the biasing mechanism 26 (nodal mechanism), is coaxially fitted into the biasing hole 16C, and the biasing pin 28 is biased downward, with its tip surface (lower side surface) protruding in a spherical shape.

[0031] At the lower rear end of the plate 12, a biasing surface 30 (nodal surface, see Figure 3(B)) with a roughly L-shaped cross-section, which constitutes the biasing mechanism 26, is provided. The front part of the biasing surface 30 is inclined upward as it moves forward, and the rear part of the biasing surface 30 is inclined upward as it moves backward. The middle part of the biasing surface 30 (the part between the front and rear parts) is concave in the front-rear direction, and the tip surface of the biasing pin 28 contacts the middle part of the biasing surface 30 by the biasing force, biasing (holding) the lever 16 to the H position. When the lever 16 is operated from the H position, the tip surface of the biasing pin 28 moves from the middle part of the biasing surface 30 to the front or rear part against the biasing force. When the lever 16 is operated from the H position and the operating force applied to the lever 16 is released, the tip surface of the biasing pin 28 is moved by the biasing force from the front or rear part of the biasing surface 30 to the middle part, causing the lever 16 to rotate (return) to the H position.

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

[0033] In the shift device 10 with the above configuration, the lever 16 is rotatably supported in the support cylinder 18.

[0034] Incidentally, when the lever 16 is operated from position H and the operating force on the lever 16 is released, the movement of the biasing pin 28 from the front or rear part of the biasing surface 30 of the plate 12 is stopped by the middle part of the biasing surface 30, causing the rotation of the lever 16 to abruptly stop at position H.

[0035] Here, the support cylinder 18 is made softer than the lever 16, and not only is the cylindrical portion 20 of the support cylinder 18 supported in the radial rotation direction of the lever 16 by the central axis 14 of the plate 12, but the left plate portion 22 and the right plate portion 24 of the support cylinder 18 are supported in the rotation axis direction (left-right direction) of the lever 16 by the support wall 12C and support rib 12E of the plate 12, respectively. As a result, the impact on the lever 16 when the rotation of the lever 16 is abruptly stopped at position H can be appropriately absorbed by the support cylinder 18 (cylindrical portion 20, left plate portion 22 and right plate portion 24), reducing the abrupt stopping noise of the lever 16 and reducing wear on the lever 16 (including the support cylinder 18).

[0036] Furthermore, the support cylinder 18 is integrally molded with the lever 16. Therefore, since no separate parts are interposed between the lever 16 and the plate 12, the number of parts can be reduced.

[0037] Furthermore, the support cylinder 18 is supported by the central axis 14 in the radial direction of the lever 16's rotation at a portion of the lever 16's rotation axis (the left circumferential surface 20A and the right circumferential surface 20B of the cylinder portion 20), while the middle circumferential surface 20C of the cylinder portion 20 is not supported by the central axis 14 in the radial direction of the lever 16's rotation. Therefore, unlike the case where the dimensional accuracy of the inner circumferential surface of the support cylinder 18 is high throughout the entire rotation axis of the lever 16, the dimensional accuracy of the inner circumferential surface of the support cylinder 18 can be easily increased in a portion of the lever 16's rotation axis (the left circumferential surface 20A and the right circumferential surface 20B), thereby increasing the support accuracy in the radial direction of the lever 16's rotation.

[0038] Furthermore, the support cylinder 18 is supported by the central axis 14 in the radial direction of the lever 16's rotation at both ends (left circumferential surface 20A and right circumferential surface 20B) in the rotation axis direction of the lever 16. Therefore, the dimensional accuracy of the inner circumferential surface of the support cylinder 18 can be easily increased at both ends (left circumferential surface 20A and right circumferential surface 20B) in the rotation axis direction of the lever 16, and the support accuracy in the radial direction of the lever 16's rotation can be effectively increased.

[0039] Furthermore, the central axis 14 is inscribed within the inner circumferential surfaces (left circumferential surface 20A and right circumferential surface 20B) of the support cylinder 18, and the support cylinder 18 is supported by the central axis 14 in the radial direction of the lever 16's rotation in a portion of the circumferential direction of the lever 16's rotation. Therefore, unlike the case where the dimensional accuracy of the support cylinder 18 is high throughout the entire circumferential direction of the lever 16's rotation, the dimensional accuracy of the support cylinder 18 can be easily increased in a portion of the circumferential direction of the lever 16's rotation, thereby increasing the support accuracy in the radial direction of the lever 16's rotation.

[0040] Furthermore, the support cylinder 18 is continuously provided between both ends of the lever 16 in the direction of its rotation axis. Therefore, unlike the case where the support cylinder 18 is divided into left and right sides of the lever 16, the support cylinder 18 can be easily integrally molded onto the lever 16 by insert molding.

[0041] In this embodiment, the plate 12 is provided with a central axis 14, and the support cylinder 18 (supported portion) of the lever 16 is supported by the central axis 14. However, the lever 16 may be provided with a central axis 14, and the central axis 14 may be supported by the plate 12. In this case, the supported portion of the lever 16 is provided around the central axis 14.

[0042] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the lever 16 is biased to the H position. However, the lever 16 may be biased to multiple shift positions.

[0043] In this embodiment, the shift device 10 is installed on the vehicle's console. However, the shift device 10 may also be installed on other parts of the vehicle (such as the instrument panel or steering column). [Explanation of Symbols]

[0044] 10...Shift mechanism, 16...Lever (shift body), 18...Support cylinder (supported part)

Claims

1. A shift mechanism that rotates to change the shift position, A supported portion is integrally molded with the shift body, is made of a softer material than the shift body, and is supported in the radial rotation direction and the axial rotation direction of the shift body, thereby supporting the shift body so that it can rotate. Equipped with, The supported portion is a support cylinder, and the diameter of the intermediate portion in the direction of the shift body rotation axis and the diameter of the end portion in the direction of the shift body rotation axis are different on the inner circumferential surface of the support cylinder. Shift mechanism.

2. The shift device according to claim 1, wherein the supported portion is supported in the radial direction of the shift body rotation in a portion of the direction of the rotation axis of the shift body.

3. The shift device according to claim 2, wherein the supported portion is supported in the radial direction of rotation of the shift body at both ends in the axis direction of rotation of the shift body.

4. The shift device according to claim 1, wherein the supported portion is supported in the radial direction of rotation of the shift body by a portion of the circumferential direction of rotation of the shift body.

5. The shift device according to claim 1, wherein the supported portion is provided continuously between both ends of the shift body in the rotation axis direction.

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