Control cable

Abstract

Invention details;

Description

Control Cable

[0001] The present invention relates to a control cable for transmitting an operating force.

[0002] For example, a door of a vehicle such as an automobile is provided with a latch device including a latch mechanism for fastening the door to the vehicle body and a lock mechanism for locking the operation of the latch mechanism. In this case, a latch operation unit and a lock operation unit that can be operated by an occupant are provided on the passenger compartment side of the vehicle door. The occupant can open the door by operating the latch operation unit connected to the latch mechanism by a latch cable. The occupant can also switch the operation of the latch mechanism between a locked state and an unlocked state by operating the lock operation unit connected to the lock mechanism by a lock cable.

[0003] In this way, when two operating parts, a latch operating part and a lock operating part, that can be operated by the occupant are provided, two cables, a latch cable and a lock cable, are required to transmit the operating force. As a result, there is a problem in that securing space inside the door to route the two cables imposes restrictions on the internal structure and design of the door.

[0004] Patent Document 1 (JP 7-269203 A) describes a control cable in which an inner cable is provided inside an outer tube. In this control cable, the inner cable is axially movable and connects an open lever operated by an occupant to a latch mechanism, thereby transmitting the operating force for the occupant to open the door. The outer tube is rotatable around the inner cable and connects a door lock knob to the lock mechanism, thereby transmitting the operating force for the occupant to lock and unlock the door. As such, the control cable described in Patent Document 1 has the advantage that the latch and lock cables are composed of a single member, thereby reducing restrictions on the internal structure and design of the door.

[0005] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 7-269203

[0006] The control cable described in Patent Document 1 is configured to transmit the rotation of the outer tube to the locking mechanism. To facilitate the routing of the control cable, the outer tube needs to be flexible. However, if the outer tube of the control cable described in Patent Document 1 is made flexible, the rotation is less likely to be transmitted to the locking mechanism. Furthermore, if the outer tube is in contact with another component, the rotation is less likely to be transmitted to the locking mechanism. This means that the occupant's operating force may not be transmitted properly.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a control cable that can appropriately transmit operating forces while reducing the installation space.

[0008] The characteristic configuration of the control cable of the present invention for achieving the above-mentioned object is that it comprises a tubular outer casing, a cylindrical body covered by the outer casing and transmitting an operating force, and an inner cable arranged in the inner space of the cylindrical body, and the cylindrical body and the inner cable are each capable of sliding independently in the axial direction.

[0009] According to the above characteristic configuration, the control cable is constructed as a single component with an inner cable inserted into the space inside the cylindrical body, which has the advantage of requiring a small installation space. Furthermore, since the control cable has a coaxial structure with the inner cable inserted into the space inside the cylindrical body, rather than a structure such as two cables bundled in parallel, the control cable can be easily bent in any direction. As a result, the control cable can be installed in a bent state, for example, in a narrow space. Furthermore, since the inner cable and the cylindrical body are covered by a tubular outer casing, even if the outer casing is made flexible, the transmission of operating force is not impeded. Furthermore, even if the outer casing comes into contact with other components, the axial sliding of the inner cable and the cylindrical body is not hindered. As a result, the control cable can appropriately transmit operating force applied to the inner cable and the cylindrical body. Therefore, a control cable that can appropriately transmit operating force while requiring a small installation space can be provided.

[0010] Another characteristic feature of the control cable according to the present invention is that the cylindrical body is formed of a spring cable in which a wire is wound in a spiral shape with a space left inside.

[0011] According to the above characteristic configuration, the cylindrical body can be configured with a simple structure.

[0012] Another characteristic feature of the control cable according to the present invention is that the inner cable is made of a single metal wire.

[0013] According to the above-described characteristic configuration, the inner cable is made of a single metal wire, which increases the rigidity of the inner cable, thereby enabling the operation applied to the inner cable to be transmitted more reliably.

[0014] Another characteristic feature of the control cable according to the present invention is that the inner cable is made of a stranded wire having a plurality of metal wires.

[0015] According to the above-described characteristic configuration, the inner cable is made of a stranded wire having a plurality of metal wires, so that the inner cable is less likely to break even when it is bent, for example.

[0016] Another characteristic feature of the control cable of the present invention is that one end of the tubular body is connected to a latch mechanism for fastening the vehicle door to the vehicle body, and the other end of the tubular body is connected to a first operating part that can be operated by an operator, and one end of the inner cable is connected to a locking mechanism for locking the operation of the latch mechanism, and the other end of the inner cable is connected to a second operating part that can be operated by the operator.

[0017] According to the above-described characteristic configuration, an operator can open the vehicle door by, for example, pushing the cylindrical body with the first operating unit, and can switch the operation of the latch mechanism between a locked state and an unlocked state by, for example, pushing and pulling the inner cable with the second operating unit.

[0018] It is a diagram showing a state in which a control cable is provided in a vehicle door. It is a diagram showing the structure of the control cable. It is a diagram showing a specific example of a cable operating device. It is a diagram showing a specific example of a cable operating device. It is a diagram showing components of the cable operating device.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a control cable 1 is provided on a vehicle door 25. As illustrated, the vehicle door 25 is provided with a latch device 30 including a latch mechanism 31 for fastening the vehicle door 25 to a vehicle body (not shown) and a lock mechanism 32 for locking the operation of the latch mechanism 31. In this case, a cable operating device D that can be operated by an operator such as a passenger is provided on the passenger compartment side of the vehicle door 25. Because the latch device 30 and the cable operating device D are connected by a control cable 1, an operation performed by the operator on the cable operating device D is transmitted to the latch device 30 via the control cable 1. For example, the operator can operate the latch mechanism 31 to open the vehicle door 25. In addition, the operator can operate the lock mechanism 32 by operating the cable operating device D to switch the operation of the latch mechanism 31 between a locked state and an unlocked state.

[0020] 2 is a diagram showing the structure of the control cable 1. As shown in the figure, the control cable 1 includes a tubular outer casing 1a, a spring cable 1b as an example of a cylindrical body that is covered by the outer casing 1a and transmits an operating force, and an inner cable 1c that is disposed in the inner space of the spring cable 1b. In other words, the inner cable 1c is surrounded by the spring cable 1b. The spring cable 1b and the inner cable 1c are each capable of sliding independently in the axial direction.

[0021] The inner cable 1c of this embodiment is made of a single metal wire and is used as a push-pull cable that transmits push-pull operating forces. By making the inner cable 1c out of a single metal wire, the rigidity of the inner cable 1c can be increased. As a result, operations applied to the inner cable 1c can be transmitted more reliably. Note that the inner cable 1c may also be made of a stranded wire having multiple metal wires. By making the inner cable 1c out of a stranded wire having multiple metal wires, it becomes less likely to break, even when bent, for example.

[0022] In this embodiment, the cylindrical body surrounding the inner cable 1c is made of a spring cable 1b, which is made of wires wound helically with a space left inside. The wires that make up the spring cable 1b are filaments made of metal or resin, and are formed by winding the wires helically. The spring cable 1b is used as a push cable that transmits a pushing force.

[0023] As described above, the control cable 1 is configured as a single member with the inner cable 1c inserted into the internal space of the spring cable 1b, which has the advantage of requiring a small installation space. Furthermore, since the control cable 1 does not have a structure like two cables bundled in parallel, but has a coaxial structure with the inner cable 1c inserted into the internal space of the spring cable 1b, it can be easily bent in any direction. As a result, the control cable 1 can be installed in a bent state, for example, in a narrow space.

[0024] Furthermore, because the inner cable 1c and the spring cable 1b are covered by the tubular outer casing 1a, the axial sliding of the inner cable 1c and the spring cable 1b is not hindered even if the outer casing 1a comes into contact with other components. As a result, the control cable 1 can appropriately transmit the operating force applied to the inner cable 1c and the spring cable 1b.

[0025] For example, as will be described later, one end of the spring cable 1b is connected to the latch mechanism 31, and the other end of the spring cable 1b is connected to the movable member 5 having a first operating portion (front member 6) that can be operated by an operator. Then, the operator can operate the spring cable 1b with the movable member 5 to open the vehicle door 25.

[0026] One end of the inner cable 1c is connected to a locking mechanism 32 for locking the operation of the latch mechanism 31, and the other end of the inner cable 1c is connected to a second operating unit 20 that can be operated by an operator. Then, by operating the inner cable 1c using the second operating unit 20, the operator can switch the operation of the latch mechanism 31 between a locked state and an unlocked state.

[0027] When the spring cable 1b is connected to the latch mechanism 31 and the inner cable 1c is connected to the lock mechanism 32, the inner cable 1c is inserted into the internal space of the spring cable 1b, forming a coaxial structure. In this case, the inner cable 1c cannot be cut unless the spring cable 1b is cut, and only the inner cable 1c connected to the lock mechanism 32 cannot be cut, so that it is possible to prevent theft of the vehicle by cutting the control cable 1 of the vehicle door 25.

[0028] 3 and 4 are diagrams showing a specific example of a control cable 1 and a cable operating device D that applies an operating force to the control cable 1. Fig. 3 is a view of the cable operating device D from the front side, i.e., from the passenger compartment side where an operator can operate it. Fig. 4 is a view of the cable operating device D from the back side, i.e., from the inside of the vehicle door 25 where an operator cannot operate it.

[0029] The figure shows three mutually orthogonal directions: the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction. Regarding the X direction, one side is the X1 direction, and the other side is the X2 direction. Regarding the Y direction, one side is the Y1 direction, and the other side is the Y2 direction. For example, the X direction is a direction along the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle, the Y direction is a direction along the vertical direction, and the Z direction is a direction along the thickness direction of the vehicle door 25. The XY plane is a plane along the panel plane on the passenger compartment side of the vehicle door 25.

[0030] The cable operating device D includes a main body member 2 having a fixing portion 3 for fixing an outer casing 1a, and a movable member 5 that is displaced relative to the main body member 2 in response to the operating force of the operator. Figure 5 shows the structure of the movable member 5.

[0031] The main body member 2 has a plate-like member 4 having an arc-shaped through groove 8 centered on an axis 40. The movable member 5 and the main body member 2 are assembled together in a state in which the movable member 5 can be displaced in one direction or the other relative to the main body member 2. In this embodiment, the movable member 5 can be displaced in one direction or the other along the arc-shaped through groove 8 of the main body member 2.

[0032] The movable member 5 has a front side member 6 arranged on one surface of the plate-shaped member 4, which is the front side, a back side member 7 arranged on the other surface of the plate-shaped member 4, which is the back side, and a connecting member 18 that connects the front side member 6 and the back side member 7 through a through groove 8.

[0033] The front member 6 is located on the vehicle interior side where an operator can operate it, and a first operating unit operated by the operator is provided on the front member 6. The rear member 7 is located on the interior side of the vehicle door 25 where an operator cannot operate it, and a slit portion 7a and an edge portion 7b are provided on the rear member 7.

[0034] The spring cable 1b and the inner cable 1c linearly protrude in the X2 direction in the figure from the portion of the outer casing 1a fixed by the fixing portion 3 or the vicinity thereof. The movable member 5 has a slit portion 7a through which the inner cable 1c linearly protruding from the outer casing 1a is inserted, and an edge portion 7b formed around the slit portion 7a on the surface of the movable member 5. The edge portion 7b is formed in a ring shape that surrounds the periphery of the opening of the slit portion 7a.

[0035] The movable member 5 is displaceable in one direction or the other relative to the main body member 2 along a predetermined displacement plane (the X-Y plane in the drawings) that includes the direction in which the slit portion 7a extends and the direction in which the inner cable 1c protrudes from the outer casing 1a. In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the movable member 5 is displaced in one direction or the other relative to the main body member 2 along the displacement plane (the X-Y plane in the drawings) so as to rotate about a predetermined axis 40. Specifically, the front side member 6, which serves as a first operating unit operated by an operator, is displaceable in the X1 direction and the X2 direction around the axis 40, and the back side member 7, which is integrally formed with the front side member 6, is also displaceable in the X1 direction and the X2 direction around the axis 40 at the same time.

[0036] When the operator moves the front side member 6 in the X1 direction, that is, when the movable member 5 is displaced in one direction (the X1 direction in the figure), with the inner cable 1c inserted into the slit portion 7a, the edge portion 7b of the movable member 5 abuts against the end portion 9 of the spring cable 1b, pushing the end portion 9 toward the outer casing 1a.

[0037] In this embodiment, the shape of the edge 7b when viewed in the direction along the axis 40 is curved like an arc. If the edge 7b of the movable member 5 has a straight shape when viewed in the direction along the axis 40, when the straight portion abuts against the end 9 of the spring cable 1b while rotating around the axis 40, the direction in which the straight portion abuts against the end 9 of the spring cable 1b will change significantly. For example, as the straight-shaped edge 7b rotates, the straight portion may abut against the end 9 of the spring cable 1b not only in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the spring cable 1b (the X direction in the figure), but also in a direction obliquely below the end 9 of the spring cable 1b or obliquely above the end 9 of the spring cable 1b. In other words, not only may the straight portion push the end 9 of the spring cable 1b along the axial direction (the X direction in the figure), but also the straight portion may push up the end 9 of the spring cable 1b from a diagonally below intersecting the axial direction, or may push down the end 9 of the spring cable 1b from a diagonally above intersecting the axial direction. However, in this embodiment, the shape of the edge 7b of the movable member 5 when viewed from the direction of the axis 40 is curved to describe an arc, so when the curved portion abuts against the end 9 of the spring cable 1b while rotating around the axis 40, the direction in which the curved portion abuts against the end 9 of the spring cable 1b does not change significantly. In other words, there is an advantage in that the direction in which the movable member 5 pushes the end 9 of the spring cable 1b is stable.

[0038] Furthermore, while the edge 7b of the movable member 5 and the end 9 of the spring cable 1b are in contact with each other, the amount by which the end 9 of the spring cable 1b is pushed toward the outer casing 1a varies depending on the amount of displacement of the movable member 5. For example, as the amount of displacement of the movable member 5 in the X1 direction around the axis 40 increases, the amount by which the end 9 of the spring cable 1b is pushed toward the outer casing 1a increases. Although not shown, in the latch device 30, the spring cable 1b is biased toward the cable operating device D by, for example, a spring. When the operator stops moving the front member 6 in the X1 direction, the biasing force of the spring pushes the spring cable 1b back to its original position. Furthermore, when the spring cable 1b is pushed back to its original position, the end 9 of the spring cable 1b pushes the edge 7b of the movable member 5 back in the X2 direction by the end 9 of the spring cable 1b. That is, the movable member 5 as a whole is displaced in the X2 direction.

[0039] In this way, one end of the spring cable 1b is connected to the latch mechanism 31 of the latch device 30, and the other end of the spring cable 1b is connected to the movable member 5 having the first operating portion (front member 6). Therefore, when an operator uses the front member 6 to push the spring cable 1b toward the outer casing 1a, the pushing operation is transmitted to the latch mechanism 31 via the control cable 1, and as a result, the vehicle door 25 can be opened.

[0040] The cable operating device D is equipped with a second operating part 20 that is connected to the inner cable 1c and that is operated by an operator in a direction (X1 direction) to push the inner cable 1c toward the fixed part 3 and in a direction (X2 direction) to pull the inner cable 1c out from the fixed part 3. The inner cable 1c is connected to a connecting part 20a of the second operating part 20.

[0041] In this way, one end of the inner cable 1c is connected to the locking mechanism 32 that locks the operation of the latching mechanism 31 of the latch device 30, and the other end of the inner cable 1c is connected to the connecting portion 20a of the second operating unit 20 that can be operated by an operator. Therefore, when the operator performs, for example, a pushing operation or a pulling operation on the inner cable 1c using the second operating unit 20, the pushing operation or the pulling operation is transmitted to the locking mechanism 32 via the control cable 1, and as a result, the operation of the latching mechanism 31 can be switched between a locked state and an unlocked state.

[0042] As described above, the movable member 5 can be displaced in one direction or the other relative to the main body member 2 along a predetermined displacement plane (X-Y plane) that includes the direction in which the slit portion 7a extends and the direction in which the inner cable 1c protrudes from the outer casing 1a. Additionally, when the movable member 5 is displaced in one direction in response to the operating force of the operator, with the inner cable 1c inserted through the slit portion 7a, the edge portion 7b of the movable member 5 abuts against the end portion 9 of the spring cable 1b, pushing the end portion 9 toward the outer casing 1a. In other words, even if the movable member 5 is displaced in response to the operating force of the operator and the movable member 5 and the spring cable 1b abut, interference between the movable member 5 and the inner cable 1c is suppressed. In this way, even if the movable member 5 is displaced in response to the operating force of the operator, the operating force is appropriately applied to the spring cable 1b while preventing the operating force from acting on the inner cable 1c.

[0043] In addition, the first operating portion (front member 6), which the operator must operate to rotate about the axis 40, can be installed on the front side surface to facilitate operation, while the slit portion 7a and edge portion 7b, which the operator does not need to operate, can be installed on the back side surface to prevent operation by the operator. Furthermore, the rotation plane when rotating the first operating portion (front member 6) is a plane that is aligned with the panel plane that constitutes the passenger compartment side of the vehicle door 25. This has the advantage of making operation easy for the operator.

[0044] Other Embodiments In the above embodiment, a specific example of the configuration of the cable manipulation device has been described, but the configuration can be modified as appropriate.

[0045] In the above embodiment, specific examples of the shape of the edge 7b on the surface of the movable member 5 that abuts against the end 9 of the spring cable 1b are illustrated, but these shapes can be changed as appropriate. Specifically, in the above embodiment, an example is described in which the edge 7b of the movable member 5 is curved so as to describe an arc when viewed in the direction of the axis 40 (viewed in the direction along the Z direction), but the curved shape may be any circular or elliptical shape different from those illustrated, or may be a shape that combines arcs of multiple curvatures.

[0046] In the above embodiment, the spring cable 1b is used as the tubular body, but the configuration can be changed as appropriate as long as it transmits an operating force, is inserted into the outer casing 1a, and allows the inner cable 1c to slide inside. For example, the tubular body may include a liner, a plurality of wires twisted helically around the liner, and a coating layer formed on the outside of the wires, or a tubular body including a spring cable 1b with wires wound helically and a resin coating layer on the outer periphery. In addition, although the above embodiment shows an example in which the tubular body is used as a push cable that transmits a pushing operating force, it may also be used as a pull cable that transmits a pulling operating force.

[0047] The configurations disclosed in the above embodiments (including other embodiments, the same applies below) can be applied in combination with configurations disclosed in other embodiments, as long as no contradictions arise. Furthermore, the embodiments disclosed in this specification are examples, and the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to these, and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of not departing from the purpose of the present invention.

[0048] The present invention can be used for a control cable that can appropriately transmit operating forces while reducing the installation space.

[0049] 1: Control cable 1a: Outer casing 1b: Spring cable (cylindrical body) 1c: Inner cable 6: Front member (first operating part) 20: Second operating part 25: Vehicle door 31: Latch mechanism 32: Lock mechanism

Claims

DEPCT681. A control cable consisting of a tubular outer box, a cylinder enclosed by the outer box and transmitting the operating force, and an inner cable arranged in the empty space inside the cylinder, where the cylinder and the inner cable can slide independently in the axial direction.

2. A control cable under claim 1, where the cylinder is constructed with a spring cable in which the component wires are coiled in a spiral shape with an empty space inside.

3. A control cable under claim 1, where the inner cable is constructed with a single metal wire.

4. A control cable under claim 1, where the inner cable is constructed with a linear wire structure including several metal wires.5.A control cable as described in any of the claims 1 through 4, where one end of the cylinder is connected to the latch mechanism for securing the vehicle door to the vehicle body and the other end of the cylinder is connected to the first operating part that the operator can operate, and one end of the inner cable is connected to the locking mechanism for locking the movement of the latch mechanism and the other end of the inner cable is connected to the second operating part that the operator can operate;

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