JPH0226483B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a reclining mechanism in which the tilting position of a seat bag relative to a seat cushion can be adjusted by skillfully utilizing a planetary gear mechanism.

For example, in the case of vehicle seats, it is common practice to provide a reclining mechanism between a seat cushion and a seat back so that the seat back can be tilted relative to the seat cushion. In this way, the seat can be freely adjusted according to the body shape or preference of the person sitting on the seat, which is a great advantage.

By the way, what is required of this type of reclining mechanism is a structure as simple as possible.
It has excellent moldability and assemblability, and is not only inexpensive, but also allows the seat back to be tilted freely and at an appropriate angle, is easy to operate, and can withstand the load of the occupant. It is possible to reliably maintain the locked state.

In consideration of these points, various configurations have been proposed in the past, but each has advantages and disadvantages, and so far no one has been proposed that can satisfy all of the above requirements.

For example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 58-26602 shows a reclining mechanism that attempts to meet the above requirements by adopting a planetary gear mechanism, but this conventional example has the same tip circle and a smaller number of teeth. Two hinge plates with different internal gear parts are used, and the teeth of a planetary gear formed in the same shape are meshed with both gear parts, so the molding process on the hinge plate side is troublesome. Not only is the cost high, but it is also troublesome and difficult to assemble the planetary gear, and when the gear is locked, there is play between the gear and the gear on the hinge plate that meshes with the planetary gear. However, the problem was that proper operation could not be expected.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and includes forming internal gear parts having the same shape on a pair of plates, and first and second gear parts having different numbers of teeth that mesh with each gear part. With a simple configuration in which a plurality of planetary gears each having a wheel portion are provided, and a control gear is pivotally supported by meshing with the gear portion of one of these planetary gears, a small operating force is reduced by the planetary gear mechanism. By simply rotating the control gear by the desired angle, the relative angle between the pair of plates can be freely and steplessly adjusted due to the difference in the number of teeth between the first and second gear parts of each planetary gear. In addition, we provide an inexpensive reclining mechanism that has the following advantages: less rattling, improved moldability and ease of assembly of each part, a thinner overall design, and the ability to share a pair of plates. It is something to do.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of the reclining mechanism according to the present invention. In these figures, the reclining mechanism, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, includes a seat cushion and a seat back (both of which constitute a seat). A base 11 and an arm 12 are provided as a pair of plates, each of which is attached to a base (not shown). These base 11 and arm 12 are provided with internal gear parts 13 and 1 which are arranged side by side on the same axis (on the shaft support of the seat) and are formed with the same tip circle and the same number of teeth.
4 are formed respectively. In addition, base 11
Cover parts 11a and 12a are formed on the outside of the arm 12 where the internal gear parts 13 and 14 are formed, respectively, and these cover parts 11a and 12a are used when press forming the internal gear parts 13 and 14. It is formed in one piece.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a plurality (four in this embodiment) of planetary gears formed by arranging first and second gear parts 16 and 17 in parallel in the axial direction, meshing with the internal gear parts 13 and 14, respectively. As is clear from FIG. 2, the first and second gear portions 16 and 17 are formed to have the same tip circle and different numbers of teeth. Therefore, one of the gear parts 16 or 17 becomes a non-involute tooth part, and although some play occurs when meshing with the internal gear part, this is smaller than in the conventional example.

A control gear is mounted on the rotating shaft 18 on the same axis as the internal gear parts 13 and 14 on the plate side so as to mesh with one of the gear parts (in this embodiment, the 17 side) of the planetary gear 15. 19 is pivotally supported, and this control gear 19 is rotatably operated by an operating knob 20 provided at the outer end of the shaft 18.

In the figure, 21 is a stabilizer that holds each planetary gear 15 at its rotating position, 24 is a nut screwed onto the other end of the rotating shaft 18, and 25 is a cover.

According to the configuration described above, the control gear 19
When rotated in a desired direction, each planetary gear 15 rotates, and the arm 12 meshing with the planetary gear 15 rotates.
The arm 12 is attached to the base 11 at the internal gear part 14 on the side.
The relative angle can be freely and steplessly adjusted. This relative angle is the first of the planetary gears 15.
This is determined by the difference in the number of teeth between the second gear portions 16 and 17, and when the control gear 19 is stopped, the arm 12 rotates its internal gear portion 14 and the second gear portion 17 of the planetary gear 15. The first gear portion 16 is meshed with the internal gear portion 16 on the base 11 side through the intermediary, and thereby locked in the meshing position.

The rotation operation described above requires only a small operating force due to the deceleration effect of the planetary gear mechanism.
Furthermore, since it is meshed with a plurality of planetary gears 15, rattling can be kept small even when meshing with non-involute teeth. Further, in the above-mentioned configuration, the configuration of each part is simple, manufacturing and assembly are easy, and the overall thickness can be reduced, and the base 11 and the arm 1
Since the internal gear parts 13 and 14 in 2 have the same shape, there is an advantage that they can be used in common by making the overall shape the same.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the structure of the embodiment described above, and the shape, structure, etc. of each part may be modified and changed as necessary. For example, the number of teeth of each gear section, the size of the tip circle, and the number of planetary gears are selected as necessary. It is also obvious that it would be better to have them mesh with either one of them.

As explained above, according to the reclining mechanism according to the present invention, the internal gear portions having the same shape are formed on a pair of plates, and the first and second gear portions having different numbers of teeth are meshed with the internal gear portions. In addition to providing a plurality of planetary gears, the control gear is meshed with one of these planetary gears, so despite the structure being simple, easy to manufacture, and inexpensive in terms of cost, it is easy to operate with a small operating force. The relative angle of the pair of plates can be freely and steplessly adjusted by rotating the plate, and there is little backlash, and the desired locking state can be obtained.In addition, the overall thickness can be reduced and plates can be shared. It has a variety of excellent effects, including the ability to improve

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of the reclining mechanism according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the main parts thereof. 10... Reclining mechanism, 11, 12...
A pair of plates (base, arm), 13, 14
... Internal gear part, 15 ... Planetary gear, 16, 17
...first and second gear parts, 18...rotating shaft,
19...Control gear.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 A pair of plates each having an internal gear portion attached to the seat cushion and the seat back and having the same addendum circle and the same number of teeth, and meshing with the internal gear portion of each of these plates. a plurality of planetary gears formed by first and second gear parts arranged in parallel in the axial direction; A reclining mechanism comprising a control gear supported on an axis, wherein first and second gear parts of the planetary gear have the same tip circle and different numbers of teeth.