JPH0364332B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION This invention relates to a parking brake for an automobile, and more particularly to an improvement in an operating lever device that is normally provided on the side of the driver's seat.

Prior Art A parking brake operating lever device generally consists of a ratchet plate fixed to the vehicle body and an operating lever that is pivotally supported by the ratchet plate and connected to a brake cable. When raised, the brake cable is pulled and the lock pawl engages with the ratchet teeth on the ratchet plate to maintain the brake operating state. Also, when the push button at the tip of the operating lever is pressed, the internal push rod engages the lock pawl. The brake is released by pressing in the release direction.

However, in such a control lever device, when the brake is applied, the control lever is in a largely erect state, and therefore, there is a problem in that it is extremely obstructive when a person moves within the vehicle interior.

Therefore, the operating lever with the handle and the lever member to which the brake cable is connected are made into separate members, and once the operating lever is pulled up to operate the brake, the operating lever itself is moved downward, leaving only the lever member. An operating lever device that can be bent is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 51619/1983 and Utility Model Publication No. 52/1983.
It is described in Publication No. 144530.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the conventional operating lever device described above, the coupled state between the operating lever having the handle and the lever member to which the brake cable is connected is simply maintained by a spring force or the like. As a result, the connection and separation between the two is not clear, and for example, if the operating lever is pushed down without pressing the pushbutton sufficiently, the operating lever may bend without releasing the brake, resulting in poor operability. , unreliable. In addition, since no special operation is required to separate the two, it is possible for the occupant's body to come into contact with each other and cause the two to separate inadvertently. There is a risk that it will happen.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a clear coupling and disassembly by engaging and disengaging the set member provided at one end of the push rod with the engagement stepped portion of the lock lever. It is designed to perform separation. That is, a ratchet plate is fixed to the vehicle body and has ratchet teeth formed on one side, is rotatably supported by the ratchet plate, a brake cable is connected to the lower end, and a brake cable is connected to the front edge of the ratchet plate. , a lock lever having an arc-shaped guide portion and an engagement stepped portion connected to the upper end of the guide portion; the lock lever is pivotally supported by the lock lever, and has a pressed portion at one end, and the other end engages with the ratchet teeth. a lock pawl that is rotatably supported on the ratchet plate coaxially with the lock lever, and has a handle portion at its tip, and a linkage for causing the lock lever to follow the brake activation direction when coupled with the lock lever; a brake release pressing portion that is inserted into the operating lever and has a push button at its tip, and that faces the pressed portion of the lock pawl when the lock lever and the operating lever are connected. a push rod provided on the proximal end side, a return spring that biases the push rod in the protruding direction of the push button, and a return spring that is slidably mounted on the proximal end of the push rod for a predetermined stroke and engaged with the lock lever. By engaging with the stepped portion, the lock lever and the operating lever are kept in a connected state, and when they are not connected, a set member that comes into contact with the guide portion of the lock lever, and a set member that is connected to the engaging step portion. an engagement holding spring that urges in the direction of engagement with the return spring and has a larger urging force than the return spring; and the push rod is engaged with the setting member against the urging force of the engagement holding spring. and an operating member for sliding operation in the release direction.

In the second aspect of the invention, a push button is used in place of the operating member to operate the bushing rod in the disengagement direction. That is, a bent portion is formed on the push button so that the push rod can be pulled out together with the setting member against the biasing force of the engagement and holding spring.

Further, in the third invention, the push rod is rotatable together with the push button, and one is fixed to the operation lever and the other to the push rod so that the push rod is moved in the direction of disengaging the set member as the push button is rotated. A set of end cams are provided.

Operation When the setting member is engaged with the engagement step of the lock lever, the lock lever and the operating lever are in a connected state. When the operating lever is pulled upward in this state, the lock lever rotates integrally through the linking part, the brake is activated, and the brake state is maintained by the engagement of the lock pawl and the ratchet teeth. . Even if an external force is applied to the operating lever, the state of connection with the lock lever is maintained by the engagement of the set member.
If the occupant consciously performs a disengagement operation such as sliding the operating member, pulling out the push button, or rotating the push button to slide the bushing rod, the set member will come out of the engagement step. The operating lever can be bent downward. In this bent and separated state, the setting member abuts against the guide portion of the lock lever.

On the other hand, to release the brake, simply pull up the operating lever, and the set member that slides along the guide will engage the engagement step at a predetermined position, so that it is firmly connected to the lock lever again. Become. In this coupled state, when the push button is pressed, the push rod presses the lock pawl and the locked state is released.

Embodiment FIGS. 1 to 3 show an embodiment of the operating lever device according to the first invention. In the figure, 1 is a ratchet plate, 2 is a lock lever, 3 is an operating lever, and 4 is a push rod. It has a rotating shaft 6 at its front edge, and ratchet teeth 7 are formed in an arc shape around the rotating shaft 6 at its front edge. The lock lever 2 has a pair of side wall plates 2a sandwiching both sides of the ratchet plate 1.
, a connecting member 2b having a substantially U-shaped cross section (see Fig. 2).
It is rotatably supported on the ratchet plate 1 by the rotary shaft 6, and has a notch 8 in a substantially L-shape with an opening at the bottom at the front of the lower edge. A brake cable 9 is connected to the rear portion of the lower edge via a cable attachment pin 10. Further, a guide portion 11 having an arcuate shape centered on the rotation shaft 6 is formed on the front edge portion of the connecting member 2b, and
An inwardly recessed engagement step portion 12 is formed in series with the upper end of the guide portion 11, and a push rod insertion hole 13 is opened at a position slightly below the engagement step portion 12. Further, a lock claw 14 having a substantially dogleg shape is housed in a space between the front edge of the lock lever 2 and the front edge of the ratchet plate 1. This lock pawl 14 is pivotally supported by a lock pawl rotating shaft 15, and a pawl portion 14a at one end is constantly engaged with the ratchet teeth 7 under the urging force of a torsion coil spring 16, and a pressed portion 14b at the other end. is arranged inside the push rod insertion hole 13.

The operating lever 3 has a cylindrical portion 3a at the tip and a back portion 3b.
A metal plate is press-molded into a shape having a pair of leg parts 3c, and a synthetic resin handle part 17 is attached to the cylindrical part 3a, and the leg part 3c has a lock lever as shown in FIG. 2 is sandwiched from both sides, and like the lock lever 2, it is rotatably supported by the ratchet plate 1 via a rotating shaft 6. A pull-up pin 1 is also provided at the front of the lower edge of the leg 3c as a linking part with the lock lever 2.
8 is fixedly provided, and is adapted to abut against the notch 8 of the lock lever 2 when the lock lever 2 and the operating lever 3 are in the coupled state shown in FIG.

The push rod 4 is inserted along the longitudinal direction of the operating lever 3, and has a synthetic resin push button 19 fixed to its tip.
A synthetic resin setting member 20 is attached to the base end via a stopper ring 21 so as to be slidable only by a predetermined stroke. As shown in FIG. 3, this setting member 20 has a flat shape and is provided with a flange portion 20a at one end. The flange portion 20a is movably fitted to the synthetic resin slider 22 serving as an operating member.
It is fixed by fitting and screws 23. The slider 22 has a U-shaped cross section and is slidably fitted into the back portion 3b of the operating lever 3.
Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the setting member 20 is always urged toward the lock lever 2 together with the push rod 4 by an engagement and holding spring 25 that is compressed and disposed between the spring stopper piece 24. In addition, the bushing rod 4 itself is biased in the opposite direction by a return spring 27 compressed and disposed between the spring stopper piece 26 and the push button 19. Here, the urging force of the engagement and holding spring 25 is set to be larger than that of the spring 25, and therefore, when the levers 2 and 3 are connected as shown in FIG.
0 is positioned in contact with one end of the guide groove 30, and is engaged with the engagement step 12 of the lock lever 2. In this positioned state, the push button 19 protrudes from the handle part 17 by a certain amount, and a red-colored caution display part 28 is provided in a portion covered within the handle part 17. In addition, in the push rod 4 above,
An auxiliary rod 29 oriented in the same direction as the base end of the push rod 4 is fixedly provided, and a brake release pressing portion 29a at the tip of the auxiliary rod 29 presses the push rod of the lock lever 2 when both levers 2 and 3 are connected as shown in FIG. It passes through the insertion hole 13 and faces the pressed portion 14b of the lock pawl 14.

Next, the operating procedure of the operating lever device configured as described above will be explained with reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 4, and FIG. 5.

First, in the state shown in FIG. 1, as already mentioned, the lock lever 2 and the operating lever 3 are connected, and the brake is not in operation. To operate the brake from this state, simply press the operating lever 3.
All you have to do is raise it. That is, when the operation lever 3 is pulled up, the pull-up pin 18 as a linking part
The lock lever 2 is pushed up and driven integrally, so the brake cable 9 is pulled and the brake is activated, and the lock pawl 14 engages with the ratchet teeth 7, so that the rotating state is as shown in FIG. is maintained. At this time, even if the operating lever 3 is pressed from above, since the set member 20 is engaged with the engagement step 12 of the lock lever 2, rotation of the operating lever 3 alone is prevented. It should be noted that the operation may be performed by pulling up the operating lever 3 while pressing the push button 19 and releasing the push button 19 at a predetermined position.

In order to lower only the operating lever 3 from this state, the slider 22 is pushed forward and the operating lever 3 is pushed down. As a result, the setting member 20 is separated from the engagement step portion 12, and
Since the lock lever 2 is placed on the guide portion 11, the lock lever 2 and the operating lever 3 are separated, and as shown in FIG. 5, the operating lever 3 is rotated downward, leaving only the lock lever 2. Since the push rod 4 also slides together with the setting member 20, the brake release pressing portion 29a of the auxiliary rod 29 comes out of the push rod insertion hole 13. In this manner, since manual operation is required to separate and rotate only the operating lever 3, there is no risk of the lever being rotated inadvertently. In addition, when only the operating lever 3 is rotated, the push rod 4 moves a certain amount toward the push button 19.
The caution display section 28 of the push button 19 is exposed,
It can be easily distinguished from the case in which it is rotated while connected to the lock lever 2, and the driver's misunderstanding can be prevented.

Then, to release the brake from this state,
First, it is sufficient to pull up the operating lever 3, confirm that the levers 2 and 3 are connected, and then press the push button 19. That is, when the operating lever 3 is pulled up, the setting member 20 gradually slides on the guide portion 11, and when it reaches the engagement stepped portion 12, it is automatically moved by the biasing force of the engagement holding spring 25. It engages with the engagement step portion 12. If the push button 19 is pressed in this state, the push rod 4 will slide within the allowable range with respect to the setting member 20, so the brake release pressing portion 29a of the auxiliary rod 29 will be removed.
presses the lock pawl 14 and releases the engagement with the ratchet tooth 7. As a result, the operating lever 3 and the lock lever 2 can be rotated downward while remaining in a connected state, and the brake is released.

As described above, the actuation and release of the brake can be performed in exactly the same way as when using a normal integrated control lever, and active operation is required only when separating the control lever 3 from the lock lever 2.

Next, FIG. 6 shows an embodiment according to the second invention. This uses the push button 19 for disengaging the engagement without providing a separate member such as the slider 22 in the first embodiment, and the push button 19 has a substantially L-shaped fold for pulling out. A curved portion 19a is formed. Therefore, when lowering only the operating lever 3 downward when the brake is activated, it is sufficient to hook the bent portion 19 with your finger and pull it forward, thereby releasing the setting member 2.
0 is disengaged from the engagement step portion 12, and the lock lever 2 and the operating lever 3 are separated.

Next, FIG. 7 shows an embodiment in which the shape of the push rod 4 is changed. This is the auxiliary rod 29
is omitted, and the rear end 4a of the push rod 4 is used as the brake release pressing part, and the pressed part 1 of the lock pawl 14 is
4b, and is disposed opposite to the engaging step portion 12.
is formed by cutting out the front edge of the lock lever 2, so that the pressed portion 14b is not exposed to the outside. In the illustrated example, push button 1
The lock lever 2 and the operating lever 3 are separated by hooking the folded portion 19a with the finger and pulling it forward in the same manner as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, but in the embodiment shown in FIG. slider 22 like
It is also possible to combine with

Further, FIG. 8 shows an embodiment according to the third invention. This is configured so that the push rod 4 and the push button 19 are rotatable, and a fixed cam 31 attached to the operating lever 3 and a movable cam 32 attached to the push rod 4 allow the lock lever 2 to be rotated by rotating the push button 19. The control lever 3 and the control lever 3 are separated from each other. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the fixed cam 31 consists of an end cam whose cam lift increases over a range of approximately 180 degrees, and a movable cam 32 having approximately the same shape is combined therewith. Therefore, when the push button 19 is rotated, the push rod 4 moves to the left in the figure against the biasing force of the engagement holding spring 25, and the setting member 20 is disengaged from the engagement stepped portion 12. Also, from the state where the lock lever 2 and the operating lever 3 are separated, the operating lever 3
When the push button 19 is pulled up, the setting member 20 automatically engages with the engagement step 12 due to the biasing force of the engagement holding spring 25, and the push button 19 rotates to a predetermined position.

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above explanation, according to the parking brake operating lever device according to the present invention, the lock lever and the operating lever are separated only by the occupant's conscious operation. There is no risk of misperception that it is in a released state. In addition, the separation and connection of both levers becomes clear,
It can be easily confirmed that both levers are connected by the feeling when the setting member engages with the engagement step. Furthermore, as long as the levers are not separated, they can be used in exactly the same way as a normal integrated control lever, and the operation will not be complicated or uncomfortable.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing one embodiment of the first invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the - line, FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the first embodiment, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the second invention, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a partially modified example, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the operating state of the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the third invention, and a perspective view showing the shape of the fixed cam in this embodiment. 1...Ratchet plate, 2...Lock lever, 3...Operation lever, 4...Push rod,
7... Ratchet tooth, 9... Brake cable,
11...Guide part, 12...Engagement step part, 14...
Lock claw, 14b...Pressed part, 17...Handle part, 18...Pull-up pin (coupling part), 19...Push button, 20...Set member, 21...Stopper ring, 22...Slider, 25... ... Spring for engagement and retention, 27 ... Return spring,
28...Caution display section, 29...Auxiliary rod, 29
a... Brake release pressing part, 30... Guide groove,
31...Fixed cam, 32...Movable cam.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A ratchet plate fixed to the vehicle body and having ratchet teeth formed on one side, rotatably supported by the ratchet plate, and having a brake cable connected to the lower end thereof. , a lock lever having a front edge formed with an arc-shaped guide part and an engagement step part connected to the upper end of the guide part, the lock lever being pivotally supported by the lock lever, having a pressed part at one end, and the other end having the above-mentioned A lock pawl that engages with the ratchet teeth, is rotatably supported by the ratchet plate coaxially with the lock lever, and has a handle portion at the tip, and when coupled to the lock lever, moves the lock lever in the brake activation direction. an operating lever provided with a linking portion for making it follow; and an operating lever inserted into the operating lever;
and a push rod having a push button at its tip and a brake release pressing portion on its proximal end that faces the pressed portion of the lock pawl when the lock lever and the operating lever are connected, and the push rod is connected to the push button. a return spring biasing the projecting direction;
It is attached to the base end of the push rod so as to be able to slide within a predetermined stroke, and by engaging with the engagement stepped portion of the lock lever, maintains the coupled state of the lock lever and the operating lever, and also prevents the coupling between the two. In this state, the lock lever includes a setting member that contacts the guide portion of the lock lever, and an engagement holding spring that urges the setting member in the direction of engagement with the engagement step portion and has a larger urging force than the return spring. An operating lever device for a parking brake, comprising: an operating member for sliding the push rod together with the setting member in the disengagement direction against the biasing force of the engagement and holding spring. 2. A ratchet plate fixed to the vehicle body and having ratchet teeth formed on one side, rotatably supported by the ratchet plate, a brake cable connected to the lower end, and a front edge with a A lock lever having an arcuate guide portion and an engagement stepped portion connected to the upper end of the guide portion; a lock lever that is pivotally supported by the lock lever, has a pressed portion at one end, and has the other end engaged with the ratchet teeth; a lock pawl, and a linking portion that is rotatably supported on the ratchet plate coaxially with the lock lever and has a handle portion at the tip, and that causes the lock lever to follow the brake activation direction when connected to the lock lever. is inserted into the operating lever,
and a push rod having a push button at its tip and a brake release pressing portion on its proximal end that faces the pressed portion of the lock pawl when the lock lever and the operating lever are connected; A return spring biased in the protruding direction is attached to the base end of the push rod so as to be slidable within a predetermined stroke, and the lock lever is coupled to the operating lever by engaging with the engagement stepped portion of the lock lever. In addition to maintaining the state,
A set member that contacts the guide portion of the lock lever when the two are not coupled, and an engagement member that biases the set member in the direction of engagement with the engagement step portion and that has a greater biasing force than the return spring. A parking brake operating lever device comprising a holding spring and a bent portion formed on the push button so as to pull out the push rod together with the setting member against the biasing force of the engagement holding spring. . 3. A ratchet plate fixed to the vehicle body and having ratchet teeth formed on one side, rotatably supported by the ratchet plate, a brake cable connected to the lower end, and a front edge with a A lock lever having an arcuate guide portion and an engagement stepped portion connected to the upper end of the guide portion; a lock lever that is pivotally supported by the lock lever, has a pressed portion at one end, and has the other end engaged with the ratchet teeth; a lock pawl, and a linking portion that is rotatably supported on the ratchet plate coaxially with the lock lever and has a handle portion at the tip, and that causes the lock lever to follow the brake activation direction when connected to the lock lever. and a brake release that is rotatably inserted into the operating lever and has a push button at its tip, and that faces the pressed portion of the lock pawl when the lock lever and the operating lever are connected. A push rod is provided with a pressing portion at its base end, a return spring biases the push rod in the protruding direction of the push button, and the push rod is slidably mounted on the base end of the push rod for a predetermined stroke and engaged with the lock lever. By engaging with the connecting step, the lock lever and the operating lever are kept in a connected state, and when they are not connected, a set member that comes into contact with the guide portion of the lock lever, and a set member that is connected to the engaging step an engagement holding spring which is biased in the direction of engagement with the pushbutton and which has a greater biasing force than the return spring, one of which is fixed to the operating lever and the other to the pushrod, and which is adapted to rotate the pushbutton. A parking brake operating lever device comprising a set of end cams that move the push rod in the direction of disengaging the setting member.