JPH0456607B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a stepless lock device disposed in a movable adjustment mechanism of a vehicle seat or the like.

BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY AND PROBLEMS Conventionally, as a lock device provided in a movable adjustment mechanism such as a reclining device or a lifter device in a vehicle seat, a screw mechanism is used, for example.
The reduction ratio reduces the operating force for the load of the seated person, or a coil spring is inscribed in the inner peripheral surface of a fixed drum by its elastic force, and both ends of this coil spring are attached to a movable drum. A so-called wind regulator type friction lock device, etc., which is engaged and released by rotating a movable drum to contract a coil spring and separate it from the inner peripheral surface of a fixed drum. is widely adopted, but in the former case, the amount of operation of the operating part increases relative to the amount of movement of the movable part as the operating force is reduced, making it difficult to perform quick operations, and the latter In this case, in order to contract the coil spring in both directions, a required gap is required between the engaging portions at both ends of the coil spring and the movable drum, and this gap causes the movable drum to rotate to some extent. Moreover, when the movable drum rotates, the coil spring comes into sliding contact with the inner circumferential surface of the fixed drum, which creates frictional resistance and impairs smooth rotation.

Purpose of the Invention The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a stepless locking device that has a simple configuration and can be quickly and reliably fixed at a desired rotational position without causing play. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention includes an operating shaft rotatably supported in the center of a drum-shaped case, and at least one operating shaft located inside the drum-shaped case and fixed to the operating shaft. A disk having a substantially arc-shaped circumferential surface forming a narrow space at both ends between the inner circumferential surface of the drum-shaped case and the space between the inner circumferential surface of the drum-shaped case and the disk. A roller member having a diameter larger than the width of the narrow part on both ends of the space, a biasing member that biases the roller member in the direction of the narrow part of the space, and an inner peripheral surface of the drum-shaped case and a disc. A triangular piece is disposed between the roller member and presses the roller member in a direction opposite to the biasing direction of the biasing member; A plate body having a tapered claw piece that is in contact with the slope piece, and a slope that is in contact with the plate body and is fitted to the operating shaft so as to be rotatable in the circumferential direction and movable in the axial direction, and that protrudes to the side opposite to the plate body. a shift plate having a bead; an operation board fixed to the operation shaft and having an inclined bead protruding opposite the inclined bead of the shift plate; attached to the operation board so as to be drawable/storable and engaged with the shift plate; and an operating member that rotates the operating shaft.
Rotation is locked by inserting a roller member into the narrow portions at both ends of the space, and by rotating the shift plate with the operation member, the plate body is moved along the operation axis together with the shift plate, and the taper The rotation lock of the operation shaft is released by pushing the triangular piece with the claw piece and pushing the roller member out of the narrow part of the space.

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a drum-shaped case that is attached to the fixed side, and a shaft hole 2 is bored in the center of the bottom surface 1a of the drum-shaped case 1, and an operating shaft 3 connected to the movable side member is inserted into this shaft hole 2. is rotatably inserted and supported by a shaft, and a disk 4 is pivotally attached to this operating shaft 3 located inside the drum-shaped case 1. This disk 4 is formed into a substantially elliptical shape having symmetrical arc-shaped peripheral surfaces 4a, 4b having a diameter larger than the diameter of the inner peripheral surface 1b of the drum-shaped case 1, and the peripheral surfaces 4a, 4b are symmetrical.
4b and the inner circumferential surface 1b of the drum-shaped case 1, a crescent-shaped space a [a ₁ , a ₂ ] having narrow ends is formed facing each other.

In both spaces a ₁ and a ₂ between the case 1 and the disk 4, a pair of rollers 5 each having a diameter larger than the width of the narrow side portion at both ends are fitted and inserted, facing each other.
A spring 6 is inserted between the opposing rollers 5, and the spring 6 pushes the rollers 5 in a direction away from each other, that is, in a direction in which they are pushed into the narrow width portions at both ends of the crescent-shaped space a. It is biased.

In addition, both ends of the disk 4 and the drum-shaped case 1
A triangular piece 7 having an inclined side in the axial direction corresponds to the outer side of each roller 5 between the inner circumferential surface 1 of the drum-shaped case 1 and the narrow width portion of both ends of the space a.
It is arranged so as to be freely slidable along b.

The operating shaft 3 is located on the outer side of the disk 4.
A disc 8 is fitted into the disc 8 so as to be slidable in the axial direction through a shaft hole 8a bored in the center thereof.
Tapered claw pieces 9a are formed on the circumferential edge of the drum-shaped case 1 to face each other in the diametrical direction.
9b corresponds to the middle of the triangular pieces 7, 7, respectively.
Further, on the operating shaft 3, a shift plate 10 is arranged in contact with the outer surface of the disc 8, and is rotatable in the circumferential direction and slidable in the axial direction through a shaft hole 10a bored in the center of the shift plate 10. This shift plate 1 is fitted and inserted.
0 has arcuate inclined beads 11a, 11b facing outward facing each other across the shaft hole 10a and protrusions formed on the outer surface thereof, and a protruding piece 10b is formed on the periphery of the protrusion. A long hole 12 is bored in the piece 10b in the inner and outer directions.

An operating member 12 is attached to the operating shaft 3 outside the shift plate 10. The operating member 12 consists of an operating board 13 fixed to the operating shaft 3 and an operating lever 14 slidably supported by the operating board 13. The operating board 13 has a square hole 13a bored in its center. By fitting this square hole 13a into the tip corner 3a of the operating shaft 3, it is fixed so as to rotate together with the operating shaft 3, and the above-mentioned shift plate is provided on the inner surface of the operating board 13. 10 inclined beads 11a, 11b
An inclined bead 15a corresponding to and having opposite inclination directions,
15b are formed in a raised manner to face each other with the square hole 13a in between. Further, a housing portion 16 for the operation lever 14 is formed at the upper part of the operation board 13.
A pin 17 is provided at the rear end of the operating lever 14, which is slidably inserted into the storage portion 16, and projects inward, and this pin 17 is inserted into the elongated hole 10c of the projecting piece 10b of the shift plate 10. When engaged, the shift plate 10 is rotated in the circumferential direction with respect to the operating shaft 3 by sliding of the operating lever 14.

When the operating lever 14 is housed in the storage portion 16 of the operating board 13, the inclined beads 15a, 15b of the operating board 13 and the shift plate 10
The inclined beads 11a and 11b face each other in the butting direction, and when the operating lever 14 is pulled out from the storage section 17 from this state, the shift plate 10 is rotated and the inclined beads 11a and 11b are rotated. Slanted bead 15 of operation board 13
a and 15b, so that the shift plate 10 is moved inward along the axial direction of the operating shaft 3.

Next, the operation of the stepless lock device constructed as described above will be explained.

First, when the operating lever 14 is not operated, each roller 5 is moved toward the inner peripheral surface 1 of the drum-shaped case 1.
b and the circular arc-shaped peripheral surfaces 4a and 4b of the disk 4.The biasing force of the spring 6 narrows the width of the space a formed between the disk 4 and the circular arc-shaped peripheral surfaces 4a and 4b of the disk 4. The operating shaft 3 is in a locked state, being unable to rotate relative to the shaft. That is, if the disk 4 tries to rotate in this state, the roller 5 located in the direction of rotation will further enter the narrow part of the space a as the disk 4 rotates, increasing the frictional force and causing the disk 4 to rotate. In the disabled state, the movable adjustment mechanism connected to the operating shaft 3 is held locked.

Therefore, in this locked state, the operating lever 14
When pulled out from the storage section 16 of the operation board 13,
As described above, while the shift plate 10 is being rotated, the inclined beads 11a and 11b ride on the inclined beads 15a and 15b of the operation board 13 and are moved inward to press the disc 8 inward. The tapered claw pieces 9a and 9b are moved onto the inner circumferential surface of the drum-shaped case 1 by the inward pressing movement of the disc 8.
b and the triangular pieces 7, 7 interposed between both ends of the circumferential surfaces 4a, 4b of the disk 4, so that the triangular pieces 7, 7 are spaced apart along the inner circumferential surface 1b of the drum-shaped case 1. direction, the rollers 5, 5 are pressed against the biasing force of the springs 6, 6, and pushed out from the narrow portions at both ends of the space a to the wide portion in the center, and the case circumferential surface 1b and the disk circumferential surface. 4a and 4b, that is, the lock is released.

In this state, by pulling up or pushing down the operating lever 14 pulled out from the operating board 13, the operating shaft 3 is rotated integrally with the disk 4 through the operating board 13 in the operating direction of the operating lever 14, and is connected thereto. The movable adjustment mechanism section will be moved.

When rotating the operating shaft 3 in the unlocked state as described above, the rollers 5, 5 act as bearings between the inner peripheral surface 1b of the case and the peripheral surfaces 4a, 4b of the disc 4, causing the disc 4 to wobble. It will rotate smoothly without any friction.

When the operating lever 14 is pushed into the storage part 16 of the operating board 13 at this required movable position, the shift plate 10 is rotated in the opposite direction to the above case, and the inclined beads 11a and 11b are moved toward the operating board 13. As the rollers 5, 5 move away from the inclined beads 15a, 15b, the pressure on the disk 8 is released, and the biasing force of the springs 6, 6 causes the rollers 5, 5 to move between the case inner circumferential surface 1b, the disk circumferential surface 4a,
The disk 8 is moved in the direction of the narrow side of both ends of the space a between the spaces 4b and 5, and the disc 8 is pushed by the claw pieces 9a and 9b from both sides via the triangular pieces 7 and 7. The rollers 5, 5 are moved outward, and in this state, the rollers 5, 5 are in pressure contact with the case inner circumferential surface 1b and the disk circumferential surfaces 4a, 4b, and the operating shaft 3 is locked via the disk 4, and the movable adjustment mechanism connected thereto. The parts are held locked in the desired movable position.

In this example, the disk 4 is formed with a symmetrical arc-shaped circumferential surface, but a part of the circumferential surface of the circular disk is formed into a large-diameter arc-shaped circumferential surface, and a pair of circular disks are formed on this circumferential surface. The rollers may be made to correspond to each other and both rollers may be biased toward both ends of the circumferential surface by a spring. Alternatively, the disk may be formed into a substantially triangular shape with three large-diameter arc-shaped circumferential surfaces, and each of the circumferential surfaces A pair of rollers may be associated with each other, and each roller may be biased toward the top by a spring.

5 and 6 show examples of the use of the stepless lock device configured as described above, FIG. 5 is used for the seat lifter device 21, and FIG. 6 is used for the seat depth adjustment device 22. This is the case.

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, a roller member biased in the direction of the narrow width at both ends is disposed in the narrow space between the inner circumferential surface of the drum-shaped case and the disk at both ends. The operating shaft is locked by inserting the roller member into the narrow portions at both ends of the space, and is unlocked and rotatable by pushing the roller member out of the narrow portion of the space. Therefore, in the locked state, the rigid roller member is tightly inserted into the narrow part between the inner circumferential surface of the drum-shaped case and the disk circumferential surface, increasing the locking strength, and when the lock is released, The roller member is in a bearing state where it is in rolling contact between both circumferential surfaces, and the disk rotates smoothly with respect to the drum-shaped case, and the roller member is directly brought into close contact with both the circumferential surfaces of the drum-shaped case and the disk. There is no so-called play in the operation, so there is almost no backlash, and stepless lock adjustment can always be performed quickly and reliably. Moreover, the roller member and the biasing member that biases the roller member are only interposed in a portion between the drum-shaped case and the disk. This has advantages such as making it possible to downsize the device.

Further, in the device of the present invention, in the unlocking operation, the plate moves in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the roller member by operating the operating member, and the triangular piece is moved by the tapered claw piece to press the roller member. Because of this structure, there is no gap between the roller member and the triangular piece, and between the triangular piece and the tapered claw piece, allowing each member to be in close contact with each other. In addition, the device of the present invention controls the rotation of the shift plate by the cam action caused by the contact between the inclined bead of the shift plate and the inclined bead of the operation board. Since the lock is released by converting the lock into axial movement, the operating force required to release the lock is light, and a smoother unlocking operation can be performed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an example of a continuously locking device according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the same, and Fig. 3 is a front view of the main parts for explaining the operating state, where A is in the locked state and B is in the locked state. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the main part during the unlocking operation, and FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views of the continuously locking device according to the present invention in an installed state in an example of use. In the figure, 1 is a drum-shaped case, 1b is an inner peripheral surface, 3 is an operating shaft, 4 is a disk, 4a and 4b are large-diameter arc-shaped peripheral surfaces, 5 is a roller, 6 is a spring, 7 is a triangular piece, and 8 is a circle A plate, 9 is a claw piece, 10 is a shift plate, 11a, 11b are inclined beads, 13 is an operating board, 14 is an operating lever, and 15a, 15b are inclined beads.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An operating shaft rotatably supported at the center of a drum-shaped case; and an operating shaft located inside the drum-shaped case and fixed to the operating shaft, and at least partially attached to the drum-shaped case. a disk having a substantially arc-shaped circumferential surface forming a narrow space at both ends between the inner circumferential surface of the drum-shaped case and the disk; a roller member having a diameter larger than the width of the narrow portion at both ends of the space; a biasing member that biases the roller member in the direction of the narrow portion of the space; and an inner circumferential surface of the drum-shaped case and the disk. a triangular piece disposed between the roller member and the triangular piece that comes into contact with the roller member and presses it in a direction opposite to the biasing direction of the biasing member; a plate having a tapered claw that contacts the inclined side of the triangular piece; and a plate that is in contact with the plate and is fitted to the operating shaft so as to be rotatable in the circumferential direction and movable in the axial direction; a shift plate having an inclined bead protruding to the opposite side; an operating board fixed to the operating shaft and having an inclined bead protruding so as to come into contact with the inclined bead of the shift plate; and drawable/storable in the operating board. an operating member that is attached to the shift plate and engages with and rotates the shift plate, and inserts the operating shaft into the drum-shaped case and the roller member into the narrow part of the space. By rotating the shift plate using the operating member, the plate body is moved together with the shift plate along the operating axis, and the triangular piece is pressed and moved by the tapered claw piece. 2. A stepless lock device, characterized in that the rotation lock of the operation shaft is released by pushing the roller member out of the narrow portion of the space.