JPH0571429B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention is used in automobiles, etc., and even when the steering wheel is rotated, the steering pad disposed at the center of the steering wheel does not rotate. The present invention relates to a steering signal transmission device in which a signal generated by operating an operating device such as a push button provided on a steering pad is transmitted to a required circuit.

[Conventional technology]

In recent years, various operating devices have been placed near the driver, for example on the steering wheel pad, so that they can be operated.

In addition, various push buttons and other operating devices are placed on the steering pad, which remains stationary regardless of the rotation of the steering wheel, making it easy to perform various operations without changing your driving position. Attempts are being made to do so.

Therefore, if the steering pad rotates together with the steering wheel, it becomes difficult to operate the operating device, so the steering pad must remain stationary regardless of the rotation of the steering wheel.

In this case, a rotating steering wheel exists between the steering pad and the actuating device that transmits signals and operates by operating the operating device.

Therefore, multiple steering wheels that are linked to the steering wheel are provided, and contacts of the operating device and the actuating device are brought into contact with each slip ring, respectively, to transmit signals from the operating device to the actuating device.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

In the above-mentioned conventional steering signal transmission device, as the number of rotations at which signals are transmitted increases, the number of slip rings becomes correspondingly large, resulting in an increase in the size of the signal transmission device.

However, since the size of the steering column cannot be increased without limit, there is a drawback that the number of circuits is limited.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional technology, the present invention utilizes a timing belt to stop the rotation of the steering pad, and uses this timing belt as a signal transmission means to obtain a large number of signal transmission circuits. The object of the present invention is to provide a steering signal transmission device that provides a steering wheel.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above object, a steering signal transmission device according to the present invention is provided between an inner periphery of a first gear fixed to a column-side fixing member and an inner periphery of a second gear fixed to a pad. , the boss of the steering shaft that rotates together with the steering wheel is rotatable, the first gear and the second gear are arranged coaxially, and the third gear is rotatably attached to a mounting body that pivotally supports the steering shaft. A timing belt is stretched around the teeth of the first gear and the teeth of the second gear simultaneously meshing with the teeth of the first gear and the teeth of the second gear. A conductive part is formed in the crests or troughs, and a conductive part is formed in the troughs or crests of at least some of the teeth of the timing belt, and the conductive part of the first gear is connected to an operating circuit provided on one surface of the gear. The electrically conductive portion of the second gear is connected to the terminal portion provided on one surface of the gear and connected to the operating member.

[Effect]

In the steering signal transmission device of the present invention, a timing belt that is simultaneously meshed with a first gear, a second gear, and a third gear that are rotatably in sliding contact with the boss of the steering shaft and are disposed simultaneously is applied. Since the second gear is fixed to the pad, it does not move relative to the first gear, which is fixed to the column-side fixing member and does not move, and rotation of the pad is prevented. Note that the third gear attached to the mounting body that pivotally supports the steering shaft moves while rolling on the timing belt, so when the steering wheel rotates, the steering shaft also rotates.

Further, since a conductive portion is formed in the troughs or peaks of at least some of the teeth of the timing belt, the plurality of teeth of the first gear and the second gear that mesh with the timing belt via the conductive portion The conductive parts formed in the peaks or valleys of are interconnected at the same time. Therefore, the plurality of operating circuits connected to the conductive part of the first gear are electrically connected to the plurality of operating members connected to the conductive part of the second gear.

〔Example〕

Next, an example of implementation of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 is a first gear, a boss 30 and the boss 30;
It is held between the stopper plate 2 and the stopper plate 2 which is attached with screws 3. Gear 1 has anti-rotation pin 1
c is provided, and this pin 1c fits into the column side fixing member 31. A second gear 4 is held between a boss 30 and a stopper plate 5 attached to the boss 30 with screws 6.
The gear 4 is provided with a pad attachment protrusion 4c, and the gear 4 and the pad 15 are engaged with each other by this.
As shown in FIG. 4, the boss 30 is in rotatable sliding contact with the inner peripheries of the gears 1 and 4, which are spaced apart from each other.
and the second gear 4 are arranged coaxially.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a mounting body that pivotally supports the steering shaft 7, and 9 indicates spokes of a steering wheel fixed to the mounting body 8. By rotating the steering wheel, the steering shaft is rotated and the traveling direction of the vehicle can be changed.

As shown in FIG. 3, the gear 1 and the gear 4 are both meshed with the timing belt 10, so that both gears cannot rotate.

Further, two third gears 11 are supported by shafts 13 on both left and right sides of the leaf spring 12 which is attached to the mounting body 8 by screws 14, and the third gears 11 are connected to the gear 1 and the above. The timing belt 1 is arranged in a substantially triangular shape with respect to the gear 4.
0 are meshed with these gears in a substantially triangular shape as shown in FIG.

Therefore, the steering pad 15 always maintains a non-rotating, stationary state regardless of the rotation of the steering wheel.

When the steering wheel is rotated, the third gear 11 rolls on the timing belt 10 and the mounting body 8 rotates.
The steering shaft 7 also rotates in conjunction with the steering wheel.

At this time, the timing belt 10 is
Since the steering pad 15 is biased in the tensioning direction by the elasticity of the steering pad 15, it is difficult for play to occur between the steering pad 15 and the gears 1 and 4, and the steering pad 15 is prevented from shaking.

However, due to reasons such as making it difficult for the third gear 11 to rotate, the timing belt 1
If the steering wheel is turned strongly when it becomes difficult to rotate the steering wheel, the leaf spring 12 tries to bend against its elasticity, which reduces the tension of the timing belt 10. is reduced and the third gear 11 slips on the timing belt 10.

The steering wheel is thus rotatable.

In addition, if the steering wheel becomes difficult to rotate due to a foreign object being caught between the pads and spokes, if you try to rotate the steering wheel further, gear 4 will shift.
slips on the timing belt 10. Therefore, the pad locked on the gear 4 begins to rotate, the pinched foreign object is removed, and the state in which the steering wheel is difficult to rotate is released.

As shown in FIG. 1, such a timing belt 10 has plating 10a on the tooth crests thereof, from the upper end to the lower end, in the shaded area in the figure.

On the other hand, gears 1 and 4 are also provided with plating 1a and 4a, respectively, in the valley portions indicated by diagonal lines in the figure, and therefore, plating 10a and plating 1a and 4a are provided.
are in contact, and electrical conduction is established from plating 1a to 4a.

The plating 1a of the gear 1 is connected to a terminal portion 1b provided on its lower surface, and this terminal portion 1b is connected to various operating circuits of the vehicle through lead wires.

Further, the plating 4a of the gear 4 is connected to a terminal portion 4b provided on the upper surface of the gear 4.
b is connected to an operating member such as a push button on the steering pad 15 by a lead wire.

Therefore, ON and OFF signals from the operating members on the steering pad 15 are applied to the terminal portion 4b, the peg 4a, the peg 10a, the peg 1a, and the terminal portion 1b.
The signal is transmitted to the operating circuit through which the desired operation can be performed.

In the above embodiment, the platings 1a and 4a may be applied to the crests of the teeth of the gears 1 and 4, and the plating 10a may be applied to the troughs of the teeth of the timing belt 10, or the crests of the timing belt 10 may be plated. Even if the entire mountain portion is made of conductive rubber instead of forming the crest, the same effect as in the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

Furthermore, by connecting a plurality of meshing teeth to the same circuit, the reliability of signal transmission can be improved.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, the present invention provides a timing belt that prevents rotation of the steering pad and keeps it in a stationary state, and a conductive part provided in a predetermined portion of the teeth of a gear that meshes with the timing belt. An operating signal from the controller can be transmitted to the actuator.

The number of teeth that mesh with the timing belt and gear at the same time is large, so a circuit with only this number of teeth,
It is possible to transmit signals in a number of circuits, or an integer fraction thereof.

Furthermore, since the size of the signal transmission device does not become large compared to the large number of circuits, it can be made compact.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the main parts of the gear and timing belt, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the entire steering device, FIG. 3 is an assembled plan view of the same, and FIG. The figure is a sectional view taken along the line A--A in FIG. 3. 1...Gear, 1a...Metting, 1b...Terminal part, 4...Gear, 4a...Metting, 4b...Terminal part, 7...Steering shaft, 8...Mounting body, 9...Spoke, 10 ...Timing belt, 11...Third gear, 12...Plate spring, 13
...Axis, 15...Steering pad.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A boss of the steering shaft that rotates together with the steering wheel is connected to the inner circumference of the first gear fixed to the column-side fixing member and the inner circumference of the second gear locked to the pad. The first gear and the second gear are disposed coaxially so as to be movable, and the teeth of the third gear rotatably attached to the mounting body that pivotally supports the steering shaft are connected to the teeth of the first gear and the second gear. A timing belt is stretched around the teeth of the gear so as to mesh with the teeth of the gear, and a conductive portion is formed in the ridges or valleys of at least some of the teeth of the first gear and the second gear that are meshed with the timing belt. A conductive part is formed in the troughs or peaks of at least some of the teeth of the timing belt, and the conductive part of the first gear is connected to a terminal part provided on one surface of the gear and connected to an operating circuit. A signal transmission device for a steering wheel, characterized in that conductive parts of the gear are respectively connected to terminal parts provided on one surface of the gear and connected to an operating member.