JPH0943006A - Instrument pointer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pointer, for a measuring instrument, in which a balance can be adjusted without irregularities without changing the diameter of a cap. SOLUTION: The protruding installation position of a pointer sheath 3c on a base part 3a is set in such a way that the center P3 of the pointer sheath 3c as the rotation center of a cap 5 becomes a place whose position is shifted to an indication part 3b along the extension direction of the indication part 3b from the center P1 of the base part 3a as the center on the structure of the cap 5. The interval L1 between the center P3 of the pointer sheath 3c and the center P5 of a pin 3d is constituted so as to exceed the interval L3 between the center P1 of the base part 3a and the center P5 of the pin 3d of the base part 3a as the center of gravity of a balancing weight 7.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an instrument pointer,
In particular, the present invention relates to pointers used for measuring instruments such as speedometers and tachometers of vehicles such as automobiles.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A vehicle such as an automobile is provided with an instrument for indicating the traveling speed of the vehicle, the number of revolutions of an engine, and the like with a pointer based on a predetermined measurement amount. As shown in the bottom view of FIG. 5, the pointer 11 of these instruments is generally a pointer body 13
And a cap 15, the pointer main body 13 is attached to a pointer shaft 19 of an internal unit (not shown), a pointer hak 13c.
With a substantially disk-shaped base portion 13a having a central projection, and the base portion 1
An instruction portion 13b for instructing an instruction value, which extends from 3a in the radial direction.
And the cap 15 is formed in a hollow, substantially cylindrical shape with one end open so as to cover the base 13a,
The indicator portion 13b is an annular flange portion 1 of the cap 15.
It is configured to project outward from 5a. In the figure, 13e indicates a colored film formed on the back surface of the indicating portion 13b by a hot stamp or the like.

In the pointer 11, the pointer 11 is balanced when it is rotationally driven by the internal unit via the pointer shaft 19, and the pointer 11 is placed on the pointer shaft 19.
Conventionally, a balance weight 17 is attached to the inside of the cap 15 so that the center of gravity of the cap 15 substantially matches.

In the conventional pointer 11 shown in FIG. 5 mentioned above, the balance weight 17 is extended by a predetermined length along the flange portion 15a of the cap 15 in the circumferential direction of the base portion 13a, and both end portions in the circumferential direction are provided. 6 is fixed to the pointer main body 13 by welding the head of the pin 13d protruding from the base 13a as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. The aim is to obtain a sufficient balance effect by enlarging the balance weight 17 without increasing the outer diameter. What has made this even more remarkable is, for example, the balance weight holding structure of the pointer disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 6-40897. In this balance weight holding structure, the thickness of the balance weight along the pointer axis has been reduced to the conventional value. It is configured to increase more than.

[0005]

However, in any of these configurations, the balance weight 17 has the extending direction of the indicating portion 13b indicated by the arrow X in FIG. 5 and the direction orthogonal to the extending direction indicated by the arrow Y in FIG. Since it extends long in both directions X and Y, the balance of the pointer 11 as a whole tends to vary in both directions X and Y, which eventually causes inconvenience such as uneven rotation. Further, if the balance weight 17 is made too large to gain weight, the responsiveness of the pointer 11 at the time of rotation deteriorates, and the torque of the internal unit must be increased to compensate for it.

On the other hand, if the balance weight 17 is made as small as possible and the weight is also made small, the rotational moment of the balance weight 17 acting when the pointer 11 is rotated is reduced, so that a sufficient balance effect is obtained. The balance weight 17 is separated from the pointer haker 11c according to the amount of the weight reduction, and the center of gravity of the balance weight 17 shown by P7 in FIG. 5 and the center P9 of the pointer haker 11c which is the rotation center of the pointer 11 are set. It is necessary to take a large distance L7, and if such a configuration is adopted, a new problem will occur in which the outer diameter of the cap 15 is increased.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances,
An object of the present invention is to provide a pointer for an instrument that enables a balance adjustment without variation without changing the diameter of the cap.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, an instrument pointer of the present invention has an indicator portion extending radially outward from the peripheral surface of a circular cap, so that the pointer is indicated by the pointer. And the balance weight disposed in the cap, the balance during rotation of the cap and the indicator is rotated by rotating the indicator and the indicator according to the measured amount. In the instrument pointer adapted to take the above, the center of the cap is eccentric from the center of rotation of the cap.

Further, according to the present invention, the balance weight is disposed at a position inside the cap, which is displaced from a center of rotation of the cap in a direction away from the indicating portion along the extending direction of the indicating portion. The center of the cap is displaced from the center of rotation of the cap toward the indicating portion along the extending direction of the indicating portion.

According to the present invention, the center of the cap is eccentric from the center of rotation of the cap, so that the distance from the center of the cap to the center of gravity of the balance weight and the distance from the center of rotation of the cap to the center of gravity of the balance weight. It is possible to change the degree of balance of the pointer with the balance weight without changing the diameter of the cap, the shape of the balance weight, and the weight due to the difference in the gap.

When the balance weight is arranged at a position inside the cap that is displaced from the center of rotation of the cap in the direction of extension of the indicator along the direction in which it extends, the center of the cap Is shifted from the center of rotation of the cap toward the indicator along the extension direction of the indicator, the distance from the center of rotation of the cap to the center of gravity of the balance weight is more than the distance from the center of the cap to the center of gravity of the balance weight. Surpasses. Therefore, compared to the structure in which the center of the cap is aligned with the center of rotation of the cap,
The rotational moment of the balance weight that acts when the pointer rotates is increased, so that it is not necessary to increase the diameter of the cap, the shape of the balance weight, and the weight.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a bottom view of an instrument pointer according to an embodiment of the present invention. The pointer of the present embodiment shown by 1 in the figure includes a pointer main body 3, a cap 5, and a balance weight 7.

The pointer main body 3 has a substantially disk-shaped base 3a.
And an indicating portion 3b for indicating an indicated value which extends from the circumferential surface of the base portion 3a along the radial direction of the base portion 3a, and a rear surface portion of the base portion 3a which is displaced from the center P1 of the base portion 3a toward the indicating portion 3b. Of the base portion 3a, which is located on the opposite side of the indicating portion 3b along the extending direction of the indicating portion 3b from the indicating portion 3c at the base portion 3a. The pin 3d for mounting the balance weight is provided in a protruding manner at the peripheral portion of the back surface. That is, in the present embodiment,
Distance L between the center P3 of the pointer hakama 3c and the center P5 of the pin 3d
1 is larger than the distance L3 between the center P1 of the base 3a and the center P5 of the pin 3d. still,
In the figure, 3e indicates a colored film formed by a hot stamp or the like on the back surface of the indicating portion 3b.

The cap 5 has an annular flange 5a (corresponding to the peripheral surface of the cap) having an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the base 3a, and a disc-shaped top plate 5b for closing one end in the width direction of the flange 5a. As a result, as shown in the sectional view of FIG.
The base 3a is formed into a substantially U-shaped cross section, and the base 3a is connected to the flange 5.
With the surface of the base 3a abutting against the inner surface of the top plate 5b, the top plate 5b is placed at the center P1 of the base 3a.
The center of the cap 5, that is, the center of the cap 5, coincides with the pointer hak 3c protruding outward from the open end of the cap 5, and
The tip of the pin 3d is located inside the cap 5.

The balance weight 7 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in, it has a substantially cylindrical shape, and its axial length is
As shown in FIG. 2, the pin 3d is formed to have a size shorter than the protruding length of the pin 3d, and a through hole 7a is formed in the axial center of the balance weight 7 as shown in FIG. The through hole 7a is formed with an inner diameter that is the same as or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the pin 3d, and the balance weight 7 includes the base portion 3a inside the cap 5 as described above, as shown in FIG. The base 3a of the pointer main body 3 is housed and brought into contact with the inner surface of the cap 5, and the pin 3d is inserted into the through hole 7a and fitted, and one end of the balance weight 7 is brought into contact with the back surface of the base 3a. By doing so, the outer peripheral surface of the balance weight 7 is formed with an outer diameter and a height that can be accommodated in the cap 5 without interfering with the inner peripheral surface of the flange 5a.

Next, the operation will be described. Guideline 1
Is a state in which the base portion 3a of the pointer main body 3 is housed in the cap 5 and the pointer shaft 9 of an unillustrated inner machine is press-fitted into the pointer hak 3c, and the pointer shaft 9 is displayed by the inner needle 1 by this inner machine. By rotating and driving the state of the event at an angle according to the measured amount, the pointer body 3 and the cap 5 are eccentric from the center P1 of the base portion 3a that coincides with the center of the cap 5,
It is rotated integrally with the center P3 of the pointer hakama 3c as the center of rotation. Then, by the rotation of the pointer 1, for example, the scale portion or the like according to the measured amount on the dial (not shown) is designated by the indicating portion 3c. The center of gravity of the balance weight 7 is such that the balance weight 7 has a substantially columnar shape, and the through hole 7a is formed through the axial center of the balance weight 7. Therefore, the pin 3d which is inserted through the through hole 7a. Located on the center P5 of the.

In the pointer 1 having such a structure, the distance L3 between the center P1 of the base 3a of the pointer main body 3 which is the structural center of the cap 5 and the center P5 of the pin 3d which is the center of gravity of the balance weight 7 Also, the distance L1 between the center P3 of the pointer hak 3c, which is the center of rotation of the cap 5, and the center P5 of the pin 3d, is greater. Therefore, as compared with the structure in which the pointer hak 3c is projected on the center P1 of the base 3a and the rotation center of the cap 5 is aligned with the center P1, the rotation moment of the balance weight 7 generated when the pointer 1 rotates is smaller than that of the structure. Increase. In other words, when the same rotation moment is generated by using the balance weight 7 having the same weight, compared with the structure in which the rotation center of the cap 5 is aligned with the center P1 of the base portion 3a, the cap 5 moves from above this center P1. The outer diameter of the base portion 3a and thus the outer diameter of the cap 5 becomes smaller when the center of rotation is shifted.

As described above, according to the guideline 1 of the present embodiment,
The center P3 of the pointer hakama 3c, which is the center of rotation of the cap 5,
The pointer hak on the base portion 3a is located so as to be displaced from the center P1 of the base portion 3a, which is the structural center of the cap 5, toward the indication portion 3b along the extending direction of the indication portion 3b. The protruding position of 3c was set. Therefore, a large distance from the center of rotation of the cap 5 to the center of gravity of the balance weight 7 is set so that the balance weight 7 can be rotated when the pointer 1 rotates.
Therefore, it is not necessary to increase the outer diameter of the cap 5 in order to generate a large rotation moment. Similarly, increase the weight of the balance weight 7,
In order to generate a large rotation moment by the balance weight 7 when the pointer 1 rotates, the balance weight 7
There is no need to increase the outer diameter of the pointer, thereby facilitating the balance of the pointer 1 as a whole in the extending direction of the indicating portion 3b and the direction orthogonal to this, and making it possible to perform the balance adjustment without variation. it can.

The shape of the balance weight 7 is not limited to the substantially cylindrical shape shown in the present embodiment, but may be any shape such as a flat plate shape or a prismatic shape. Whether or not the colored film 3e is formed on the back surface of the indicating portion 3b. It is also optional. The position of the center P3 of the pointer hak 3c, which is the center of rotation of the cap 5, on the base 3a includes the position of the balance weight 7 on the base 3a, the center of gravity of the balance weight 7, and the balance weight 7. Depending on the balance of the pointer 1 as a whole, it can be set to any position other than the position shown in this embodiment.

Further, in the present embodiment, the structure in which the pointer hak 3c and the pin 3d for mounting the balance weight 7 are respectively provided on the base 3a of the pointer main body 3 has been described.
As shown in the cross-sectional view in FIG. 3, a pointer hak 5c and a pin 5d for mounting the balance weight 7 are respectively projected from the top plate 5b of the cap 5, and the pointer hak 5c and the pin 5d are
The pointer body 3 may be inserted into the through holes 3f and 3g of the corresponding base portion 3a. Alternatively, one of the pointer hakama and the pin for mounting the balance weight 7 may be integrally provided on the pointer main body 3 and the other may be integrally provided on the cap 5, and in addition, the pointer hakama is the pointer main body 3 and the cap. It may be configured to be provided separately from any of the above.

Further, in the present invention, regardless of whether the pointer is an indirect or transmitted illumination type pointer or a self-luminous type pointer, in other words, the pointer body 3, the cap 5 and the balance weight 7 are transparent. A pin for mounting the balance weight 7 is further provided on the pointer body 3 regardless of whether it is formed of a light-transmitting member or a light-shielding member, or of which material these are made of. Whether it is provided integrally with the cap 5, or provided separately from both the pointer body 3 and the cap 5.
In this regard, it goes without saying that the balance weight 7 can be widely applied to various instrument pointers regardless of whether the balance weight 7 is fixed to the pointer main body 3 or the cap 5.

Therefore, it is not necessary to construct the pointer 1 by assembling the pointer main body 3 and the cap 5 which are separate bodies as in this embodiment, and the pointer 1 can be used as a pointer or the like of a motorcycle. The present invention is also applicable to the pointer 1A integrally formed with the indicating portion 1B, the cap 1C, and the pointer hull 1D, which is shown in a sectional view in FIG. FIG.
The middle 1E is a pin for attaching the balance weight 7, P11 is the center of the structure of the cap 1C formed in a circular shape in plan view, P13 is the center of the pointer hull 1D, and P15 is the center of the pin 1E. Hakama 1 which is the center of rotation of
The center P13 of D is displaced from the center P11 of the cap 1C closer to the indicator 1B. Therefore, this guideline 1
Also in A, the distance L13 from the center P13 of the pointer hakama 1D to the center P15 of the pin 1E, which is the center of gravity of the balance weight 7, is from the center P11 of the cap 1C to the pin 1E.
The distance becomes larger than the distance L11 to the center P15 of the cap 1C, which makes it possible to obtain a large rotational moment relative to the diameter of the cap 1C. Such an integrated pointer 1
When forming A, it is optional whether the pointer 1A is made of a material, particularly a light-transmitting member or a light-shielding member.

[0023]

As described above, according to the pointer for an instrument of the present invention, the indicator is extended from the circumferential surface of the circular cap to the radial outside of the cap, and the cap is measured together with the indicator. Rotate according to the amount, and let the indicator indicate the indicated value according to the measured amount, and use a balance weight arranged in the cap to balance the cap and the indicator during rotation. In the instrument pointer described above, the center of the cap is eccentric from the center of rotation of the cap. Therefore, it is possible to make the distance from the center of the cap to the center of gravity of the balance weight different from the distance from the center of rotation of the cap to the center of gravity of the balance weight. It is possible to change the degree of balance adjustment of the entire pointer by this balance weight without changing the shape and weight.

Further, according to the present invention, the balance weight is provided at a position inside the cap, which is displaced from the center of rotation of the cap in a direction away from the indicating portion along the extending direction of the indicating portion. In accordance with this, the center of the cap is displaced from the rotation center of the cap toward the indicating portion along the extending direction of the indicating portion. Therefore, the distance from the center of rotation of the cap to the center of gravity of the balance weight is greater than the distance from the center of the cap to the center of gravity of the balance weight, and the center of the cap is aligned with the center of rotation of the cap. In comparison, it is possible to increase the rotation moment of the balance weight that acts when the pointer rotates, thus eliminating the need to increase the diameter of the cap, the shape of the balance weight, and the weight, and to adjust the balance of the pointer without fluctuation. There is an effect such that the above can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a bottom view of an instrument pointer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the instrument pointer of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an instrument pointer according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an instrument pointer according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of an instrument pointer according to a conventional example.

6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the instrument pointer of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 1A Instrument pointer 1B, 3b Indicator 1C Cap 5 Cap 5a Flange (cap peripheral surface) 7 Balance weight P1 Pointer base center (cap center) P3, P13 Pointer center (cap rotation center) P11 Cap center

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An indicator according to a measured amount is provided by extending an indicator from a peripheral surface of a circular cap outward in a radial direction of the cap and rotating the cap together with the indicator according to a measured amount. In the instrument pointer in which a value is indicated by the indicating section and a balance weight disposed in the cap is used to balance the cap and the indicating section during rotation, the center of the cap is set to the cap. An instrument pointer, which is eccentric from the center of rotation of. 2. The balance weight is disposed at a position inside the cap, which is displaced from a center of rotation of the cap in a direction away from the indicating portion along an extending direction of the indicating portion, The instrument pointer according to claim 1, wherein the center of rotation of the cap is displaced from the center of the cap toward the indicator along the extending direction of the indicator.