JP2010006311A - Shift lever device - Google Patents

Abstract

A shift lever device capable of absorbing impact energy applied via a shift lever and suppressing generation of noise when the shift lever is operated is provided.
A slit 13 having a space in which a detent protrusion 8 can move between position plates 7a and 7b divided into two on the front side and the rear side in the rotation direction of the shift lever 4 and between the position plates 7a and 7b. The support member 9 is provided on the shift lever 4, and when the impact energy is applied to the shift lever 4 from the distal end side toward the proximal end side, the detent protrusion 8 moves through the slit 13, and the support member 9 moves to the position plate 7a. , 7b.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a shift lever device having a structure for absorbing impact energy applied to a shift lever.

  In this type of conventional shift lever device, an impact energy absorbing structure is provided from the viewpoint of collision safety in a shift operation unit for a vehicle that shifts the transmission by an occupant operating the shift lever. There is one disclosed in Patent Document 1 as a conventional example. In the above conventional example, when an occupant collides with the operation knob and the impact load on the shift lever exceeds a predetermined load, the occupant can absorb the impact energy by a part of the shift lever device. It is designed to reduce damage to the human body so as not to be injured.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the shift lever device 100 disclosed in Patent Document 1 is provided in a housing 101 fixed to a vehicle body, and a shift lever 103 that rotates around a rotation shaft 102, and the shift lever 103. A compression rod 105 that is inserted into the shaft and moves in the axial direction in response to an operation of the knob button 104 provided on the upper portion of the shift lever 103, and a gate 106 that is provided on the housing 101 and has a predetermined upper edge shape. The plate 107 includes a plurality of thin portions 108 and a relief hole 109 provided below the gate 106 of the position plate 107. The compression rod 105 is attached with a position pin 110 penetrating the shift lever 103 in the left-right direction. The position pin 110 engages with an upper edge portion of the gate 106 formed on the position plate 107. An indicator cover 111 provided with a guide hole (not shown) having a predetermined shape through which the shift lever 103 is inserted is mounted on the upper portion of the position plate 107.

  In this conventional example, when the impact load F is applied via the shift lever 103 and the impact pin is applied via the compression rod 105 and the position pin 110 moves, the plurality of thin portions 108 formed over the moving direction are compared. The impact energy applied through the shift lever 103 can be absorbed by easily deforming and breaking sequentially.

  As another conventional example, a shift lever device that switches the range of the shift lever is a pull rod type that switches the range while pushing the knob button to lift the rod. As a conventional shift lever device of the pull rod type, for example, the one described in Patent Document 2 is known. A shift lever is inserted and coupled to the knob, and a skeleton part integral with the knob covers the outer periphery of the shift lever. A compression rod is inserted into the shift lever. The knob is provided with a knob button, and a detent projection is provided at the lower end portion of the compression rod, and a spring that biases the compression rod in a direction of pushing down is provided.

The compression rod is biased downward by this spring, and the shift of the shift lever can be stopped by engaging the detent protrusion with the position plate portion provided on the base plate. When the knob button is pressed, the detent protrusion is lifted upward against the biasing force of the spring, and the shift lever can be moved.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-278085 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-245680

  However, in the device described in Patent Document 1, when an impact load is applied via the shift lever 103, the position pin 110 of the compression rod 105 breaks the thin portion 108 of the position plate 107 and forms the relief hole 109. Since it is a structure to enter, even if it is going to adopt the impact energy absorption structure of the above-mentioned patent document 1 to what is described in the above-mentioned patent document 2, the detent part of the compression rod abuts on the position plate part and cannot move, The shift lever device of Patent Document 2 has a problem that an impact energy absorbing structure cannot be employed.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a shift lever device that can absorb an impact load applied through the shift lever when the shift lever device is the pull rod type. And

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shift lever that is provided in a housing fixed to the vehicle body and rotates around a rotation shaft, and an operation of a knob button that is inserted into the shift lever and provided on an upper portion of the shift lever. A compression rod that is lifted and moved in the axial direction according to the position, a position plate that is provided in the housing and restricts the position of the shift lever in the rotational direction, and is provided at the lower end of the compression rod and engages with the position plate A detent protrusion, and the detent protrusion engages with the position plate to regulate the position of the shift lever in the rotational direction, and the detent protrusion corresponds to the operation of the knob button. By releasing from the position plate, the position restriction in the rotational direction of the shift lever is released. A shift lever device configured as described above, wherein a slit having a space in which the detent protrusion can move between the position plates divided into two in front and rear in the rotation direction of the shift lever; A support member for connecting the divided position plates and an impact energy absorbing means provided in a direction in which the rotation shaft of the shift lever moves are provided, and an impact load is applied to the shift lever from the distal end side toward the proximal end side. When added, the support member is dropped from between the two divided position plates while the detent protrusion moves through the slit.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the shift lever device according to the first aspect, the support member that connects the two divided position plates is made of an elastic material that also serves to prevent impact sound.

  A third aspect of the invention is the shift lever device according to the first aspect, wherein the impact energy absorbing means supports a pivot bracket that supports the rotary shaft, and both ends of the rotary shaft together with the pivot bracket. A pair of shaft support members, and a claw portion that breaks when an impact load is applied via the shift lever. The shaft support member is moved when the shaft support member moves when the claw portion breaks. A metal plate that bends and deforms when pressed is provided on the pivot bracket.

  According to the invention of claim 1, when an occupant or the like collides and an impact load is applied to the shift lever, the support member is dropped from between the two divided position plates, so that the shift lever moves and is divided into two. The movement of the detent projection of the compression rod is allowed by the slit formed between the position plates. As a result, in the pull rod type shift lever device, the impact energy applied through the shift lever can be absorbed by the impact energy absorbing means during the movement of the shift lever and the compression rod.

  According to the invention of claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1, in a normal operation state, the support member provided between the two position plates is made of an elastic material, so that the detent protrusion of the compression rod Can prevent a striking sound when engaging the position plate and the support member, and suppress the generation of noise.

  According to a third aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the invention, the impact energy absorbing means is configured such that when an occupant or the like collides and the impact load on the shift lever exceeds a predetermined load, first the pivot support member After the claw portion of the metal plate is broken, the shift lever, the rotating shaft and the shaft support member move and the shaft support member is pressed against the metal plate, whereby the metal plate is bent and deformed. Therefore, when an impact load is applied via the shift lever, the shaft support member can move in a relatively long distance while absorbing impact energy in two stages by the claw portion of the shaft support member and the metal plate. This can also be applied to a shift lever having a relatively large absorption stroke. Also, since the metal plate absorbs impact energy by bending deformation, it can absorb relatively large impact energy with a small stroke of the shift lever compared to the structure using a resin shock absorbing member, and the metal plate Since the impact load can be easily controlled by adjusting the dimensions (area and plate thickness), the impact absorbing member does not require strict dimensional accuracy.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 5 show an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a side view showing a shift lever device, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the shift lever device, and FIG. 3 is a state where an impact load is applied to the shift lever. 4 is a side view of the shift lever device viewed from the opposite side, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the shift lever device viewed from the opposite side. 1 to 3 show a state in which the upper indicator cover is removed, and FIGS. 4 and 5 show a state in which the shift lever and the compression rod and the upper indicator cover are removed.

  The shift lever device 1 includes a housing 2 that is fixed to a vehicle body (not shown), a shift lever 4 that is provided in the housing 2 and rotates about a rotation shaft 3, and is inserted into the shift lever 4. 4 and a compression rod 6 that moves in the axial direction according to the operation of the knob 5 and knob button 5a, and a position plate 7a (P) that is provided in the housing 2 and regulates the position of the shift lever 4 in the rotational direction. , R range portion), 7b (1 range portion), a support member 9 for connecting the position plates 7a, 7b, a yoke 10 as a support bracket provided on the housing 2 and supporting the rotating shaft 3, A pair of shaft support members 11 that support both ends of the rotary shaft 3 together with the yoke 10, and the shaft support member 1 provided on the yoke 10 when the shaft support member 11 moves. There has been a plurality of metal plates 12 to bending deformation by pressing. Further, the support member 9 is made of an elastic material such as resin, and prevents a hitting sound when the detent protrusion 8 provided at the lower end of the compression rod 6 engages with the position plates 7 a and 7 b and the support member 9.

  An indicator case (not shown) is disposed on the upper portion of the housing 2, and the range position is disposed on the surface. The indicator case is formed with a slide hole in the center portion, and by operating the shift lever 4, the shift lever 4 slides on the slide hole of the indicator case to shift the transmission. Yes.

  The detent protrusion 8 provided at the lower end of the compression rod 6 protrudes laterally from the lower end of the compression rod 6. A pair of arm portions 8a extend downward from both ends of the detent protrusion 8, and the pair of arm portions 8a are arranged so as to sandwich the position plates 7a and 7b and the upper portion of the support member 9 from both sides.

  The position plates 7a and 7b are divided into two parts, that is, a front side and a rear side in the rotation direction of the shift lever 4, and when an impact is applied to the shift lever 4 in the N to 2 range portion between the position plates 7a and 7b. In addition, a slit 13 that allows the movement of the detent protrusion 8 is provided.

  The support member 9 is provided between the position plates 7 a and 7 b so as to cross the slit 13, and both ends are attached by a pair of support shafts 14 protruding from the side surfaces of the position plates 7 a and 7 b, and are fixed by a lock washer 15. ing. The support member 9 has a thin-walled portion 9 a in the middle portion in the longitudinal direction, and when one arm portion 8 a hits the side surface of the support member 9, the detent protrusion 8 becomes detent plates 7 a and 7 b and the support member 9. A striking sound when engaging with the detent groove portions 7c, 7d, 7e is prevented. Further, when an impact load F is applied to the support member 9 via the shift lever 4, the support member 9 is dropped from between the position plates 7a and 7b due to the shaft support member 11 being damaged. The detent groove portions 7d and 7e of the position plates 7a and 7b are formed by portions above the support member 9 of the slit 13.

  Further, impact energy absorbing means is provided in the direction in which the rotary shaft 3 of the shift lever 4 moves. In this impact energy absorbing means, openings (not shown) are formed on the upper surface and the lower surface of the yoke 10, respectively, and an end portion of the rotating shaft 3 and a pivotal support member are formed on a pair of mutually opposing side surfaces of the yoke 10, respectively. An opening 10a through which 11 is exposed is formed. The upper part of the opening 10a is formed in a semi-cylindrical shape and is fitted with a bearing 3a fitted into the rotary shaft 3, and the lower part of the opening 10a is fitted with a shaft support member 11 so as to receive the lower part of the bearing 3a. Yes. The shaft support member 11 has a pair of claw portions 11 a that are broken when an impact load F is applied via the shift lever 4.

  Two metal plates 12 are disposed in each of the regions in which the pair of pivot members 11 move, that is, in the region from the opening 10a of the yoke 10 toward the opening on the lower surface, and substantially the moving direction of the pair of pivot members 11. It extends in the orthogonal direction.

  In this embodiment, the shift lever device 1 is of a pull rod type, and the detent protrusion 8 of the compression rod 6 has the detent groove portions 7d and 7e of the position plates 7a and 7b and the upper edge portion of the detent groove portion 7c of the support member 9. The position of the shift lever 4 in the rotational direction is restricted by the spring (not shown) in the direction in which the detent projection 8 is engaged. When the shift lever 4 is lifted in the axial direction and separated from the upper edge of the detent groove portions 7c, 7d, and 7e, the position restriction in the rotation direction of the shift lever 4 is released, so that the shift lever 4 can be rotated. For example, when the detent projection 8 is engaged with the detent groove portions 7d and 7e by operating the knob button 5a of the shift lever 4 and rotating the shift lever 4 to P, R, or 1 range portion, Since the arm portion 8a comes into contact with the support member 9, a striking sound is prevented.

  Further, when an occupant or the like collides with the knob 5 and an impact load F is applied to the shift lever 4, the shift lever 4 moves and the shaft support member 11 is damaged, so that the compression rod 6 also moves. The arm portion 8a comes into contact with the support member 9, and the support member 9 falls off between the position plates 7a and 7b. As a result, the movement of the detent protrusion 8 is allowed by the slit 13 formed between the position plates 7a and 7b. Therefore, as shown in FIG. After the portion 11a is broken, the shift lever 4, the rotation shaft 3 and the shaft support member 11 move and the shaft support member 11 is pressed against the metal plate 12, whereby the metal plate 12 is bent and deformed, and the impact energy is absorbed. .

  As described above, according to the present invention, when an occupant or the like collides with the knob 5 and an impact load F is applied, the shift lever 4 moves and is formed between the two position plates 7a and 7b. Since the movement of the detent protrusion 8 is allowed by the slit 13, the impact energy can be absorbed by the impact energy absorbing means during the movement process of the shift lever 4 and the compression rod 6. Further, since the support member 9 is made of an elastic material such as resin, the detent protrusion 8 of the compression rod 6 is engaged with the detent groove portions 7d and 7e of the position plates 7a and 7b and the detent groove portion 7c of the support member 9. Since the hitting sound is prevented, the generation of noise can be suppressed.

  Further, according to the present invention, the impact energy absorbing means divides the impact energy in two stages by the claw portion 11a of the shaft support member 11 and the metal plate 12 when an impact load F is applied via the shift lever 4. Since the shaft support member 11 can move for a relatively long distance while absorbing, the shock absorbing stroke amount can be made relatively large. Further, since the impact energy is absorbed by the bending deformation of the metal plate 12, it is possible to absorb a relatively large impact energy with a small stroke amount as compared with the conventional example using the resin impact absorbing member, and the metal plate 12 The impact load can be easily controlled by adjusting the dimensions (width, plate thickness, etc.). Since the shock absorbing member is made of the metal plate 12, the fitting structure does not require strict dimensional accuracy.

  Further, according to the present invention, when the claw portions 11a of the pair of shaft support members 11 are broken by the impact load F applied to the shift lever 4 and the pair of shaft support members 11 move, the metal plate 12 is moved to the moving region. Are disposed two by two and extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the moving direction of the pair of pivot support members 11, so that the pair of pivot support members 11 press against one surface of the metal plate 12 in a direction substantially perpendicular to each other. The metal plate 12 can be bent and deformed in a stable state. Furthermore, since the pair of shaft support members 11 sequentially bend and deform the two stacked metal plates 12, the amount of impact energy that can be absorbed can be increased by absorbing the impact energy over a relatively long distance. Furthermore, in this embodiment, although the said slit was provided between N-2 range parts, you may change N-1 and D-2 and a range part as needed, without restricting to this.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where two metal plates 12 are stacked and arranged in an area where the pair of pivot support members 11 move is illustrated, but three or more metal plates are stacked and arranged. In addition, since the pair of pivot members sequentially bend and deform the stacked metal plates, the impact energy can be absorbed over a longer distance, so that the amount of impact energy that can be absorbed can be increased.

It is a side view which shows one Embodiment of this invention and shows a shift lever apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows one Embodiment of this invention and shows a shift lever apparatus. FIG. 4 is a side view showing the shift lever device in a state where an impact load is applied to the shift lever according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is the side view which showed one Embodiment of this invention and looked at the shift lever apparatus from the other side. It is the perspective view which showed one Embodiment of this invention and looked at the shift lever apparatus from the other side. It is a side view which shows the conventional shift lever apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Shift lever apparatus 2 Housing 3 Rotating shaft 4 Shift lever 5 Knob 5a Knob button 6 Compression rod 7a, 7b Position plate 7c, 7d, 7e Detent groove part 8 Detent protrusion 9 Support member 10 Axial support bracket (yoke)
11 Shaft support member 12 Metal plate 13 Slit

Claims (3)

A shift lever that is provided in a housing fixed to the vehicle body and rotates about a rotation shaft, and is inserted into the shift lever and lifted in the axial direction in response to an operation of a knob button provided on the upper portion of the shift lever. A compression rod that is moved, a position plate that is provided in the housing and restricts a position of the shift lever in a rotation direction, and a detent protrusion that is provided at a lower end of the compression rod and that can be engaged with the position plate. Prepared,
By engaging the detent protrusion with the position plate, the position of the shift lever in the rotational direction is restricted, and the detent protrusion is detached from the position plate according to the operation of the knob button. A shift lever device configured to release the position restriction in the rotation direction of the shift lever,
A slit provided with an interval in which the detent protrusion can move between the position plates divided into two on the front side and the rear side in the rotation direction of the shift lever;
A support member for connecting the two divided position plates; and an impact energy absorbing means provided in a direction in which the rotation shaft of the shift lever moves;
When an impact load is applied to the shift lever from the distal end side toward the proximal end side, the detent protrusion moves through the slit, and the support member drops from between the two divided position plates. A shift lever device characterized. The shift lever device according to claim 1,
The shift lever device according to claim 1, wherein the support member that connects the two divided position plates is made of an elastic material that also serves to prevent a hitting sound. The shift lever device according to claim 1,
The impact energy absorbing means includes
A support bracket for supporting the rotating shaft;
A pair of shaft support members that support both ends of the rotating shaft together with the shaft support bracket,
A claw portion that breaks when an impact load is applied via the shift lever is provided on the shaft support member,
A shift lever device according to claim 1, wherein a metal plate that is bent and deformed when the shaft support member is pressed when the shaft support member moves due to the breakage of the claw portion is provided on the shaft support bracket.

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