JPH11329806A - In-vehicle rotary operation type electronic components - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide an in-vehicle rotary operation type electronic component that can be operated by a predetermined high rotation torque when rotating an operation shaft, and to provide a small external product. I do. A flat spring 2 formed by bending an elastic metal thin plate having a predetermined width into a polygonal shape between a resin operation shaft 1 and a large-diameter circular hole portion 22 below a circular through hole 20A of a bearing 20.
3, a rotating torque is generated by pressing the flat portion 23A against the outer peripheral surface of the operating shaft 1 and the bent corner portion 23B against the inner peripheral surface of the large-diameter circular hole 22 of the bearing 20 with a predetermined pressure. Since the mechanism section 21 is configured inside the bearing 20, a small on-vehicle rotary operation type electronic component that can obtain a stable rotation torque of the operation shaft 1 at a predetermined height can be realized.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an on-vehicle rotary operation type electronic component which can be operated with a predetermined high rotational torque when operating an operation shaft.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, multifunctionality has been rapidly developed in on-vehicle electronic devices, especially on-vehicle audio devices, and many functions have been condensed in a limited space of a front panel of a car. Therefore, there is an increasing demand for downsizing of on-vehicle rotary operation type electronic components such as variable resistors, encoders, and rotary switches used for adjustment and selection of each function. This is addressed using.

[0003] In general, the on-vehicle rotary operation type electronic component mounted on the on-vehicle electronic device often finds the operation knob mounted on the operation shaft by groping and operates it. In order to prevent the operation shaft from rotating and generating an erroneous signal due to a collision or a vibration of a vehicle, it is necessary to set the rotation torque of the operation shaft to be high even for a small electronic component.

[0004] A rotation torque generating mechanism of an operation shaft most commonly used in such a rotary operation type electronic component for a vehicle will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of a conventional on-vehicle rotary operation type electronic component, and FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the same. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a flange portion 1B integrally formed with an upper operation portion 1A. Is provided below, and its cylindrical intermediate portion 1C is rotatably fitted and held in the circular through hole 2A of the metal bearing 2.

A resin box-shaped case enclosing the flange portion 1B of the operating shaft 1 below the bearing 2 and rotatably holding the positioning portion 1D provided on the center lower surface of the flange portion 1B in the hole portion 3A. 3 are provided.

The flange portion 1 in the box-shaped case 3
A movable contact 4 made of an elastic metal is mounted on the lower surface of B,
The movable contact 4 resiliently contacts a fixed contact portion 5 made of a resistive film or the like formed on the bottom surface of the concave portion of the box-shaped case 3 to form a contact portion therebetween, and the fixed contact portion 5 from the side of the box-shaped case 3. The terminal 6 electrically connected to the terminal protrudes outward, and these constitute an electric signal generating unit 7.

[0008] Then, the outer peripheral portion 1E of the upper surface of the flange portion 1B.
Is formed with a stopper 1F for regulating the rotation angle range of the operation shaft 1. When the flange 1B rotates to a predetermined angle, the stopper 1F comes into contact with a projection 2B provided below the bearing 2. It has become.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a metal cover fixed from above the box-shaped case 3. Elastic legs of a spring member 9 made of an elastic metal plate sandwiched between the cover 8 and the upper surface of the box-shaped case 3. The portion 9A is the upper middle step portion 1 of the flange portion 1B of the operation shaft 1.
I am on G.

The operation of the on-vehicle rotary operation type electronic component configured as described above is such that when the operation unit 1A above the operation shaft 1 is rotated within a predetermined angle range, the flange 1B is rotated and the lower surface of the flange 1B is rotated. The mounted movable contact 4 elastically slides on the fixed contact portion 5 to generate a predetermined electric signal, and the signal is extracted from the plurality of terminals 6.

At this time, the operating shaft 1 is mounted on the flange 1B.
The upper intermediate step portion 1G is pressed downward by the elastic leg portion 9A of the spring member 9 and rotates, so that a rotational torque of a predetermined height of the operation shaft 1 can be obtained.

[0012]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional rotary operation type electronic component for mounting on a vehicle, the elastic leg 9A of the spring member 9 made of an elastic metal plate is connected to the middle of the upper surface of the flange 1B of the operation shaft 1 made of resin. This is a structure that generates a high rotational torque of the operation shaft 1 by elastically contacting the stepped portion 1G. As the external shape of the on-vehicle rotary operation type electronic component is reduced in size, the diameter of the elastic leg 9A of the spring member 9 also increases. Since it must be small, the pressing force of the elastic leg 9A is also weakened accordingly,
Generally, the material and thickness of the spring member 9 are changed so as to increase the elastic contact force of the spring member 9, but there is a limit to this, and it is necessary to realize a large spring pressure. However, since a large pressure is locally applied to the resin flange portion 1B with which the spring member 9 elastically contacts,
There have been problems such as abrasion of the friction surface during the rotation operation.

An object of the present invention is to solve such a conventional problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a small on-vehicle rotary operation type electronic component capable of obtaining a high and stable rotational torque.

[0014]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a rotary operation type electronic component for a vehicle according to the present invention has a large size provided below a circular through hole of a bearing into which an operation shaft is rotatably fitted. A spring body formed by bending an elastic metal thin plate having a predetermined width into a polygonal shape is formed in a circular hole, a plane portion of the spring body is formed on the outer peripheral surface of a columnar intermediate portion of the operation shaft, and a bent corner portion is formed of a bearing. By being mounted so as to be pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the circular hole, the outer peripheral surface of the operating shaft is rotated and slid with respect to the flat portion of the spring when the operating shaft is rotated. .

Thus, the operating shaft rotates while being uniformly pressed by the flat portion of the spring body over the entire circumference, so that a stable rotating torque of the operating shaft having a predetermined height can be obtained and wear can be achieved. In addition, since the rotational torque generating mechanism is configured in the insertion shaft holding portion between the operation shaft and the bearing, it is possible to obtain an in-vehicle rotary operation type electronic component having a small product outer shape.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS According to the first aspect of the present invention, a resin operating shaft integrally formed with a flange below and a cylindrical intermediate portion of the operating shaft can be rotated by a circular through hole. A metal bearing in which the outer periphery of the cylindrical intermediate portion of the operating shaft is inserted with a fixed gap into a large-diameter circular hole provided below the circular through hole, and an elastic metal having a predetermined width. It is formed by bending a thin plate into a polygonal shape surrounding the cylindrical intermediate part of the operating shaft, the flat part of which is on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical intermediate part of the operating shaft, and the bent corner part is inside the large-diameter circular hole of the bearing. The spring body is mounted so as to be pressed against the peripheral surface, and the outer peripheral surface of the operation shaft rotates and slides with respect to the flat portion at the time of the rotation operation of the operation shaft, and the rotation of the flange portion accompanying the rotation operation of the operation shaft , The fixed contact on the contact board under the bearing and the movable contact on the bottom of the flange This is a vehicle-mounted rotary operation type electronic component consisting of an electric signal generation unit that generates a predetermined electric signal by sliding the parts in elastic contact. The rotation torque generation mechanism of the operation shaft is inserted and held between the operation shaft and the bearing. So that the flat portion of the spring body is brought into contact with a large area and at a plurality of places during operation of a resin made of low hardness so that a uniform spring force is applied to the operation shaft over the entire circumference. Therefore, even when the operation shaft is rotated for a long period of time, the sliding portion thereof is less scraped, a constantly high and stable rotation torque of the operation shaft can be obtained, and the outer shape of the product can be easily reduced in size. You can also
Furthermore, because the flange is formed integrally with the operation shaft, the operation shaft can be easily mass-produced by resin molding and the like, and small-sized in-vehicle rotary operation electronic components with high torque can be produced at low cost. Has the effect of being able to.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a rod-shaped operation shaft having an engagement portion having a non-circular cross section below, and a large-diameter circular hole portion below the circular through-hole for fitting and holding the operation shaft. A cylindrical bearing in which a metal bearing and an engaging portion below the operation shaft are rotatably coupled to a central engaging hole, and an upper portion is inserted with a certain gap into a large-diameter circular hole of the bearing. A resin molded body having a lower resin flange at the portion, an elastic metal thin plate having a predetermined width is formed by bending a polygonal shape surrounding the cylindrical part of the resin molded body, and a plane portion thereof is formed of a cylindrical part of the resin molded body. On the outer surface,
The bent corner portions are mounted so as to be pressed against the inner peripheral surfaces of the large-diameter circular holes of the bearing, and the cylindrical portion of the resin molded body rotates and slides with respect to the flat surface portion when the operation shaft is rotated. The movable contact portion on the lower surface of the flange portion and the fixed contact portion on the contact board below the bearing resiliently slide by the rotation of the spring body and the resin molded body due to the rotation operation of the operation shaft, thereby generating a predetermined electric signal. It is a vehicle-mounted rotary operation type electronic component consisting of an electric signal generation part, between the cylindrical part of the resin molded body and the bearing engaged so that the rotation torque generation mechanism of the operation shaft rotates together with the operation shaft. The flat portion of the spring body is brought into contact with the cylindrical portion of the resin molded body having low hardness in a wide area and at a plurality of locations, and a uniform spring force is applied to the cylindrical portion of the resin molded body over the entire circumference. To rotate the operating shaft for a long period of time Even when the molded body is rotated, the sliding part of the molded body is less abraded, and it is easy to use the resin-molded body to obtain a constantly high and stable rotational torque of the operating shaft. Can be realized
It is possible to immediately respond to the specification of the shape of the operation shaft by simply changing the rod-shaped operation shaft.In addition, by manufacturing the required shape of the operation shaft by cutting, the special operation shaft shape It has the effect that it can respond flexibly even if there is.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the first or second aspect, a resin-made circular cross section is pressed against a flat portion of a spring body formed by bending an elastic metal thin plate into a polygonal shape. Lubricating grease is arranged on the outer circumference, so that the operating shaft can be rotated smoothly and stably, and the flattened portion of the spring body can reduce the shaving of the press contact area, so that it can be This has the function of easily realizing a stable rotational torque over the entire range.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. The same components as those described in the section of the related art are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description will be omitted.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of an on-vehicle rotary operation type electronic component according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a main part of a rotary torque generating mechanism of an operation shaft. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX of FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the resin operation shaft 1 has a lower flange portion 1B integrally formed with an upper operation portion 1A. The positioning portion 1D provided on the lower surface of the center of the flange portion 1B is rotatably held in the hole portion 3A of the box-shaped case 3, and the upper portion of the columnar intermediate portion 1C has a circular through hole 20A of the bearing 20. The fitting and holding are performed in the same manner as in the prior art, but the rotational torque generating mechanism 21 of the operating shaft 1 is provided between the cylindrical intermediate portion 1C of the operating shaft 1 and the bearing 20. It has become.

That is, the rotation torque generating mechanism 21
Is a large-diameter circular hole portion 2 below the circular through hole 20A of the bearing 20.
2, a flat spring 23 formed by bending an elastic metal thin plate having a predetermined width into a polygonal shape so as to surround the cylindrical intermediate portion 1C of the operation shaft 1 is positioned and mounted, and lubricating grease is applied to the inside thereof. The cylindrical intermediate portion 1C is inserted, the flat portion 23A of the flat spring 23 is on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical intermediate portion 1C of the operating shaft 1, and the bent corner portion 23B is the large diameter of the bearing 20. It is pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the circular hole 22 with a constant pressure.

A movable contact 4 made of an elastic sheet metal fixed to the lower surface of the flange portion 1B, and a fixed contact portion 5 provided on the bottom surface of the concave portion of the box-shaped case 3 where the movable contact 4 elastically contacts.
The electrical signal generator 7 is constituted by terminals 6 electrically connected to the fixed contact portion 5 and protruding from the box-shaped case 3 in the same manner as in the prior art.

Further, the metal cover 8 is fixed above the box-shaped case 3, and a stopper 1F formed on the outer peripheral portion 1E of the upper surface of the flange portion 1B when the operation shaft 1 is rotated is a bearing. As in the case of the related art, the configuration is such that the rotation operation angle range of the operation shaft 1 is restricted by abutting on the protrusion 20B provided below the projection 20.

The operation of the on-vehicle rotary operation type electronic component having the above configuration is such that when the operation section 1A of the operation shaft 1 is rotated within the range of the rotation angle, the flange section 1 formed integrally with the operation section 1A is operated.
With the rotation of B, the movable contact 4 mounted on the lower surface of the flange portion 1B elastically slides on the fixed contact portion 5 to generate a predetermined signal, and the signal can be taken out from the plurality of terminals 6. At this time, the flat portion 23A of the flat spring 23 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the columnar intermediate portion 1C of the operating shaft 1 and the corner portions 23B are provided on the bearing 2 at the same time.
Since the operating shaft 1 is in pressure contact with the inner peripheral surface of the large-diameter circular hole portion 22, the operating shaft 1 does not rotate unless a predetermined high rotational torque is applied.

When the operating shaft 1 rotates, the frictional force of the flat spring 23 is weaker, that is, the outer circumference of the cylindrical intermediate portion 1C of the operating shaft 1 and the flat portion 23A of the flat spring 23 are rotated. Although the space between them is slid, the plane portion 23A of the flat spring 23 and the cylindrical intermediate portion 1 of the operation shaft 1 are rotated.
The outer circumference of C has a large area, and is pressed and slid at a plurality of locations over the entire circumference of the operation shaft 1 and the lubricating grease is applied to the parts to be pressed, so that rotational torque unevenness can be reduced and the length is long. Even when the operation shaft 1 is rotated over a period of time, the frictional portion of the operation shaft 1 is less scraped, and a high and stable rotation torque of the operation shaft 1 can be obtained.
Rotation torque generating mechanism 21
Thus, a small-sized externally-operated rotary operation type electronic component can be easily realized, and the height of the rotary torque can be appropriately set by changing the material, the material thickness, or the number of bends of the flat spring 23. You can do it.

Then, the assembling method is as follows. First, the flat spring 23 is mounted in the large-diameter circular hole portion 22 of the bearing 20, and then the operating shaft 1 in which lubricating grease is applied to the outer periphery of the cylindrical intermediate portion 1C is used. Since only the press-fitting into the flat spring 23 is sufficient, the number of manufacturing steps can be reduced, and the operating shaft 1 of the on-vehicle rotary operation type electronic component according to the present embodiment is made of resin in which the flange portion 1B is integrally formed. Since the operating portion 1A at the tip of the operating shaft 1 has a standard shape, the operating shaft 1 can be efficiently produced in large quantities by resin molding or the like, and a large number of operating shafts can be produced. It is a matter of course that a small-sized in-vehicle rotary operation type electronic component capable of obtaining a high and stable rotational torque in shape can be produced at low cost.

(Embodiment 2) The rotary operation type electronic component for vehicle mounting according to the present embodiment is different from that according to Embodiment 1 in that a flange portion for mounting an operation shaft and a movable contact is formed by a separate member. Therefore, the following description focuses on the different parts.

FIG. 4A is a side cross-sectional view of a vehicle-mounted rotary operation type electronic component according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along line YY of FIG. As shown in the figure, the rod-shaped operation shaft 24 is fitted above the cylindrical intermediate portion 24A into the circular through hole 25A of the bearing 25, and is rotatably held by the C ring 26 on the lower surface of the circular through hole 25A. At the same time, the engaging portion 24B having a non-circular cross section provided below the operating shaft 24 is
A is rotatably engaged with A.

The cylindrical portion 27B provided above the resin molded body 27 is inserted into the large-diameter circular hole portion 25B below the circular through hole 25A of the bearing 25 so as to have a predetermined gap. The same flat springs 23 as those described in the first embodiment are mounted in the gaps, and these constitute the rotating torque generating mechanism 28.

That is, the configuration of the rotation torque generating mechanism 28 according to the present embodiment is such that the flat spring 23 is formed by bending an elastic metal thin plate having a predetermined width into a polygonal shape so as to surround the cylindrical portion 27B of the resin molded body 27. Is positioned and mounted in a large-diameter circular hole portion 25B of the bearing 25, and a cylindrical portion 27B coated with lubricating grease is inserted through the cylindrical hole 27B. The flat portion 23A of the flat spring 23 is a cylindrical portion. The outer peripheral surface of 27B and the bent corner portion 23B are pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the large-diameter circular hole portion 25B of the bearing 25 with a constant pressure.

The flange portion 27 of the resin molded body 27
A movable contact 4 is mounted on the lower surface of C, and resiliently contacts a fixed contact portion 5 provided on the bottom surface of the concave portion of the box-shaped case 3 facing the movable contact 4. The configuration of the electric signal generator 7 by the terminals 6 protruding from the terminal 3 is the same as that of the first embodiment.

Further, other components such as the metal cover 8 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and therefore, the description thereof is omitted.

Regarding the operation of the on-vehicle rotary operation type electronic component, when the operation shaft 24 is rotated, the resin molded body joined by inserting the engagement portion 24B of the operation shaft 24 into the engagement hole 27A. 27 rotates together with each other, an electric signal is generated by an electric signal generator 7 disposed below the electric signal generator 27, and the electric signal can be derived from the terminal 6. In addition, when the operation shaft 24 is rotated, In the same manner as in the first embodiment, the operation shaft 24 is prevented from rotating unless a predetermined high rotation torque is provided by a rotation torque generating mechanism 28 provided around the operation shaft 24.

In the rotation torque generating mechanism 28 according to the present embodiment, the flat portion 23
A is a surface that is wide on the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 27B of the resin molded body 27 on which lubricating grease is applied, and the corner portion 23B is in contact with the bearing 25 at a plurality of positions. At the time of the rotation operation, the one in which the frictional resistance due to the spring force of the flat spring 23 is weak, that is, the sliding between the cylindrical portion 27B of the resin molded body 27 and the flat portion 23A of the flat spring 23 may be performed. As in the case of the first embodiment, it is possible to easily realize a small in-vehicle rotary operation type electronic component capable of obtaining a high and stable rotation torque with a small rotation torque unevenness of the operation shaft 24 and a large rotation torque. By changing the material, shape and the like of the flat spring 23, its size can be appropriately set.

In the on-vehicle rotary operation type electronic component according to the present embodiment, since the operation shaft 24 and the resin molded body 27 are formed as separate components, when the tip shape of the operation shaft 24 is specified. Needless to say, it is possible to quickly respond by manufacturing only the rod-shaped operation 24 by cutting or the like.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention, a flat spring is mounted between the operating shaft and the bearing or between the resin molded body and the bearing which are rotatably engaged with the operating shaft. Because the rotation torque generation mechanism can be configured with a simple structure of only
An advantageous effect is obtained in that a small on-vehicle rotary operation type electronic component that can always obtain a high and stable rotation torque of the operation shaft can be easily realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of an on-vehicle rotary operation type electronic component according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a rotation torque generating mechanism of the operation shaft, which is a main part of the same.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4A is a side cross-sectional view of a vehicle-mounted rotary operation type electronic component according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
Sectional view at Y line

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of a conventional on-vehicle rotary operation type electronic component.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the same.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 24 Operation axis 1A Operation part 1B, 27C Flange part 1C, 24A Columnar intermediate part 1D Positioning part 1E Upper peripheral part 1F Stopper 3 Box-shaped case 3A Hole part 4 Movable contact 5 Fixed contact part 6 Terminal 7 Electric signal generator Reference Signs List 8 Cover 20, 25 Bearing 20A, 25A Circular through hole 20B Projection 21, 28 Rotary torque generating mechanism 22, 25B Large diameter circular hole 23 Plate spring 23A Planar part 23B Corner part 24B Engagement part 26 C ring 27 Resin Molded body 27A Engagement hole 27B Cylindrical part

Claims (3)

[Claims] An operating shaft made of a resin integrally formed with a flange portion below, and a cylindrical intermediate portion of the operating shaft rotatably fitted and held by a circular through hole, and provided below the circular through hole. A metal bearing in which the outer periphery of the cylindrical intermediate portion of the operating shaft is inserted with a certain gap in the large-diameter circular hole, and an elastic metal thin plate of a predetermined width are formed into a polygonal shape surrounding the cylindrical intermediate portion of the operating shaft. The operating shaft is mounted so that the flat portion thereof is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical intermediate portion of the operating shaft, and the bent corner portion is pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the large-diameter circular hole of the bearing. A spring body in which the outer peripheral surface of the operation shaft rotates and slides with respect to the plane portion during the rotation operation of the operation shaft, and the movable contact portion on the lower surface of the flange portion and the contact board below the bearing by the rotation of the flange portion accompanying the rotation operation of the operation shaft. The upper fixed contact section slides elastically to generate a predetermined electrical signal. In-vehicle rotary operation type electronic components consisting of electric signal generators. 2. A rod-shaped operating shaft having a non-circular cross-section engaging portion below, a metal bearing having a large-diameter circular hole below a circular through hole for fitting and holding the operating shaft, and a center. The lower engaging portion of the operating shaft is rotatably coupled to the engaging hole portion, and the upper portion is a cylindrical portion which is fitted with a certain gap into the large-diameter circular hole portion of the bearing and is made of a lower resin material. A resin molded body having a flange portion, and an elastic metal thin plate having a predetermined width are formed by bending the elastic metal thin plate into a polygonal shape surrounding the cylindrical portion of the resin molded body. And a spring body in which the cylindrical portion of the resin molded body is rotationally slid with respect to the flat portion when the operation shaft is rotated. By the rotation of the resin molded body accompanying the rotation operation of the operation shaft, the movable contact portion on the lower surface of the flange portion An on-vehicle rotary operation type electronic component comprising an electric signal generation unit that generates a predetermined electric signal by a fixed contact portion on a contact board below a bearing resiliently sliding. 3. A lubricating grease is arranged on the outer periphery of a circular section made of resin which is pressed against a flat portion of a spring body formed by bending an elastic metal thin plate into a polygonal shape.
Or the on-vehicle rotary operation electronic component according to 2.