JP2006162064A - Actuator device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an actuator device capable of preventing a position detecting means from being contaminated by scattering of grease or the like. <P>SOLUTION: In this actuator 10, a worm 12 connected with a rotating shaft 13a which is rotated and driven, and a worm wheel 14 engaged with the worm 12 for transmitting torque are stored in a housing 17, and a potentiometer 16 is mounted at an output shaft 18 side of the worm wheel 14 with respect to an engagement portion 15 of the worm 12 and the worm wheel 14, to detect the quantity of rotation of the worm wheel 14. A projecting portion 11a is formed on an inner face of the housing 17 between the engagement portion 15 and the potentiometer 16, and a recessed portion 11b is formed on an inner face of the worm wheel 14 opposite to the projecting portion 11a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an actuator device used for an operation assist mechanism of a select lever operated by a driver in an automatic transmission of a vehicle.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known an operation assist mechanism for reducing a driving force for a driver to operate a select lever of an automatic transmission and shortening a shift device (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  This operation assist mechanism has a structure that detects the driver's operation force and operates the actuator device 1 as shown in FIG. 5 to assist the operation of the select lever when the value is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. .

  The actuator device 1 rotates a worm 2 via a rotating shaft 3 a rotated by an electric motor 3, transmits a rotational force to a worm wheel 4 meshed with the worm 2, and the rotation of the worm wheel 4 The output shaft 8 is rotated (see Patent Document 3).

  The worm 2 and the worm wheel 4 are accommodated in the housing 7, and a position detecting means is provided between the worm wheel 4 and the housing 7 in order to detect the amount of rotation (displacement) of the worm wheel 4 as shown in FIG. A potentiometer 6 is provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the potentiometer 6 includes a carbon resistor 6 b attached to the inner surface of the housing 7, contacts 6 a that are in electrical contact with the surface,. Are formed from pedestals 6c and 6c for fixing to the worm wheel 4.

When the worm wheel 4 rotates, the contacts 6a,... Move along the surface of the carbon resistance portion 6b, and the position (angle) of the worm wheel 4 is detected by changing the resistance.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-4135 (FIGS. 1, 5, paragraphs 0042 to 0046) JP-A-11-344114 (FIGS. 1 and 3) JP-A-7-238727 (FIG. 1)

  However, in the actuator device 1 described above, grease 5a is applied to the meshing portion 5 of the worm 2 and the worm wheel 4 in order to improve the movement. This grease 5a is applied to the potentiometer 6 as shown in FIG. There is a risk of scattering and lowering the detection accuracy.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an actuator device in which the position detection means is not contaminated by grease scattering or the like.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a worm connected to a rotary shaft that is driven to rotate and a worm wheel that meshes with the worm wheel and transmits a rotational force are accommodated in a housing, and a meshing portion between the worm and the worm wheel. An actuator device provided with a position detecting means provided on the output shaft side of the worm wheel to detect the amount of rotation of the worm wheel, wherein the housing is disposed between the meshing portion and the position detecting means. The actuator device is characterized in that a protrusion is provided on the inner surface, and a recess is provided on the inner surface of the worm wheel facing the protrusion.

  Also, a worm connected to a rotary shaft that is driven to rotate and a worm wheel that meshes with the worm wheel to transmit rotational force are accommodated in the housing, and are provided closer to the output shaft side of the worm wheel than the meshing portion of the worm and the worm wheel. And a position detecting means for detecting the amount of rotation of the worm wheel, wherein a protrusion is provided on the inner surface of the worm wheel between the meshing portion and the position detecting means, It can also be set as the actuator apparatus which provided the recessed part in the inner surface of the said housing facing a protrusion part.

  In the present invention configured as described above, a protrusion is provided on the inner side surface of the housing between the meshing portion of the worm and the worm wheel and the position detecting means, and the inner portion of the worm wheel facing the protrusion is provided. A recess is provided on the side surface.

  Alternatively, a protrusion is provided on the inner surface of the worm wheel between the meshing portion of the worm and the worm wheel and the position detecting means, and a recess is provided on the inner surface of the housing facing the protrusion. .

  And if the grease applied to the meshing portion is scattered in the direction of the position detecting means, it is blocked by the protrusion and cannot reach the position detecting means. Further, since the concave portion is provided on the side facing the protruding portion, the protruding portion does not hinder the rotation of the worm wheel.

  For this reason, the position detection means is not fouled by scattering of grease applied to the meshing portion, and the detection accuracy is not lowered and position detection is not disabled.

  In particular, when a protrusion is provided on the inner surface of the worm wheel, the position detecting means such as a contact that is fixed to the worm wheel side is not soiled with grease in the step of applying grease.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 2 shows the overall configuration of an automatic transmission 30 in which the actuator device 10 according to the present embodiment is incorporated.

  First, the configuration of the automatic transmission 30 will be described. The automatic transmission 30 is selected by the select unit 24 that is operated by the driver, the actuator device 10 that performs the operation assist of the operating force, and the select unit 24. An automatic transmission unit 28 that can be switched to a range position corresponding to the position, and control cables 21 and 22 that connect them are provided.

  The select unit 24 has a select lever 24a operated by the driver, and is provided, for example, in a center cluster 24b beside the driver's seat. The selector lever 24a has a select knob 24c attached to the upper end of the selector lever 24a to be gripped by the driver during the selection operation, and is rotated around the fulcrum shaft 24d.

  Further, a push-pull control cable 21 is connected to the lower end portion of the select lever 24a through a select lever joint 25.

  The control cable 21 is pivotably connected to the input lever 20 of the actuator device 10 as shown in FIG. With these connections, the rotational motion of the select lever 24a is converted into a linear motion, and the operating force generated by the operation of the select lever 24a is transmitted to the input lever 20.

  The input lever 20 is connected to an output lever 23 via an output shaft 18 that is rotatably provided. The output shaft 18 is the output shaft 18 of the actuator device 10, and the driving force of the electric motor 13 is also transmitted.

  Further, a push-pull control cable 22 is connected to the output lever 23, and this control cable 22 is connected to a control arm 29 of the automatic transmission unit 28.

  Then, the rotation movement of the output lever 23 is converted into a linear movement by the control cable 22, and the combined force of the driver's operating force and the driving force of the electric motor 13 is transmitted to the control arm 29 of the automatic transmission unit 28. .

  The actuator device 10 according to the present embodiment that assists the force for operating the control arm 29 in this manner includes a worm 12 connected to a rotating shaft 13a that is rotationally driven by an electric motor 13 as shown in FIG. A worm wheel 14 that meshes with the portion 15 to transmit a rotational force, a housing 17 that accommodates the worm wheel 14, and a potentiometer 16 as a position detection unit that detects the amount of rotation (displacement) of the worm wheel 14 are provided.

  FIG. 3 shows the housing 17 with the upper lid (not shown) removed in order to clarify the positional relationship between the worm 12 and the worm wheel 14, so that the worm 12 and the worm wheel 14 are not exposed during use. In the housing 17.

  Hereinafter, the internal structure of the actuator device 10 will be described as a first embodiment with reference to FIG.

  In the first embodiment, the inner surface of the housing 17 between the meshing portion 15 of the worm 12 and the worm wheel 14 and the potentiometer 16 is provided with a protruding portion 11a protruding in the direction of the worm wheel 14 as shown in FIG. ing. The projecting portion 11a extends along the outer edge arc of the worm wheel 14 in the paper surface through direction of FIG. 1 so as to block communication between the meshing portion 15 and the potentiometer 16.

  Further, a concave portion 11b is provided on the inner surface of the worm wheel 14 facing the protruding portion 11a. As shown in FIG. 1, the recess 11 b is wider than the protrusion 11 a, and is formed to a depth that does not allow the tip of the protrusion 11 a to contact the worm wheel 14.

  Further, the recess 11b is extended so as to be parallel to the outer edge arc of the worm wheel 14 over a wider range than the projection 11a so that the recess 11b does not come into contact with the projection 11a even if the worm wheel 14 rotates. (See FIG. 3).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the potentiometer 16 includes a carbon resistance portion 16b attached to the inner surface of the housing 17, contacts 16a,... That are in electrical contact with the surface, and contacts 16a,. Is formed from pedestals 16c and 16c for fixing to the worm wheel 14.

  Then, the rotational force of the worm 12 is transmitted to the worm wheel 14 via the meshing portion 15, and the contacts 16 a,... Move on the surface of the carbon resistance portion 16 b as the worm wheel 14 rotates. The resistance value changes, and the position (angle) of the worm wheel 14 is detected.

  Next, the operation of the actuator device 10 according to the first embodiment will be described.

  When the driver grasps the select knob 24 c and performs an operation, the select lever 24 a rotates, and this operating force is transmitted to the input lever 20 via the control cable 21.

  A torsion generated between the input lever 20 and the worm wheel 14 is detected by a torque sensor 19 provided on the output shaft 18. The operation force signal detected by the torque sensor 19 is amplified and transmitted to the assist control unit 26 via the wire harness 27.

  The assist control unit 26 estimates the operating force applied to the select lever 24a based on the detection signal of the torque sensor 19.

  On the other hand, the potentiometer 16 detects the stroke angle of the select lever 24a at any time using the angle when the select lever 24a is stopped at the P range position as a base point angle.

  Then, the assist control unit 26 sets a target assist force based on the detected stroke angle of the select lever 24a and the estimated operation force of the driver, determines the output duty ratio of the electric motor 13, and operates. Let

  The driving force of the electric motor 13 operated in this way is transmitted to the worm 12 via the rotating shaft 13a, and the rotation of the worm 12 is transmitted to the worm wheel 14 via the meshing portion 15 and the output shaft 18 together with the worm wheel 14. Rotate.

  Grease 15 a is applied to the meshing portion 15 for smooth operation, and the grease 15 a is scattered around by the rotation of the worm 12. The grease 15a also scatters in the direction of the potentiometer 16, but as shown in FIG. 1, it is blocked by the protrusion 11a and does not reach the potentiometer 16.

  For this reason, the potentiometer 16 is not soiled by the grease 15a, and the detection accuracy is not lowered and the position detection is not disabled.

  Moreover, since the recessed part 11b is provided in the inner surface of the worm wheel 14 facing the protrusion part 11a, the protrusion part 11a does not contact the worm wheel 14 and prevent rotation.

  Hereinafter, the internal structure of the actuator device 100 incorporated in the automatic transmission 30 (see FIG. 2) will be described as a second embodiment with reference to FIG. The description of the same or equivalent parts as those described in the above embodiment or Example 1 will be given the same reference numerals.

  In the second embodiment, the inner surface of the worm wheel 14 between the meshing portion 15 of the worm 12 and the worm wheel 14 and the potentiometer 16 is provided with a protrusion 110a protruding in the direction of the housing 17 as shown in FIG. It has been.

  The projecting portion 110a extends along the outer edge arc of the worm wheel 14 in the paper surface penetrating direction of FIG. 4 so as to block communication between the meshing portion 15 and the potentiometer 16.

  Further, a concave portion 110b is provided on the inner surface of the housing 17 facing the protruding portion 110a. As shown in FIG. 4, the recess 110 b is wider than the protrusion 110 a, and is formed to a depth at which the tip of the protrusion 110 a does not contact the housing 17.

  Further, the recess 110b is extended so as to be parallel to the outer edge arc of the worm wheel 14 over a wider range than the protrusion 110a so that the recess 110b does not come into contact with the protrusion 110a even if the worm wheel 14 rotates. Yes.

  Next, the operation of the actuator device 100 according to the second embodiment will be described.

  When the worm 12 and the worm wheel 14 are assembled in the housing 17 of the actuator device 100, the grease 15a is applied to each gear surface disposed on the meshing portion 15.

  In the step of applying the grease 15a, a brush (not shown) for applying the grease 15a and the grease 15a are not blocked by the protrusion 110a and do not enter the contact 16a,. The contacts 16a,... Are not soiled with grease when the parts are assembled.

  In particular, in order to improve the detection accuracy, even when the attachment position of the contacts 16a,... Is brought closer to the meshing portion 15 side, the protruding portion that the brush or grease 15a enters the contacts 16a,. This can be reliably prevented by 110a.

  Further, during operation, when the driver performs an operation by grasping the select knob 24c, the electric motor 13 is activated, the driving force is transmitted to the worm 12 through the rotating shaft 13a, and the rotation of the worm 12 is transmitted through the meshing portion 15. The output shaft 18 is rotated together with the worm wheel 14 by being transmitted to the worm wheel 14.

  As described above, the grease 15 a is applied to the meshing portion 15, and the grease 15 a is scattered around by the rotation of the worm 12. The grease 15a is scattered in the direction of the potentiometer 16, but is not blocked by the protrusion 110a and reaches the potentiometer 16 as shown in FIG.

  For this reason, the potentiometer 16 is not soiled by the grease 15a, and the detection accuracy is not lowered and the position detection is not disabled.

  In addition, since the concave portion 110b is provided on the inner side surface of the housing 17 facing the protruding portion 110a, the protruding portion 110a does not come into contact with the housing 17 to prevent rotation.

  Other configurations and functions and effects are substantially the same as those of the above-described embodiment or Example 1, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  The best embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings, but the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment and example, and the design does not depart from the gist of the present invention. Such modifications are included in the present invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiments and examples, the actuator devices 10 and 100 are used in the case where they are incorporated in the automatic transmission 30 of the vehicle. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can also be applied to an actuator device provided with position detection means used for the operation of the mix door.

  Moreover, in the said Example, although the projection parts 11a and 110a were shape | molded integrally on the inner surface of the housing 17 or the inner surface of the worm wheel 14, it is not limited to this, The inner surface of the housing 17 or the worm wheel 14 is not limited to this. You may attach the projection part of another member shape | molded in plate shape to the inner surface of this.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 3 for explaining the actuator device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing explaining schematic structure of the automatic transmission apparatus of a vehicle. It is a perspective view explaining the structure of the actuator apparatus of Example 1 of this invention. It is sectional drawing explaining the actuator apparatus of Example 2 of this invention. It is a cutaway view explaining the configuration of a conventional actuator device. It is the sectional view on the AA line of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Actuator apparatus 11a Protrusion part 11b Recess 12 Worm 13a Rotating shaft 14 Worm wheel 15 Engagement part 16 Potentiometer (position detection means)
17 Housing 18 Output shaft 100 Actuator device 110a Protruding portion 110b Recessed portion

Claims (2)

A worm connected to a rotary shaft that rotates and a worm wheel that meshes with the worm wheel and transmits a rotational force are accommodated in the housing, and are provided closer to the output shaft side of the worm wheel than the meshing portion of the worm and the worm wheel. An actuator device provided with position detecting means for detecting the amount of rotation of the worm wheel,
An actuator device, wherein a projection is provided on an inner surface of the housing between the meshing portion and the position detecting means, and a recess is provided on the inner surface of the worm wheel facing the projection. A worm connected to a rotary shaft that rotates and a worm wheel that meshes with the worm wheel and transmits a rotational force are accommodated in the housing, and are provided closer to the output shaft side of the worm wheel than the meshing portion of the worm and the worm wheel. An actuator device provided with position detecting means for detecting the amount of rotation of the worm wheel,
An actuator device, wherein a projection is provided on an inner surface of the worm wheel between the meshing portion and the position detecting means, and a recess is provided on the inner surface of the housing facing the projection.

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