JP7329168B2 - vehicle step device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a step device provided in a vehicle.

2. Description of the Related Art Some vehicles, such as automobiles, having a high floor position are equipped with a step device in order to improve the ease of getting on and off of passengers. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a movable side step device provided under a side door of a vehicle. In the side step device described in Patent Document 1, a step for getting on and off (side step) is connected to the lower part of the vehicle body via a parallel link, and the user can get on and off in the vertical direction (vertical direction and vehicle width direction) with respect to the vehicle body. The step is movable. The side step device is configured such that the step for getting on and off can be moved between a retracted position stored under the vehicle body and a deployed position projecting laterally from the vehicle body by actuating the actuator.

JP-A-58-39543

By the way, while the vehicle is running, wind flows from the front to the rear of the vehicle over the upper surface of the step for entry and exit in the retracted position, and the air inside the side step device is sucked out by such wind flow. Therefore, when the vehicle travels on a snowy road, the snow that is lifted up by the front wheels and flows under the floor toward the rear of the vehicle is sucked into the side step device. Then, the snow sucked into the side step device collides with the components of the side step device (for example, parallel links, etc.) and accumulates inside the side step device. If snow accumulates inside the side step device, there is a risk that the movement of the step for entry/exit between the retracted position and the deployed position, especially the movement of the step for entry/exit from the retracted position to the deployed position, will be hindered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a step device for a vehicle capable of suppressing accumulation of snow inside.

In order to achieve the above object, a step device for a vehicle according to the present invention comprises: a step for getting on and off; a vehicle body fixing member fixed to a vehicle body; a first link arm having one end rotatably supported by the vehicle body fixing member and the other end rotatably supported by the other end of the step support member; a second link arm which is rotatably supported by the vehicle body fixing member while being spaced apart from the arm to the outside in the vehicle width direction and whose other end is rotatably supported by the other end of the step support member; and an actuator for rotationally driving the first link arm, and by rotationally driving the first link arm by the actuator, the step for getting on and off is moved to a deployed position located outside the vehicle body and to a lower portion of the vehicle body. A vertical link type step device for a vehicle that is moved in the vehicle width direction between a stored position and a stored position, wherein the vehicle body fixing member is positioned inside the step in the vehicle width direction at the stored position of the step for getting on and off. has a wall portion extending toward the step support member so as to have a vertical gap with respect to the step support member, and the wall portion is positioned at least above the step support member. A lower edge of the wall portion is positioned at the same height as or below the upper surface of the step for getting on and off .

Alternatively, a step device for a vehicle according to the present invention includes a step for getting on and off, a vehicle body fixing member fixed to a vehicle body, a step support member that supports the step for getting on and off at one end and extends in the vehicle width direction, a first link arm rotatably supported by a vehicle body fixing member and having the other end rotatably supported by the other end of the step support member; a second link arm rotatably supported by the vehicle body fixing member with the other end portion rotatably supported by the other end portion of the step support member; and an actuator that rotates the first link arm by the actuator to move the step for entry/exit between a deployed position located outside the vehicle body and a retracted position located below the vehicle body. In the step device for a vehicle, the vehicle body fixing member is attached to the step support member on the vehicle width direction inner side of the boarding/alighting step at the retracted position of the boarding/alighting step. It has a wall portion extending toward the step support member so as to have a vertical gap therebetween, and the lower edge of the wall portion is at the same height as the upper surface of the step for getting on and off. Alternatively, the step supporting member is positioned below the upper surface, and has a projecting portion that projects upward from the step supporting member on the vehicle width direction inner side of the wall portion when the step for entry and exit is in the retracted position. The upper edge of the projection is at the same height as or above the lower edge of the wall.
In the vehicle step device according to one aspect of the present invention, the step support member is positioned between the step for getting on and off and the projecting portion in the vehicle width direction and is inclined downward toward at least one of the longitudinal directions of the vehicle body. It has an inclined surface portion.

According to the step device for a vehicle according to the present invention, the vehicle body fixing member has a gap in the vertical direction with respect to the step supporting member on the vehicle width direction inner side of the step for getting on and off when the step for getting on and off is stored. It has a wall portion extending toward the support member, and the lower edge of the wall portion is positioned at the same height as or below the upper surface of the step for getting on and off. Therefore, in the retracted position of the step for entry and exit, the edge of the lower side of the wall portion and the upper surface of the step for entry and exit form a meandering passage (hereinafter referred to as "labyrinth passage") extending from the lower part of the vehicle body (under the floor) to the outside of the vehicle body. ”) is formed. As a result, the air inside the side step device has a greater resistance when it passes through the labyrinth passage while the vehicle is running, and the amount of air sucked out from inside the side step device can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the amount of snow sucked into the side step device when the vehicle travels on a snowy road, thereby suppressing the accumulation of snow inside the side step device.

1 is an outline view of a vehicle provided with a step device according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a rear link mechanism in a retracted state; FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a link arm of the step device of one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a rear link mechanism in an unfolded state;

An embodiment of a step device for a vehicle embodying the present invention will be described below.
FIG. 1 is an outline view of a vehicle 2 provided with a step device 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the rear link mechanism 5 in the retracted state. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the link arm 14 of the step device 1 of one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of the rear link mechanism 5 in the unfolded state. For convenience of explanation, "front", "rear", "left", and "right" as viewed from the seated occupant are defined based on the traveling direction of the vehicle 2, and "up" and "down" are defined based on gravity. Define That is, the arrows "front" and "rear" shown in each figure indicate the forward and backward directions of the vehicle 2, the arrows "left" and "right" indicate the vehicle width direction of the vehicle 2, and the arrows "up" and "right" indicate the vehicle width direction. “Down” indicates the vertical direction of the vehicle 2 . 1, illustration of a front door and a rear door on the left side (passenger seat side) of the vehicle 2 is omitted, and the step device 1 is in an unfolded state. 2 and 4 are views of the rear link mechanism 5 and its surroundings as viewed from behind the vehicle 2. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, a step device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention is a movable step device provided at the lower part of a 1BOX type vehicle 2 on the passenger seat side, for example. The step device 1 includes a step plate 3 (step for getting on and off) and two link mechanisms 4 and 5 that support the step plate 3 so as to be movable in the vertical direction (vehicle width direction and vertical direction).
The step plate 3 extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle below the opening 6 of the front door on the left side (passenger seat side) of the vehicle 2 and the opening 7 of the sliding rear door, and has a vehicle width on which the feet of the occupant can be placed. Set to directional length. The step plate 3 is supported on the lower part of the vehicle body, more specifically, on the lower part of the side sill 8 on the left side (passenger seat side) of the vehicle 2 via two link mechanisms 4 and 5 .

The two link mechanisms 4 and 5 are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The step device 1 is configured such that the step plate 3 is movable in the vehicle width direction between a retracted position positioned at the bottom of the vehicle 2 and a deployed position protruding outward (to the left) in the vehicle width direction from the side sill 8 . ing. Of the two link mechanisms 4 and 5, the rear link mechanism 5 on the rear side of the vehicle 2 has a drive motor 10 (actuator) that rotationally drives a link (drive link 12 to be described later). The front link mechanism 4 on the front side of the vehicle 2 does not have a drive motor and operates following the movement of the step plate 3 .

The drive motor 10 is controlled to automatically operate as the front door and the rear door on the passenger seat side of the vehicle 2 are opened and closed. For example, when the front door and the rear door are closed, the step plate 3 is positioned at the retracted position, and when at least one of the front door and the rear door is opened, the step plate 3 moves to the deployed position. is operated and controlled.

The rear link mechanism 5 having the drive motor 10 will be described below, but the front link mechanism 4 differs from the rear link mechanism 5 in that no drive motor is provided. The positions in the vehicle width direction, the vertical positions, etc. of the vehicle 2 have the same configuration.
As shown in FIG. 2, the rear link mechanism 5 includes a link bracket 11 (vehicle fixing member), a drive link 12 (first link arm), a driven link 13 (second link arm), and a link arm 14 (step support member). ).

The link bracket 11 includes two thick plate-like vertical plate members 11a which are arranged at intervals in the front-rear direction and extend in the vehicle width direction and the vertical direction, and connects the two vertical plate members 11a in the front-rear direction. It has a plate-like connection member 11b that closes the upper side of the link bracket 11, and is formed in a box shape with an open lower side. The link bracket 11 is fixed to the lower portion of the vehicle body 20 by bolts at four locations on the front, rear, left, and right.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the step plate 3 is in the retracted position, the link bracket 11 is arranged so that the link arm 11 has a vertical gap G with respect to the link arm 14 on the vehicle width direction inner side (right side) of the step plate 3 . It has a wall portion 11c extending toward 14 . Specifically, the wall portion 11c is a plate-like member that extends downward from the lower surface of the connection member 11b of the link bracket 11, has a predetermined thickness in the vehicle width direction, and extends in the front-rear direction. there is The length of the wall portion 11c in the front-rear direction is set to be the same as or substantially the same as the distance in the front-rear direction between the later-described front vertical plate member 14a and the rear vertical plate member 14b of the link arm 14 . The length of the wall portion 11c in the front-rear direction may be shorter than the distance in the front-rear direction between the front vertical plate member 14a and the rear vertical plate member 14b. Moreover, the cross-sectional shape of the wall portion 11c may be tapered from the upper side to the lower side (see FIG. 2), or may be widened.

As shown in FIG. 2, the wall portion 11c has a lower edge 11d facing the upper surface of the link arm 14 when the step plate 3 is in the retracted position. The lower edge 11d of the wall portion 11c is located below the upper surface 3a of the step plate 3 when the step plate 3 is in the retracted position. The lower edge 11d of the wall portion 11c may be positioned at the same or substantially the same height as the upper surface 3a of the step plate 3.

As shown in FIG. 3, the link arm 14 is an arm-shaped member arranged to extend in the vehicle width direction, and is composed of two thick plate-shaped front vertical plate members arranged with an interval in the front-rear direction. 14a and a rear vertical plate member 14b, and the front vertical plate member 14a and the rear vertical plate member 14b are connected at a vehicle width direction outer (left) portion or the like. A step plate 3 is fixed to an outer end portion 14c of the link arm 14, which is located outside in the vehicle width direction. The link bracket 11 and the link arm 14 are arranged at the same longitudinal position. Specifically, the front vertical plate member 11a of the link bracket 11 and the front vertical plate member 14a of the link arm 14, and the rear vertical plate member 11a of the link bracket 11 and the rear vertical plate member 14b of the link arm 14 are the same. are placed in the front and rear positions of the

As shown in FIG. 2, the link arm 14 has a projecting portion 14d that projects upward from the link arm 14 inside the wall portion 11c in the vehicle width direction when the step plate 3 is in the retracted position. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the protruding portion 14d has an upper edge 14e extending in the front-rear direction, and is inclined downward from the edge 14e toward the inner side (right side) in the vehicle width direction. and a damming surface 14g extending vertically downward from the edge 14e. An upper edge 14e of the projecting portion 14d is formed by a contact portion between the inner inclined surface 14f and the damming surface 14g. The projecting portion 14d is arranged between the front vertical plate member 14a and the rear vertical plate member 14b, and has a length in the front-rear direction equal to or substantially equal to the distance in the front-rear direction between the front vertical plate member 14a and the rear vertical plate member 14b. It has a In addition, the dam surface 14g may not be formed vertically, and may be inclined downward toward the right side from the edge 14e, for example. Also, the inner inclined surface 14f may extend to the lower end 14h of the link arm 14 as shown in FIG. 2, or may not reach the lower end 14h. As shown in FIG. 2, the upper edge 14e of the projecting portion 14d is located above the lower edge 11d of the wall portion 11c when the step plate 3 is in the retracted position. The upper edge 14e of the projecting portion 14d may be located at the same or substantially the same height as the lower edge 11d of the wall portion 11c when the step plate 3 is in the retracted position.

Further, the link arm 14 has an inclined surface portion 14i that inclines downward in at least one direction in the front-rear direction between the step plate 3 and the projecting portion 14d in the vehicle width direction. Specifically, the inclined surface portion 14i of the link arm 14 is formed between the outer end portion 14c and the damming surface 14g of the projecting portion 14d in the vehicle width direction. The inclined surface portion 14i has an upper edge 14j extending in the vehicle width direction. and a rear side inclined surface 14l that inclines to . An upper edge 14j of the inclined surface portion 14i is formed by a contact portion between the front inclined surface 14k and the rear inclined surface 14l. The upper edge 14j of the inclined surface portion 14i is positioned below the upper edge 14e of the projecting portion 14d. Note that the inclined surface portion 14i may be composed of only one of the front inclined surface 14k and the rear inclined surface 14l. In this case, the other of the front inclined surface 14k and the rear inclined surface 14l may extend vertically downward from the upper edge 14j. In the vicinity of the inclined surface portion 14i, the front vertical plate member 14a and the rear vertical plate member 14b respectively have concave portions 14m and 14n that are recessed downward. Each of the recesses 14m and 14n is recessed below or at the same height as the front edge 14o of the front inclined surface 14k and the rear edge 14p of the rear inclined surface 14l.

The drive link 12 and the driven link 13 are arm-shaped members having a box-shaped cross section. As shown in FIG. 2, each of the drive link 12 and the driven link 13 includes link pins 21, 22, and 23 arranged so that one end is connected to the link bracket 11 and the other end is connected to the link arm 14, and the axes extend in the front-rear direction. , 24 so as to be pivotally supported. Therefore, the drive link 12 and the driven link 13 are arranged so as to be able to swing relative to the vehicle body 20 in the vehicle width direction. The drive link 12 is arranged on the inner side (right side) of the driven link 13 in the vehicle width direction. Also, the drive link 12 is formed shorter than the driven link 13 .

A first link pin 21 that supports the link bracket 11 and the drive link 12 is formed integrally with the drive shaft of the drive motor 10 . A drive motor 10 is fixed to a link bracket 11 . The second link pin 22 that supports the link bracket 11 and the driven link 13 is spaced outward in the vehicle width direction with respect to the first link pin 21 and is offset below the first link pin 21 . are placed. On the other hand, in the link arm 14 extending in the vehicle width direction, the third link pin 23 that supports the link arm 14 and the drive link 12 is arranged at the inner end portion of the link arm 14 in the vehicle width direction. The fourth link pin 24 that supports the link arm 14 and the driven link 13 is arranged near the inner end of the link arm 14 in the vehicle width direction, and is located outside and below the third link pin 23 in the vehicle width direction. are spaced apart.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the retracted state where the step plate 3 is located at the retracted position, the drive link 12 and the driven link 13 rotate inward in the vehicle width direction, and the third link pin 23 and the fourth link pin 24 It is located inside the first link pin 21 and the second link pin 22 in the vehicle width direction.
As shown in FIG. 4, the drive motor 10 is driven to rotate the drive link 12, thereby moving the step plate 3 between the retracted position and the deployed position. In the deployed state where the step plate 3 is located at the deployed position, the drive link 12 and the driven link 13 rotate outwardly in the vehicle width direction, and the third link pin 23 and the fourth link pin 24 move to the first link pin 21 and the fourth link pin 24 . It is located outside the two-link pin 22 in the vehicle width direction. As shown in FIG. 4, in the deployed position of the step plate 3, the upper surface 3a of the step plate 3 is substantially horizontal (parallel to the horizontal plane of the vehicle body 20). On the other hand, in the retracted position of the step plate 3, the step plate 3 is positioned inside the deployed position in the vehicle width direction, and the upper surface 3a of the step plate 3 is positioned slightly above the deployed position and positioned outward in the vehicle width direction. Slightly sloping downwards.

Next, the operation and effects of the step device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. As described above, according to the step device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the link bracket 11 is attached to the link arm 14 on the vehicle width direction inner side (right side) of the step plate 3 when the step plate 3 is in the retracted position. It has a wall portion 11c extending toward the link arm 14 so as to have a gap G in the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the lower edge 11d of the wall portion 11c is located below the upper surface 3a of the step plate 3 when the step plate 3 is in the retracted position. Therefore, in the retracted position of the step plate 3, the lower edge 11d of the wall portion 11c and the upper surface 3a of the step plate 3 form a labyrinth passage W1. That is, while the vehicle 2 is running, the air inside the step device 1 changes its flow direction in the labyrinth passage W1 and is sucked outside. Therefore, the resistance when passing through the labyrinth passage W1 is increased, and the amount of air sucked out from the inside of the step device 1 can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the amount of snow S sucked into the step device 1 when the vehicle 2 travels on a snowy road (the flow of the snow S is indicated by a chain double-dashed line in FIG. 2). The accumulation of snow S inside the step device 1 can be suppressed. As a result, even when the vehicle 2 travels on a snowy road, the operation of moving the step plate 3 between the retracted position and the deployed position, particularly the deployment operation failure of moving the step plate 3 from the retracted position to the deployed position. can be suppressed.

Further, according to the step device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the link arm 14 protrudes upward from the link arm 14 inside the wall portion 11c in the vehicle width direction when the step plate 3 is in the retracted position. It has a portion 14d. As shown in FIG. 2, the upper edge 14e of the projecting portion 14d is located above the lower edge 11d of the wall portion 11c when the step plate 3 is in the retracted position. Therefore, in the retracted position of the step plate 3, a labyrinth passage W2 is formed by the lower edge 11d of the wall portion 11c and the upper edge 14e of the projecting portion 14d. That is, while the vehicle 2 is running, the air inside the step device 1 changes its flow direction in the labyrinth passage W2 and is sucked outside. Therefore, the resistance when passing through the labyrinth passage W2 is increased, and the amount of air sucked out from the inside of the step device 1 can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the amount of snow S that is sucked into the step device 1 when the vehicle 2 travels on a snowy road, thereby suppressing the accumulation of the snow S inside the step device 1. can.

Further, according to the step device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, the link arm 14 is positioned forwardly downward between the step plate 3 and the projecting portion 14d in the vehicle width direction. and a rear inclined surface 14l inclined downward toward the rear. Therefore, even if snow or ice adhered to the vehicle body 20 or the like melts and water flows into the link arm 14, the water can be discharged through the front inclined surface 14k and the rear inclined surface 14l. . More specifically, even if snow or ice adhered to the vehicle body 20 or the like melts and water flows into the link arm 14, the flow of the water is dammed by the damming surface 14g of the projecting portion 14d. The water can be discharged through the front inclined surface 14k and the rear inclined surface 14l. Moreover, even if snow accumulates on the upper surface of the link arm 14, the snow can be discharged via the front inclined surface 14k and the rear inclined surface 14l. Therefore, refreezing of water or snow that has flowed into the link arm 14 can be suppressed, and malfunction of the step device 1 (in particular, deployment operation) can be suppressed.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the step device 1 according to the above-described embodiments, and any aspect included in the concept of the present invention and the scope of claims can be applied. , and each configuration may be selectively combined as appropriate. For example, although the drive motor 10 drives the drive link 12 to rotate in the above embodiment, the drive link 12 may be driven by another actuator such as a cylinder instead of the drive motor 10 . Further, the shape, material, arrangement, size, and the like of each component in the above embodiment may be changed as appropriate according to specific aspects of the present invention.

1 step device 3 step plate (step for getting on and off)
3a upper surface 10 drive motor (actuator)
11 link bracket (vehicle fixing member)
11c wall portion 11d edge 12 drive link (first link arm)
13 Driven link (2nd link arm)
14 link arm (step support member)
14d protruding portion 14e edge 14i inclined surface portion 20 vehicle body G gap

Claims (3)

a step for boarding and alighting;
a vehicle body fixing member fixed to the vehicle body;
a step support member that supports the step for getting on and off at one end and extends in the vehicle width direction;
a first link arm having one end rotatably supported by the vehicle body fixing member and the other end rotatably supported by the other end of the step support member;
One end is rotatably supported by the vehicle body fixing member while being separated from the first link arm to the outside in the vehicle width direction, and the other end is rotatably supported by the other end of the step support member. a two-link arm;
an actuator that rotationally drives the first link arm,
By rotationally driving the first link arm by the actuator, the step for getting on and off is moved in the vehicle width direction between a deployed position located outside the vehicle body and a retracted position located below the vehicle body. A vertical link type step device for a vehicle,
The vehicle body fixing member extends toward the step support member so as to have a vertical gap with respect to the step support member on the vehicle width direction inner side of the step for entry and exit at the stored position of the step for entry and exit. has a wall that
The wall portion is positioned at least above the step support member,
A step device for a vehicle, wherein a lower edge of the wall portion is positioned at the same height as or below an upper surface of the step for getting on and off. a step for boarding and alighting;
a vehicle body fixing member fixed to the vehicle body;
a step support member that supports the step for getting on and off at one end and extends in the vehicle width direction;
a first link arm having one end rotatably supported by the vehicle body fixing member and the other end rotatably supported by the other end of the step support member;
One end is rotatably supported by the vehicle body fixing member while being separated from the first link arm to the outside in the vehicle width direction, and the other end is rotatably supported by the other end of the step support member. a two-link arm;
an actuator that rotationally drives the first link arm,
By rotationally driving the first link arm by the actuator, the step for getting on and off is moved in the vehicle width direction between a deployed position located outside the vehicle body and a retracted position located below the vehicle body. A vertical link type step device for a vehicle,
The vehicle body fixing member extends toward the step support member so as to have a vertical gap with respect to the step support member on the vehicle width direction inner side of the step for entry and exit at the stored position of the step for entry and exit. has a wall that
the edge of the lower side of the wall portion is positioned at the same height as or below the upper surface of the step for getting on and off,
The step support member has a protrusion so as to protrude upward from the step support member inside the wall in the vehicle width direction when the step for entry and exit is in the retracted position. A step device for a vehicle, wherein the edge is positioned at the same height as a lower edge of the wall portion or above the lower edge. 3. The step support member according to claim 2, wherein the step support member has an inclined surface portion that inclines downward in at least one of the longitudinal directions of the vehicle body between the step for getting on and off and the projecting portion in the vehicle width direction. A step device for the described vehicle.

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