Abstract:
A torque transmitting member, rotating around a first rotation center for transmitting a torque from a driving source to an output side member for rotating the output side member from a first position to a second position around a second rotation center differentiated from the first rotation center, includes a convex portion provided at a portion between the first rotation center and the second rotation center different from the first rotation center, the convex portion including a configuration extended in a radial direction and having an outer surface, and a contacting portion formed at the outer surface of the convex portion at the closest position to the first rotation center for always contacting the output side member at a predetermined position within a predetermined angle defined by a rotation of the output side member from the first position to the second position.

Description:
[0001]    This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 with respect to Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-372415 filed on Dec. 24, 2002, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.  
         FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a torque transmitting member and a door lock device. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a torque transmitting member for transmitting an inputted torque arid a door lock device applied with the torque transmitting member for switching a locked and unlocked state of a door.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    A known torque transmitting member and a door lock device applied with the torque transmitting member are described in US5634677A.  
           [0004]    As shown in FIG. 10, the known torque transmitting member described in US5634677A includes a driven member  91  including eccentric type control pins  90 ,  90 . The driven member  91  rotates around a rotation center  92  by an input of the torque. When the driven member  91  is rotated, one of the eccentric type control pins  90 ,  90  contacts one of control surfaces  95 ,  95  at a fork receiving portion  94  of a central chain lock member  93  to rotate the central chain lock member  93  around an oscillation shaft  96 . Thus, a locked state and an unlocked state of a vehicle door lock  97  serving as the door lock device is switched.  
           [0005]    In order to increase the transmitting torque from the driven member  91  to the central chain lock member  93 , it is desirable to determine a distance between the rotation center  92  and a contact point of the eccentric type control pin  90  contacting the control surface  95  short. Notwithstanding, with the known driven member  91 , the contact point of the eccentric type control pin  90  is moved depending on the rotational position of the driven member  91  because the eccentric type control pins  90  is configured to be approximately circular. This brings the drawbacks that the transmission torque within a predetermined rotational angle of the driven member is varied and cannot be maintained large. Specifically, with the vehicle door lock  97 , an output of an electric drive device for operating the driven member  91  has to be determined unnecessarily large.  
           [0006]    A need thus exists for a torque transmitting member maintaining large transmission torque while reducing a size of an actuator of a door lock device.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    In light of the foregoing, the present invention includes a torque transmitting member rotating around a first rotation center for transmitting a torque from a driving source to an output side member for rotating the output side member from a first position to a second position around a second rotation center differentiated from the first rotation center, which includes a convex portion provided at a portion between the first rotation center and the second rotation center different from the first rotation center, the convex portion including a configuration extended in a radial direction and having an outer surface, and a contacting portion formed at the outer surface of the convex portion at the closest position to the first rotation center for always contacting the output side member at a predetermined position within a predetermined angle defined by a rotation of the output side member from the first position to the second position.  
           [0008]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a door lock device includes an actuator, a rotation member rotating around a first rotation center by an actuation of the actuator, a convex portion provided at a portion of the rotation member other than the first rotation center, a locking and unlocking member moving between a locked position at which an operation of an opening operation member being not transmitted to a door close maintaining means and an unlocked position at which the operation of the opening operation member being transmitted to the door close maintaining means by a rotation of the rotation member, the convex portion including a configuration extended in a radial direction and having an outer surface, and a contacting portion formed at the outer surface of the convex portion at the closest position to the first rotation center for always contacting the locking and unlocking member at a predetermined position within a predetermined angle defined by a rotation of the locking and unlocking member from a locked position to an unlocked position and from the locked position to the unlocked position. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES  
       [0009]    The foregoing and additional features and characteristics of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description considered with reference to the accompanying drawing figures in which like reference numerals designate like elements.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a plane view of a latch mechanism of a door lock device according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a plane view of a lock mechanism of the door lock device according to the embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a view for explaining an operation of a torque transmitting member and an output side member according to the embodiment of the present inventions.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a view for explaining the operation of the torque transmitting member and the output side member according to the embodiment of the present inventions.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is a view for explaining the operation of the torque transmitting member and the output side member according to the embodiment of the present inventions  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is a view for explaining the operation of the torque transmitting member and the output side member according to the embodiment of the present inventions  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 is a view for explaining details of the operation of the torque transmitting member and the output side member according to the embodiment of the present inventions  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 8 is a view for explaining an operation of a comparative torque transmitting member and an output side member.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 9 is a view for explaining the operation of the comparative torque transmitting member and the output side member.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 10 is a view showing a known door lock device. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]    One embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to drawing figures as follows. A door lock device  10  serving as a door lock device includes a latch mechanism  10   a  serving as a means for maintaining a door closed (shown in FIG. 1) and a lock mechanism  10   b  (shown in FIG. 2). The door lock device  10  further includes a cover  10   c  covering the latch mechanism  10   a  and the lock mechanism  10   b  from left side of FIG. 1 and a housing  10   d  covering the latch mechanism  10   a  and the lock mechanism  10   b  from the right side of FIG. 1. The construction of the latch mechanism  10   a  will be explained in details referring to FIG. 1 as follows. The latch mechanism  10   a  includes a latch  11  and a pawl  12 . The latch  11  is supported rotatably relative to a latch shaft  14 . The latch  11  includes an engaging groove  11   a  for engagingly maintaining a striker  13  provided on a vehicle body therein at a rotational position shown in FIG. 1. The pawl  12  is supported rotatably relative to a pawl shaft  15 . The pawl  12  includes a contacting portion  12   a  contacting the latch  11  at the rotational position shown in FIG. 1 for restricting the rotation of the latch  11  in the clockwise direction of FIG. 1.  
         [0021]    The operation of the latch mechanism  10   a  will be explained as follows. FIG. 1 shows a latched state wherein the door is maintained closed relative to the vehicle body. When the pawl  12  rotates around the pawl shaft  15  at the latched state by a predetermined angle in the clockwise direction, the contacting portion  12   a  of the pawl  12  is disengaged from the latch  11 . Thus, the latch  11  rotates in the clockwise direction of FIG. 1 by a biasing force of a spring so that the engaging groove  11   a  assumes to correspond to a recess portion  16   a  formed at a base  16 . With this state, the striker  13  can be disengaged from the engaging groove  1  la in the left direction of FIG. 1 to assume the unlatched state wherein the door can be opened relative to the body. The details of the lock mechanism  10   b  will be explained with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 viewing the door lock device  10  from the left side of FIG. 1 does not show a portion of the cover  10   c  for the explanatory purpose.  
         [0022]    The lock mechanism  10   b  includes an open system operation member and a lock system operation member. The open system operation member operates the latch  11  based on the operation of an outside handle provided outside of the vehicle door and an inside handle provided interior of the vehicle, or the like, to open the door relative to the body. The lock system operation member switches the unlocked state at which the latch  11  is operable in accordance with the operation of the outside handle, or the like and the locked state at which the latch  11  is inoperable in accordance with the operation of the outside handle, or the like.  
         [0023]    The open system operation member includes an outside open lever  21  servings as an opening operation member, an inside open lever  22  serving as the opening operation member, an open link  23 , and a lift lever  24 .  
         [0024]    The outside open lever  21  is rotatable around a pin  21   a  to be supported by the cover  10   c . The outside open lever  21  is formed with a connection recess  21   b  on a first end and a connection shaft  21   c  on a second end. The connection recess  21   b  is connected to a cable  25  linking to the outside handle. The outside open lever  21  rotates around the pin  21   a  in the counterclockwise direction of FIG. 2 based on the operation of the outside handle. In this case, the connection shaft  21   c  moves approximately upward of FIG. 2. Because the connection shaft  21   c  is engaged with a spring  26 , the outside open lever  21  rotates in the clockwise direction of FIG. 2 to return to the position shown in FIG. 2 by the biasing force of the spring  26  when the operation of the outside handle returns.  
         [0025]    The inside open lever  22  includes a first inside open lever  22   a , a second inside open lever  22   b , and an intermediate lever  22   c . The first inside open lever  22   a , the second inside open lever  22   b , and the intermediate lever  22   c  are rotatably supported at the cover  10   c  about a pin  22   d . The first inside open lever  22   a  is formed with a connection bore  22   e  at a first end and a bore  22   f  with anomalous line at a second end. The connection bore  22   e  is connected with a cable  27  linking to the inside handle. The second inside lever  22   b  includes a long bore  22   g  and an engaging end portion  22   h . The intermediate lever  22   c  includes a long bore  22   i , an engaging projection  22   j , and an arc bore  22   k . The engaging projection  22   j  is located through the long bore  22   g  of the second inside lever  22   b  and the bore  22   f  with anomalous line of the first inside lever  22   a . A connection shaft  28   a  of a child protector lever  28  rotatably supported by the cover  10   c  is located through the arc bore  22   k . When the child protector lever  28  rotates, the intermediate lever  22   c  moves upward and downward of FIG. 2. At the movement of the child protector lever  28 , the engaging projection  22   j  relatively moves in the long bore  22   g  and the bore  22   f  with anomalous line and the pin  22   d  relatively moves in the long bore  22   i.    
         [0026]    When the intermediate lever  22   c  is positioned at a position shown in FIG. 2 (i.e., child protector unset state), the entire inside open lever  22  rotates in the counterclockwise direction of FIG. 2 about the pin  22   d  based on the operation of the inside handle. When the intermediate lever  22   c  is moved upward of FIG. 2 to locate the engaging projection  22   j  at a top end of the long bore  22   g  (i.e., child protector set state), the engaging projection  22   j  loses the motion in the bore  22   f  with anomalous line even if the first inside open lever  22   a  rotates based on the operation of the inside handle. In other words, the intermediate lever  22   c  and the second inside open lever  22   b  do not rotate at the child protector set state.  
         [0027]    The open link  23  includes connection long bores  23   a ,  23   b  at first and second ends and a flange  23   c  having approximately L-shaped cross-section. The connection shaft  21   c  of the outside open lever  21  is positioned in the connection long bore  23   a . Accordingly, when the outside open lever  21  rotates in the counterclockwise direction about the pin  21   a , the open link  23  moves upward of FIG. 2. When the entire inside open lever  22  rotates in the counterclockwise direction of FIG. 2 about the pin  22   d , the engaging end portion  22   h  of the second inside open lever  22   b  engages with the flange  23   c . Thus, the open link  23  moves approximately upward of FIG. 2.  
         [0028]    At a state (i.e., unlocked state) when the open link  23  is positioned at an unlock position (i.e., UL of FIG. 2), the flange  23   c  engages with the lift lever  24  by the upward movement of the open link  23  to move the lift lever  24  upward of FIG. 2. The lift lever  24  is unitarily and rotatably- supported at the pawl shaft  15  of the pawl  12 . When the lift lever  24  moves upward of FIG. 2, the pawl  12  rotates in the clockwise direction of FIG. 1 to switch the latch mechanism  10   a  from the latched state to the unlatched state. The open link  23  transmits the rotational operation of the outside open lever  21  and the inside open lever  22  to the latch mechanism  10   a  at the unlocked state.  
         [0029]    The lock system member of the lock mechanism  10   b  includes a motor  30  serving as an actuator, a wheel gear  31  serving as a torque transmitting member and a rotation member, and an active lever  32  serving as an output side member and a locking and unlocking member.  
         [0030]    The motor  30  is fixed to the housing  10   d  and drives by the energization to rotate a warm gear  30   b  provided at an output shaft  30   a  around an output shaft  30   a . The circular wheel gear  31  is supported by the housing  10   d  rotatably around a rotation shaft  31   a  serving as a first rotational center. The wheel gear  31  includes a gear teeth  31   b  geared with the warm gear  30   b  at an external periphery thereof. The wheel gear  31  rotates in the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction of FIG. 2 depending on the input of the torque from the motor  30 . The wheel gear  31  includes two convex portions  31   c ,  31   c  at an eccentric position from the rotation shaft  31   a  to be projected in the depth direction of FIG. 2. The convex portions  31   c ,  31   c  revolve around the rotation shaft  31   a  at the rotation of the wheel gear  31 .  
         [0031]    The configuration of the convex portion  31   c  will be explained with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 7. As shown in FIG. 7, the convex portion  3   c  is configured to be symmetric relative to a reference line L serving as a reference line penetrating through the rotation shaft  31   a  and the convex portion  31   c . The reference line L penetrating through the rotation shaft  31   a  and the convex portion  31   c  corresponds to the line penetrating through either the center of the gravity or the center of figure of the rotation shaft  31   a  and the convex portion  31   c  respectively. A width d (serving as a width) in the direction of a tangential line t (serving as a tangential line) of a circle C (serving as a circle) having the rotation shaft  31   a  at the center at a point P (serving as a arbitrary point) on the reference line L is determined to be larger at the rotation shaft  31   a  side. In other words, as shown in FIG. 7, a width d 1  positioned at the rotation shaft  31   a  side is determined to be larger than a widths d 2 . A first contact portion  31   d  (serving as a contact portion) and a second contact portion  31   e  (serving as the contact portion) are provided at an external positions constructing the maximum value dm of the convex portion  31   c.    
         [0032]    The configuration of the active lever  32  will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2-3 as follows. The active lever  32  includes a resin lever  32   a , a metal lever  32   b , and a pin  32   c  serving as a second rotational center rotatably supporting the resin lever  32   a  and the metal lever  32   b  relative to the housing  10   d . The resin lever  32   a  includes a recess portion  32   c , a pressurizing portion  32   d , a bore  32   e  with anomalous line, and a connection bore  32   f . The recess portion  32   c  includes a first engaging surface  32   g  and a second engaging surface  32   h.    
         [0033]    When the wheel gear  31  rotates, the convex portion  31   c  is engaged with the recess portion  32   c . When the convex portion  31  contacts the engaging surface  32   g  of the recess portion  32   c , the resin lever  32   a  rotates around the pin  32   c  in the clockwise direction of FIG. 3. When the convex portion  31   c  contacts the engaging surface  32   h  of the recess portion  32   c , the resin lever  32   a  rotates around the pin  32   c  in the counterclockwise direction of FIG. 3. Details of the operation win be explained hereafter. A cable  33  (shown in FIG. 2) linked to a lock knob provided at the interior of the door is connected to the connection bore  32   f  of the resin lever  32   a . The resin lever  32   a  is also rotated around the pin  32   c  based on the operation of the lock knob. The bore  32   e  with anomalous line is provided with a positioning spring  34 . A first end of the positioning spring  34  is engaged with the bore  32   e  with anomalous line and a second end of the positioning spring  34  is engaged with the housing  10   c . The resin lever  32   a  is selectively positioned at the unlocked position and the locked position by the biasing force of the positioning spring  34 .  
         [0034]    The metal lever  32   b  includes a first flange  32   i , a second-flange  32   j , and a boss  32   k . The pressurizing portion  32   d  of the resin lever  32   a  contacting the flange  32   i  of the metal lever  32   b  pushes the first flange  32   i , when the torque is applied to the resin lever  32   a  to rotate around the pin  32   c  in the clockwise direction of FIG. 3, to rotate the entire active lever  32 . A spring  35  coiled around the pin  32   c  is provided between the resin lever  32   a  and the metal lever  32   b . A first end of the spring  35  is engaged with the resin lever  32   a  and a second end of the spring  35  is engaged with the flange  32   j  of the metal lever  32   b . Thus, when the torque is applied to rotate the resin lever  32   a  in the counterclockwise direction of FIG. 3 about the pin  32   c , the entire active lever  32  is rotated by the biasing force of the spring  35 .  
         [0035]    As shown in FIG. 2, the boss  32   k  of the metal lever  32   b  is connected to the connection long bore  23   b  of the open link  23 . Thus, when the entire active lever  32  rotates around the pin  32   c  in the clockwise direction of FIG. 3 at the unlocked state, the open link  23  rotates by a predetermined angle in the clockwise direction of FIG. 2 around the connection shaft  21   c  of the outside open lever  21  from the unlocked position to the locked position (i.e., L of FIG. 2). That state is defined as a locked state of the door lock device  10 .  
         [0036]    At the locked state wherein the open link  23  is positioned at the locked position, the flange  23   c  swings, or does not contact relative to the lift lever  24  despite the movement of the open link  23  in the upward direction of FIG. 2 by the rotation of the outside open lever  21  and the inside open lever  22 . In other words, the open link  23  cannot transmit the rotational operation of the outside open lever  21 , or the like, to the latch mechanism  10   a  at the locked state. Accordingly, the latch mechanism  10   a  cannot be switched from the latched state to the unlatched state even by the rotation of the outside open lever  21 , or the like, at the locked state.  
         [0037]    The operation of the active lever  32  based on the rotation of the wheel gear  31  will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3-9.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 3 shows the active lever  32  at the unlocked state. This position of the active lever  32  is defined as an unlocked position of the active lever  32 . By inputting the torque to the wheel gear  31  at the unlocked position of the active lever  32  by driving the motor  30  in a first direction, the wheel gear  31  rotates counterclockwise of FIG. 3 so that the contact portion  31   d  of the convex portion  31   c  contacts the engaging surface  32   g  of recess portion  32   c  as shown in FIG. 4. The rotational position of the wheel gear  31  shown in FIG. 4 is defined as a position A.  
         [0039]    By further rotating the wheel gear  31  counterclockwise of FIG. 4 at the state shown in FIG. 4, the contact portion  31   d  keeps contacting and pushing the engaging F surface  32   g  to rotate the active lever  32  to be a state shown in FIG. 5. A rotational position of the wheel gear  31  shown in FIG. 5 is defined as a position B. In this case, the contact portion  31   d  is positioned at the external peripheral of the convex portion  31   c  configuring the maximum value dm of the width d. Thus, the contact portion  31   d  always contacts the engaging surface  32   g  of the active lever  32  irrespective of the rotational position of the wheel gear  31  within a predetermined angle a determined by the rotation of the wheel gear  31  from the position A to the position B. Because the contact portion  31   d  is formed at a position close to the rotation shaft  31   a  at the convex portion  31   c , the distance between the rotation shaft  31   a  and the contact portion  31   d  can be maintained short within the angle α. Accordingly, the transmitting torque from the wheel gear  31  to the active gear  32  can be maintained large.  
         [0040]    In order to explain the construction of the foregoing embodiment of the present invention, a comparative example shown in FIGS. 8-9 is provided. The example shown in FIG. 8 corresponds to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 and the example shown in FIG. 9 corresponds to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5. As shown in FIGS. 8-9, a convex portion  41   c  of a wheel gear  41  is configured to be approximately circular. When the wheel gear  41  rotated from a position A of FIG. 8 to a position B of FIG. 9, a position of a contact portion  41   d  contacting an engaging surface  42   g  at the convex portion  41   c  is changed. FIG. 7 shows the contacting state between the convex portion  31   c  and the engaging surface  32   g  shown in FIG. 5 and the contacting state between the convex portion  41   c  and the engaging surface  42   g  of FIG. 9. As shown in FIG. 7, a distance Z 1  between the rotation shaft  31   a  and the contacting portion  31   d  is determined to be shorter than a distance Z 2  between the rotation shaft  41   a  and the contacting portion  41   d . Thus, the transmitting torque from the wheel gear  31  to the active lever  32  can be maintained large.  
         [0041]    By further rotating the wheel gear  31  shown in FIG. 5 in the counterclockwise direction, the convex portion  31   c  is disengaged from the recess portion  32   c  as shown in FIG. 6. The active lever  32  is positioned at a locked position and the open link  23  is positioned at the locked position (the position L shown in FIG. 2).  
         [0042]    When the torque is inputted to the wheel gear  31  by driving the motor  30  in a second direction at the state shown in FIG. 6, the wheel gear  31  rotates clockwise of FIG. 6. The contacting portion  31   e  of the convex portion  31   c  contacts the engaging surface  32   h  of the recess portion  32   c  to rotate the active lever  32  counterclockwise of FIG. 6. The active lever  32  returns to the state shown in FIG. 3 in the foregoing manner. Because the contacting portion  31   e  keeps contacting the engaging surface  32   h  irrespective of the rotational position of the wheel gear  31  within the predetermined rotation angle of the wheel gear  31 , the transmitting torque from the wheel gear  31  to the active lever  32  can be maintained large with the operation when the motor  30  rotates in the second direction.  
         [0043]    With the door lock device  10  of the embodiment of the present invention, because the transmitting torque from the wheel gear  31  to the active gear  32  can be maintained large, the output of the motor  30  for rotating the wheel gear  31  can be determined small, which enables to reduce the size of the motor  31 . Although the active lever  32  includes the recess portion  32   c  in the foregoing embodiment, the recess portion  32   c  may not be included.  
         [0044]    Although the convex portion  31   c  projects perpendicular to the rotational plane surface of the wheel gear  31  with the foregoing embodiment, the convex portion  31   c  may project in the direction of the rotational plane surface of the wheel gear  31 . According to the embodiment of the present invention, the contacting portion formed close to the first rotation center corresponding to the rotational center of the torque transmitting member contacts the output side member irrespective of the rotational position within the predetermined rotation angle. Thus, the distance between the first rotational center and the contacting portion can be maintained short and the transmitting torque from the torque transmitting member to the output side member can be maintained large.  
         [0045]    According to the embodiment of the present invention, the widths of the convex portion at the first rotation center side is determined to be large. And the contacting portion contacts the external surface of the convex portion constructing the maximum value of the width. Accordingly, when the torque transmitting member rotates within the predetermined rotation angle, the external surface of the convex portion with the maximum width serving as the contacting portion contacts the output side member. Thereafter, the contacting portion keeps contacting the output side member even after further rotation of the torque transmitting member.  
         [0046]    According to the embodiment of the present invention, the contacting portion formed close to the first rotation center corresponding to the rotational center of the rotation gear contacts the operation member irrespective of the rotational position within the predetermined rotation angle. Accordingly, the distance between the first rotation center and the contacting portion can be maintained short and the transmitting torque from the rotation member to the operation member can be maintained large. Thus, the actuator for operating the rotation member is not necessary to be determined unnecessarily large and the size of the actuator can be reduced.  
         [0047]    The principles, preferred embodiment and mode of operation of the present invention have been described in the foregoing specification. However, the invention which is intended to be protected is not to be construed as limited to the particular embodiment disclosed. Further, the embodiment described herein is to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Variations and changes may be made by others, and equivalents employed, without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it is expressly intended that all such variations, changes and equivalents which fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the claims, be embraced thereby.