Switch mechanism

An object of the present invention is to provide a switch mechanism to be adopted in an air-conditioning system that may be operated manually, which allows a plurality of functions to be integrated therein and assures superior operability for the driver.Manual switch mechanisms 1 and 3 are dial type mechanisms each comprising at least a tubular dial component 4 with open ends on the two sides thereof, a first gear 5 that is fitted on the outside of the dial component 4 so as to rotate together with the dial component and includes gear teeth 5a formed at the outer circumferential side surface thereof and a second gear 6 that includes gear teeth 6a formed at a circular arc circumferential surface thereof to which the rotation of the dial component 4 is transmitted from the first gear 5 via a relay component 7 and is connected through a wire 20 to drive an air-conditioning door. Inside the dial component 4, a push-button switch mechanism that includes at least a sliding component 8 that is slidably housed along the axis of the dial component 4 and includes a push portion 11 located at the bottom thereof and substrate having a switch portion 10 to contact the push portion 11, is fitted within the dial component 4.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the U.S. National Phase Application, under 35 USC 371 of International Application PCT/JP2004/014358, filed on Sep. 30, 2004, published as WO 2005/062324 A1 on Jul. 7, 2005, and claiming priority to JP 2003-427977, filed Dec. 24, 2003, the disclosures of all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a structure that may be adopted in a switch mechanism operated to manually control an air-conditioning system and, more specifically, an automotive air-conditioning system.

BACKGROUND ART

Switch mechanisms in automotive air-conditioning systems adopting a cable drive system in the known art include sliding switch mechanisms and knob switch mechanisms (see, for instance, patent reference literatures 1 and 2). Knob switch mechanisms that provide better operability and assure higher safety for driving than sliding switch mechanisms are preferred in most applications today (see, for instance, patent reference literature 3).Patent reference literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-54245Patent reference literature 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-172925Patent reference literature 3: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-41164

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

A push-button switch mechanism cannot be fitted in the main body of either a sliding switch mechanism or a knob switch mechanism and, for this reason, another switch mechanism, i.e., a push-button switch mechanism must be disposed near the sliding or knob switch mechanism. In other words, the switches are disposed at separate positions.

In addition, the driver needs to rotate the knob of a knob switch mechanism by a relatively large extent, sometimes exceeding the limit to the rotational angle achieved with ease simply by turning the wrist and arm. Since this is bound to force the driver to assume an unnatural posture, the operability is compromised and driving safety during the operation may become a concern.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a switch mechanism to be adopted in an air-conditioning system, which allows a plurality of functions to be integrated therein and assures superior operability for the driver even when he adjusts the air-conditioning system manually.

Means for Solving the Problems

The switch mechanism according to the present invention, comprising at least a dial component that can be rotated, a first gear that is externally fitted at the outside of the dial component to rotate together with the dial component and includes a predetermined number of teeth formed at an external circumferential side surface thereof and a second gear that includes a predetermined number of teeth formed therein and drives a driven member connected thereto, includes a dial switch mechanism structure in which the rotation of the dial component is transmitted from the first gear to the second year via a relay component. The driven member may be an air-conditioning door, such as an output mode switching door or an air mix door. The second gear may assume a fan shape, with the predetermined number of teeth formed at a circumferential surface assuming the shape of a circular arc. In addition, the second gear and the air-conditioning door (the output mode switching door or the air mix door) may be connected with each other via a cable so as to open/close the air conditioning door through a manual cable drive system.

The dial component in the switch mechanism according to the present invention assumes a tubular shape with open ends on the two sides thereof, and a push-button switch mechanism that includes at least a sliding component slidably housed along the axis of the dial component and having a push portion located at the bottom thereof and a substrate having a switch portion to contact the push portion, is fitted inside the dial component.

The switch mechanism according to the present invention is further characterized in that an ON indicator member is housed inside the sliding component.

Effect of the Invention

According to the present invention, a dial type switch mechanism that can be turned simply with the fingertips is achieved. This switch mechanism assures superior operability and better safety for the driver, since, unlike a sliding switch mechanism that must be operated by shifting the arm by a great extent or a knob switch mechanism that must be operated by twisting the wrist or the upper arm, the switch mechanism according to the present invention can be operated without the driver having to change his posture.

In addition, according to the invention, the dial component in the dial switch mechanism is allowed to assume a hollow tubular shape with open ends by forming gear teeth at the first gear fitted on the outside of the dial component and disposing the relay component for transmitting the rotation of the dial component to the air-conditioning door at an offset position outside the dial component. As a result, the sliding component constituting the push-button switch mechanism can be housed in the space inside the dial component assuming the cylindrical shape so as to integrate the air-conditioning functions via the individual switch mechanisms. Furthermore, by forming a hollow space inside the sliding component as well, an ON indicator member can be housed inside the sliding component. Since the ratio of the area at the operating device taken up by the switch mechanisms and the ON indicator member can be reduced by adopting this structure, the degree of design freedom with regard to the layout on the operating device panel increases.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The following is an explanation of an embodiment of the present invention, given in reference to the drawings.

Switch mechanisms1,2and3constituting part of an operating device operated to control, for instance, an automotive air-conditioning system are shown inFIGS. 1 through 9. The switch mechanism1is operated to select a specific output mode among various output modes, i.e., a defrost mode, a def/foot mode, a foot mode, a bi-level mode, a vent mode or an auto mode, and is also operated to switch from an outside air intake mode to an inside air intake mode or vice versa. The switch mechanism2is operated to switch the air blowing performance level and is also operated to turn ON/OFF the fan. The switch mechanism3is operated to select a specific temperature setting in the cabin and is also operated to turned ON/OFF AUTO control for automatically controlling the air-conditioning system.

The switch mechanisms1and3are manual switch mechanisms and each include a dial component, a first gear5, a second gear6and a relay component7constituting a dial switch mechanism and a sliding component8and a substrate9constituting a push-button switch mechanism, as shown inFIGS. 3 and 6. These components are mostly disposed between a panel15and a case16except for the second gear6.

The dial component4assumes a tubular shape with open ends on the two sides thereof so as to allow the sliding component8to be inserted thereat and a ring-shaped surface4awith indentations and projections is formed at an area near one of the open ends that projects out from a hole15aat the panel15so that it can be held with fingers or the like for easy rotation, as shown inFIG. 3. At an area near the other open and of the dial component4, a fitting hole4bto fit with the first gear5projects out along the radial direction and notches4cextending along the axis is formed as well.

The sliding component8is constituted with an indicator component8a, bearing indications with regard to the output mode settings or temperature setting selections, as shown inFIG. 1, and a base component8bwhich includes a push portion11to be pushed to turned ON/OFF a switch10on a substrate9. The sliding component is allowed to slide in two directions, i.e., the forward direction and the reverse direction, inside the dial component4along the axis thereof.

The sliding component8in the embodiment is assembled as a component having a hollow portion24formed therein, as shown inFIGS. 5 and 9, by fitting the indicator component8a, which includes an open side and assumes a cup shape with the base component8bhaving an open side and assumes a cup shape. The indicator component and the base component are fitted together by setting their open sides to face opposite each other. In addition, as shown inFIGS. 3 and 5, the base component8bhas an outer diameter small enough to allow the base component to be housed inside a hole18formed at the case16and a tubular projection19ranging upright from the circumferential edge of the whole18.

The first gear5, fitted on the outer circumferential surface of the dial component4, assumes a tubular shape with open ends on the two sides thereof. A projection5ato fit in the fitting hole4bat the dial component4is formed at an area near the open end toward the dial component, whereas a predetermined number of gear teeth5bare formed in a circular formation at an area near the open end toward the side opposite from the dial component. The inner diameter of the openings at the first gear5is set greater than the outer diameter of the sliding component8and the outer diameter of the projection19so as to allow the sliding component8to be slidably inserted and allow the first gear to be fitted on the outside of the projection19at the case16. As shown inFIG. 9, the projection19includes a hooking claw19aturning inward at an open end thereof Thus, the projection can be rotatably engaged with the base member8b.

The second gear6, assuming a fan shape when viewed from above, includes a predetermined number of gear teeth6aformed at the circular arc circumferential surface thereof and also includes a rotating shaft portion6bprojecting out on the base side opposite from the circular arc circumferential surface. As the rotating shaft portion6bis inserted at a hole17formed at the case16, as shown inFIG. 2(a), the second gear becomes able to rotate. The second gear6in the first switch mechanism transmits its rotation to the output mode switching door (not shown) via a wire20connected on the circular arc circumferential surface side, whereas the second gear6in the third switch mechanism transmits its rotation to the air mix door (not shown) via a wire20connected on the circular arc circumferential surface side.

The relay component7, substantially assuming the shape of a shaft rod, includes a gear7aformed at one end thereof to interlock with the gear teeth5bat the first gear5, which is, and a gear7bto interlock with the gear teeth6aat the second gear6, which is formed at the other end. The rotation of the first gear5is thus transmitted to the second gear6. This relay component7is rotatably inserted at a hole21formed at the case16with the gear7bprojecting out onto the opposite side at the case16during operation.

The switch mechanism2, which is used in an auto control-type system, includes a dial component, a first gear5and a third gear13constituting a dial switch and a sliding component8constituting a push-button switch, as shown inFIG. 3. Most of these components, i.e., the components4,5and8are identical to those in the switch mechanisms1and3. In other words, the manual type switch mechanisms1and3are achieved by modifying the structure of the auto control-type switch mechanism2. Namely, since parts constituting the switch mechanisms1,2and3are mostly manufactured as universal components, the production cost can be reduced. The following explanation focuses on the structural arrangement unique to the switch mechanism2and the same reference numerals are assigned to components and structural features identical to those in the switch mechanisms1and3to preclude the necessity for a repeated explanation thereof.

The switch mechanism2is mainly used as a FAN switch and, unlike the switch mechanisms1and3, it is not driven through a cable but instead it includes a dedicated third gear13. The third gear13, substantially assuming the shape of a shaft rod, includes gear teeth13aformed at one end thereof to interlock with the gear teeth5bat the first gear5. The gear teeth13ain the embodiment are formed over half the circumference of the gear13instead of the entire circumference of the gear13. The outer diameter of the third gear13is small enough to allow the third gear13to be housed in a hole22formed at the case16and a tubular projection23ranging upright from the circumferential edge of the hole22. It is to be noted that the indicator component8aof the sliding component8bears markings related to the air blowing performance level selection, as shown inFIG. 1.

The switch mechanisms1,2and3adopting the structure described above may be assembled through the following procedure. Namely, after installing a sliding member8constituted with the indicator member8aand the base member8binto the dial member4, the first gear5is fitted on the outside of the dial member4until the projection5aat the first gear5becomes fitted inside the hole4b. As a result, the dial component4and the first gear5become able to rotate together and, at the same time, the sliding member8becomes allowed to slide over a specific range along the axial direction inside the hollow chamber defined by the dial component4and the first gear5.

Next, the switch mechanisms1and3are assembled by rotatably inserting the relay component7at the hole21in the case16and rotatably fitting the first gear5coupled with the other components4and8, on the outside of the projection19. As a result, the dial component4, the sliding component8, the assembly of the first gear5and the relay component7are all mounted at the case16with the gear teeth5aat the first gear5interlocking with the gear7aat the relay component7. In the assembled state, the relay component7assumes a position offset toward the outer circumference relative to the positions of the first gear5and the dial component4.

The switch mechanism2, on the other hand, is assembled by rotatably inserting the third gear13at the opening of the projection22at the case16and rotatably fitting the first gear6, coupled with the other components4and8, on the outside of the projection19. As a result, the dial component4, the sliding component8, the assembly of the first gear5and the third gear13are all mounted at the case16with the gear teeth5aat the first gear5interlocking with the gear teeth13aat the third gear13. In the assembled state, the third gear13assumes a position offset along the radial direction relative to the rotational center of the dial component4, which allows the central shaft13bat the third gear13to be used as a FAN switch.

Lastly, the rotating shaft portion6bat the second gear6is rotatably inserted at the hole17in the case16on the side opposite from the side where the sliding component8and the like are present. The wire20with one end thereof connected to the output mode switching door or the air mix door is connected to the circular arc surface of the second gear6. The panel15is fitted with the case16by ensuring that the individual holes15afit on the outside of the corresponding dial components4, the panel and the case16are locked together with screws or the like and the substrate9, which includes the switch portion10, is disposed at the case16on the side toward the second gear6.

The manual switch mechanisms1and3adopting the cable drive system each include a dial component4on the outside of which the first gear5is fitted. They also each include a relay member7offset toward the outer circumference side relative to the dial component4and the first gear5so as to allow a sliding component8constituting the push-switch mechanism to be fitted inside the dial component4.

In the structure, the dial component4can be rotated with ease from any angle, thereby achieving an improvement in the operability for the driver over sliding switch mechanisms and knob switch mechanisms. In addition, unlike sliding switch mechanisms or knob switch mechanisms, the structure does not require a push-button switch to be disposed at the periphery and thus, the switches do not need to be disposed at separate positions. Furthermore, various functions such as air conditioner ON/OFF function and indicator functions can be integrated in a single switch mechanism1or3. Since the rotating shaft of the relay member7is disposed at an offset position so as to circumscribe the first gear5, the switch mechanisms1and3can be miniaturized.

It is to be noted that the sliding component8includes a hollow portion24, as shown inFIG. 9. Accordingly, a LED lamp25(a light emitting diode in this embodiment) can be disposed in the hollow portion as necessary, and by disposing an indicator portion26at the indicator member8a, the switch ON/OFF state can be indicated or the indicator portion can be lit at night to indicate the switch location.